Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-07-15

however, Judge Raulston announced a
warning from the bench:
Il want to announce that gave
strict instructions to the stenographer
that my opinion was not to be released
to any person or to give any informa-
ton out. If any member of the press
has any intimation as to what my
opinion is-no person knows except !.
myself and my stenographer-and
sends 1t out before 1 begin to read 1t,
L will deal with them for contempt of !
court"
The Judge retired again and a few
minutes" before o'clock returned 10
the bench with the announcement (
that his opinion would not be delivered
until tomorrow morning.
Il have very serious matter to
speak Of" he said. Il dictated my
opinion in this cast, which is lengthy.
l have been about some four hours in
preparation of the opinion. I gave IT.
to court stenographer, a reputable
court stepographer, in secret, with In
structions that no living person
knows anything as to the conclusion
1 had reached until ] had begun to
read my opinion from the bench. L
have not intimated to any living soul
stenographer who took the dictation.
Il am now informed that the news.
papers in the large cities are being
now sold which undertake to state
what my opinion is. Now, any person
that send out any such information
as that sent 1t out without the au-
thority of this court, and If 1 find that
they have corruptly secured said in
formation 1 shall deal with them as
the law directs.
Now, on account of this improper
conduct-apparently, at least, i'm
proper conduct-of some person or
persons, the court has decided to with
hold his decision until tomorrow
morning, and tomorrow morning after
the opening of court the decision will
be read.
Now. I want, when the crowd is
gone from the courtroom-I want all
the members of the press to meet me
in this courtroom. 1 want to talk with
them about this matter. If l find that
some representative here has used any
strategem, or used any corrupt means,
or has in any manner secured my
opinion or as to the result of it, and
sent 1T out, l shall promptly deal with
MIN and, of course, excuse him from
any further presence in this court
room"
The conference and committee an.
pointment followed
The issue over the opening of the
court with prayer appeared at the
beginning of today's session when
Judge Raulston invited the Rev. A.
Z. Stribling, pastor of the Dayton
Cumberland Presbyterian church, to
offer prayer from the bench before
the beginning of the official session.
Prayer had been offered by a
Methodist minister on opening of
court Friday, the first day, before
the jury was chosen. Yesterday a
Baptist minister led the prayer, the
Jurors. unsworn, sitting in their
courtroom seats. This morning as
the invocation was made and the
court and spectators were directed to
stand the jurymen had not entered.
AS the crowd rose, Clarence barrow
held up an objecting finger and ad-
dressed the court. He told Judge
Raulston that the defense wished to
protest against the public court
prayer because it might prejudice the
case of John T. Scopes in the minds
of the jury and the court.
Il object to turning this court into
meeting house." barrow declared.
Attorney General Stewart asserted
that 1t was custom of the Rhea county
court to open with a prayer, 1.-The peo-
pie around this section are a God
fearing people," he said, and insisted :
that the practice be uninterrupted. Z
Judge Raulston declared that he.
wished to be reasonable" to all par
ties. He believed in prayer and prac-
ticed it himself, he said. He over
ruel the objection of the defense
and Mr.. Stribling led the prayer. -sr
Mr.. Darrow then asked that the
court permit the record to show that
he entered the same objection daily.
The court replied that the record
would show the objection daily and
show also that 1t had been overruled
in each instance.
Mr.. barrow had been expected 70
continue his address of yesterday in
support of the motion of defense to
quash the indictment on the grounds
of vagueness in the indictment and
unconstitutionality of the anti-evolu-
ton law. He told Judge Raulston he
would not continue.
Attorneys tonight expected Judge
Raulston to announced his ruling on
the motion to quash at the court open
ing tomorrow. The procedure there
after will be to swear in the jury, ar
raign the defendant and receive his
plea, and to call in witnesses to sup !
port the contention of the state and
Prof. Scopes violated the Tennessee
statute against teaching evolution in
the public schools.
Ten or more high school pupils,
members of Mr.. Scopes classes of the
recent session of the Dayton school.
have been summoned by the state and
are expected to give their testimony
tomorrow, unless further motions by
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