The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-07-11
SCOPES JURY
IS CHOSEN IN
RECORD TIME
Three Denominations Are
Represented on Body
TO Try Teacher
NO COURT HELD TO-DAY
First Legal Battle TO BE
Fought Monday in Admis-
sion of Testimony
NO COURT HELD TO-DAY

Dayton. Tenn. July yl1.--(P The
IL men who are to try John Scopes
on charge Of violating the Tennes-
see law prohibiting the teaching Of
theories of evolution in public
schools Of the state were chosen. The
first day Of the trial moved swiftly.
paving the way for the first legal
battle. TO be fought Monday on the
question Of admission of scientific
testimony in regard to evolution.
Twelve Of the 20 prospective jur-
ors examined were accepted with
but few questions from the state.
The defense propounded a number Of
questions to each man but used only
two Of its three peremptory chal-
lenges. One objection was made by
the state. the court ruled four po-
tential jurors incompetent and one
was excused on account of his age.
No Session Today
No session Of court was held today.
The defense asked for day in which
to confer over the points the attor-
neys desire to stress in their con-
tention that scientific testimony to
show that the theory Of evolution
and the story of divine creation as
told in the Bible are not in conflict.
The question will be argued before
I"de" John T. Raulston, presiding.
Monday.
Clarence Darrow, in speaking Of
the expectation to bring witnesses
from distance, said that the de-
fense considered scientists to be wit
nesSes competent to explain what
evolution Us, adding that defense
counsel considered such on both
sides.
Attorney Genc-al Stewart. reply
ing to Mr.. Darrow's announcement
that the defense would insist on in
PRODUCING the views Of scientists and
Bible students on the Tennessee
law. said that the prosecution would
contend that II was not competent
to bring scientists into the case to
testify to what the theory of evolu-
tion is. or to interpret the Bible. The
brief preliminary skirmish ended the
incident for the day, the afternoon
session being devoted to selection of
jury.
The first juror called. w. F. Rob-
inson. was accepted by the state and
defense with but few questions. but
Mr. Darrow went into an exhaustive
examination Of the second prospec-
tive talesman, J. w. Dagley. and fol-
lowed this course with the others.
The defense lawyer asked the jur-
ors if they knew anything of evolu-
tion, had discussed it, heard sermons
or lectures on the subject or read of
it in newspapers or magazines. He
also asked as to their church men,
bership, their familiarity with the
Bible and ideas, if any, as to the con-
sistency Of the theory of evolution
and the story of divine creation as
told in the Bible. The jury. as
completed, included nine farmers.
one who is both school teacher and
farmer, one fruit grower and one
shipping clerk. Only one Of the
twelve men was not member of a
church. Three denominations, Bap-
tist. Methodist. and Christian, were
represented on the jury which fol-
lows:
w. F. Robinson, farmer; J. W..
Dagley, farmer; Jim Riley, farmer;
W. B. Taylor, farmer; r. L. Gentry.
farmer and school teacher; J. A..
Thompson, fruit grower and former
United States marshal: Jesse Good
rich. shipping clerk: J. H. Bowman.
farmer; b. W. Day. farmer: r. L..
West. farmer; J. S. Wright. farmer;
w. D. Smith. farmer.