Clarence Darrow cross-examines William Jennings Bryan


Several days ago, I blogged about the Scopes Monkey Trial. Now we have some idea of what it looked like, thanks to some pictures recently discovered at the Smithsonian Institution.

This picture was taken of the famous cross-examination of Bryan. On that day, it had been anticipated that closing arguments would be delivered, and the judge knew that demand to hear the arguments would be high, so he moved the trial out to the courthouse steps on the town square.

Burt Likko

Pseudonymous Portlander. Homebrewer. Atheist. Recovering litigator. Recovering Republican. Recovering Catholic. Recovering divorcé. Recovering Former Editor-in-Chief of Ordinary Times. House Likko's Words: Scite Verum. Colite Iusticia. Vivere Con Gaudium.

2 Comments

  1. Interesting … I am learning.Maybe you should blog about Roe v Wade …?BTW, do you belive Bible = The Complete Whole Truth?Cheers.

  2. No. I am an atheist. Accordingly, I do not believe the Bible is the “complete whole truth.” I consider the Bible a work of great historical interest and that the teachings of many of the people described in it, including but not limited to Jesus, to contain much moral wisdom. The Bible also contains a great deal of mythology intended to explain things unknowable to its authors, as well as instructions for performing various magical rituals. These things are not true; I do not believe, as Leviticus commands, that homosexuals should be executed; nor do I believe, as Joshua implies, that the Sun could appear to cease moving along its path in the sky; nor do I believe, as all four Gospels clearly indicate, that a man could be crucified to death, become entombed, and walk around talking to his friends three days later.

Comments are closed.