Page:The World's Most Famous Court Trial - 1925.djvu/42

38 something about it, or hear something about it.

Q—Do you think you have heard or studied enough about it to know or have an opinion of any values on it?

A—No, I haven't.

Q—That is, if evolution was of any importance in the case, you would want to learn the truth of the case the best you could about it, wouldn't you?

A—Why, sure.

Q—Your mind would be open for anything you could receive?

A—Yes.

Q—And just as much open to one side or the other?

A—Yes.

Q—You haven't any desire to he wrong or not to learn just what the truth is?

A—To be right.

Q—You want to know what the truth is? There are lots of things that may be important that we don't any of us study enough to form an intelligent opinion, I suppose, and this is one of the things that you have regarded in that way?

A—Yes, sir.

Q—Have you been quite a Bible reader?

A—Well, I have read the Bible some, not so awful much—I have read it some.

Q—Have you read it to find out whether there is any conflict between the Bible and evolution?

A—No, I never reached that point; I don't know as I have. I don't know whether I am just following up what you mean.

Q—All right, I will make it plainer. I know you will tell me, if you have—you haven't any opinion that you yourself think of any value on evolution?

A—No, sir.

Q—I don't mean casual opinion like a man may form on a thing without any study, but I mean something that is substantial and amounts to something—you haven't any such opinion?

A—No, sir.

Q—You haven't any opinion as to whether evolution as you understood it would be contrary to the Bible, if you have studied the Bible carefully or not, have you?

A—Well, I have a slight opinion on that line, but not—I don't know—I couldn't say whether—as I already have told you, I don't understand what is meant by evolution, or really what—I don't know just exactly what your idea is.

Q—Have you paid any special attention to what the Bible says about how man came?

A—Yes, sir, I have.

Q—Is that from your reading or what you heard?

A—From my reading,

Q—Well, what is your judgment as to whether you would be a fair and impartial juror in this case and can decide it without any opinions or bias?

A—Yes, sir.

Q—You think you can?

A—Yes, sir.

Q—Did you ever read much about the Bible and how it came into being, outside of the Bible itself—did you ever read much about that?

A—Let's see that question.

Q—Did you ever read much about the Bible outside the Bible itself?

A—Well, yes, I have read something.

Q—Ever made any study of it outside the reading of the book—outside of the Bible?

A—What do you mean?

Q—Read what people have written about it—it'sits [sic] history and all that?

A—Yes, I have read some—books, you mean, on the Bible?

Q—Yes.

A—Yes, I have read some few; not much though—very little.

Q—And do you think you have no fixed opinion as to whether evolution is contrary to the Bible?

A—Well, I don't know whether I could say that or not.

Q—You mean you don't know whether it is contrary or not?

A—Yes, sir, that is what I mean.

Q—What I am getting at—have you any opinion on the subject or are you ready for argument—open for it?

A—I am open for it.