Scopes Monkey Trial. Mr. Scopes was unsure whether he had ever actually taught evolution but he voluntarily incriminated himself so the case could have a defendant. The defense wasn’t allowed to present any testimony in favor of science other than one zoologist, so they questioned the prosecuting attorney, William Jennings Bryan (populist who ran for president and was the inspiration for the cowardly lion in the wizard of oz) who was considered an expert on the Bible, in order to sow doubt in the jury that the Bible was scientific. The jury said that they found the defendant not guilty, however since the defense wasn’t allowed to present testimony other than a zoologist who said monkeys are a lower class of animals—which they could not contradict—they were forced to find him guilty. William Jennings Bryan died less than a week after the trial. Scopes’ punishment was a fine of $100.
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