This is wholly improper, argumentative. It is not a statement as to what the issues are. Your honor has already held that this a
ct is constitutional, it being the law of the land, there is but one issue before this court and jury, and that is, did the defendant violate the statute. That statute interprets itself, and says that whenever a man teaches that man descended from a lower order of animals as contradistinguished from the record of the creation of man as given by the word of God, that he is guilty. Does the proof show that he did that, that is the only issue, if it please the honorable court, before this jury. –J.G. McKenzie
July 24, 1925
According to McKenzie, what question should the court be focusing on?
Was man really created by God?
Did man descend from animals?
Is the Butler Act constitutional?
Did Scopes break the law?
The purpose of the Espionage Act was to prohibit interference with military operations, to ban support of U.S. enemies during wartime or to promote insubordination in the military.
