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Landmark trials highlighted in upcoming programs Take a look back at some of the most significant trials in U.S. history as Jackson Community College presents these informational programs: Great Trials: The Scopes "Monkey Trial": A small Tennessee town gained national attention in 1925 when a biology school teacher was arrested for violating state law and teaching Darwin's theory of evolution in the classroom. Over 70 years ago, legendary criminal defense lawyer Clarence Darrow was pitted against famous Christian fundamentalist William Jennings Bryan in a riveting courtroom drama that polarized the nation. This historic trial focused Americans' attention on freedom of speech, separation of church and state, and due process rights that brought to the surface issues that are still hotly debated today. This program will be presented at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19, Federer Room B, Potter Center. Genealogy @ JCC: You're in the Army Now! How to Find Military Records: Wars generate a lot of paperwork. Governments like to know who can be enlisted to serve, where the soldiers are, when they're absent from duty or if there is an injury or death. How do you know if your ancestor served in the military? What information do you need in order to search for your soldier ancestor? Learn what tools you can use to locate your military ancestor in this free genealogy workshop presented at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, Federer Room B, Potter Center. Call the JCC Atkinson library at (517) 796-8622 to register for this workshop. Great Trials: The Sam Sheppard Case: Before the Scott Peterson case, there was the Sam Sheppard case. On July 3, 1954 on a warm and sunny Saturday in Bay Village, a quiet Cleveland suburb, Sam and Marilyn Sheppard were entertaining their neighbors Donald and Nancy Ahern and their two sons, Michael and Leslie. Shortly after dinner, Dr. Sam received a telephone call that required him to rush to the hospital to set a fractured leg. He sped to the hospital. When he returned home, he fell asleep on the living room couch. The next morning, Marilyn Sheppard was found dead lying in her blood-soaked bed. This is the case that sparked the "Fugitive" TV show and films. Now, over 50 years later, there are still unanswered questions in this case. Was Sam Sheppard guilty of murdering his wife? Explore these and other mysteries of this case at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24, 2005 in Federer Room B. Great Trials: The Scottsboro Boys: The Scottsboro case was not simply an isolated instance of injustice, but represented a common manifestation of national oppression and class rule in the South. Accused of raping two white women on a freight train near Paint Rock, Alabama, nine young black men aged 13 to 21, were arrested on March 25, 1931, tried without adequate counsel, and hastily convicted on the basis of shallow evidence. All but one was sentenced to death. So began one of the most significant legal fights of the 20th century. The trials of the nine young men would draw North and South into their sharpest conflict since the Civil War, yield two momentous Supreme Court decisions and give birth to the civil rights movement. This program will be presented at 1 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 26-27, Federer Room B. -30- |
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