Jerry Summers
The 10-page article written in freshman English class at the University of Georgia by former Baylor student Robert M. Lawrence is another connection to the true “Trial of the Century” that took place in July 1925 in Dayton, Tn.
“Robbie” is the grandson of Mildred Taylor Lawrence (1913- 1986) who married Harry M. Lawrence, Sr. in 1929. Their son Harry M. Lawrence, Jr., was born in 1931 and is now a 93 years young, retired ophthalmologist, and ordained Episcopal priest. He and his son agreed to be interviewed about Mildred's relationship with defendant John T. Scopes, although the article started with a strong, suggestive message that “William Jennings Bryan died in my Gran's bed.”
The explanation has a much less sensuous meaning based on the facts that will be explained. Mildred Taylor was born in Dayton, on Labor Day in 1903. Her mother died when Gran was four and her father, Harry Hayes Taylor was working on the L & N Railroad traveling constantly. Gran and her sister, Edina, stayed at the Ault household, and when their father died in 1919, the girls became the Aults’ foster children after her father and four brothers moved to Jacksonville, Fl.
Like all stories about the Scopes Trial, there are often two (or more) versions of the same events or individuals, and the historical plot and trial, that is approaching its 100th anniversary in 2025.
The stories surrounding the young lady and the defendant, John T. Scopes and the famous trial over the constitutionality of the Anti-Evolution Act passed by the Tennessee legislature in March 1925 are multiple and interesting from a historical perspective, described in the above article by one of her grandsons.
More than 200 journalists and photographers jammed into Dayton (population 1900) hotels and boarding houses. One famous photo on the Friday, July 10, 1925 edition in the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper that nationwide showed an attractive brown headed 22-year-old former high school student of John Scopes in Rhea County holding a felt pennant with the words “Dayton, Tennessee, 1925 souvenir of the Monkey Trial” sold at the Ault’s store.
Mildred was identified as “the steady girl of John Thomas Scopes”. There is a quote included that “no matter what one may think of the merits of the trial, Scopes taste in feminine charms is proved by the picture”. After the trial ended on July 21, 1925 fundamentalist, William Jennings Bryan, suffered a stroke and died in his sleep five days later.
To answer the initial teaser, Robbie Lawrence, in his short article proudly asserted, “and yes, he did die in my Gran’s bed.” To eliminate any incorrect suggestion of any impropriety between Mildred Taylor and Scopes, it is alleged and should be pointed out that Bryan was renting the old Taylor residence as his temporary quarters during the trial.
After preaching on Sunday at a local Methodist church, he ate a large meal and went back to the residence to take an afternoon nap and died in his sleep in the bedroom where Lawrence claimed it was his grandmother's prior to the trial.
John Scopes and Mildred remained friends, as did her future husband, Harry M. Lawrence, Sr., who she married in 1929 with Scopes attending the wedding. This friendship was confirmed in two signed original letters, dated February 25, and August 20, 1926, from John to Mildred that have been donated by the Lawrence family to the Scopes Museum in the basement of the historic Rhea County Courthouse.
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