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He was born in Kinsman, Ohio. His father was atheist.
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He was admitted to the Ohio bar and opened his first office. He gardually made his name through making speeches or Democratic party on the election.
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He was a general attorney for the Chicago and Northwestern Railway. In 1894, workers of the company wet on strike and he defended them.
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Since he supported the workers to go on strike, he was uder attack and his reputation had never recovered.
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He was back on top as the most famous trial attorney in America by 1920s.
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He defended John T. Scopes in the State of Tennessee v. Scopes trial. It has often been called the "Scopes Monkey Trial". He was against to the act which forbade the teaching of "the Evolutionary Theory". The Tennessee Suprume Court dismissed the case and the conflict between faith and science still exsists.
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He continued to try high profile cases even in his 70s. He died at age of 81 in Chicago, Illinois.