As the title of this thread says, I am looking for the transcript of the "Miracle Wheat" trial.
Any clues?
Thanks,
Doug
Looking for transcript of the "Miracle Wheat" trial
by Doug Mason 23 Replies latest watchtower bible
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cantleave
That would be a good read!
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VM44
The transcript of that trial appears to be missing.
Researchers who have looked for have it not been successful.
Although Walter Martin, author of Kingdom of the Cults, makes reference to that trial's transcript in one of his books.
The Watchtower Society might have a copy of the transcript, but I highly doubt they would provide anyone with a copy of it!
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blondie
You could try the newspaper archives of the Brooklyn Eagle.
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Leolaia
Gruss in Four Presidents claims that "A copy of the trial transcript, Russell v. Brooklyn Daily Eagle, may be found in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle microfilms, on file in the Brooklyn Public Library" (p. 204). I don't know the veracity of this statement.
There is a summary of the appellate court's review of the case you can find here.
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Band on the Run
You could telephone the NY court system in Albany and ask whether transcripts from trials were archived and how to access them. The New York Times probably covered the trial as it involved local media. The NY Post and Daily News were in existence. I have access to the NYT archives. Maybe I will look.
I never paid much attention to this episode. What ever happened to Free Speech and a free and robust press? Besides, politcal/editorial cartoons are opinion, not fact. Newspapers can report opinions, I am certain the cartoonist had a credit. So the paper never factually reported something libelous. My concern is if this was the only action. Reading the West Law headnotes, I wonder why Russell was not indicted under a host of state and federal charges. Someone can't engage in securities speculation under the guise of preaching. Warren Jeffs is a striking example of the First Amendment not being absolute.
My mom mentioned these extra-religious activities. Multivitamins, vaccines, aluminum, miracle wheat.
Is it such a leap from Miracle Wheat (did Russell have an interest he did not reveal) to distortion of Christianity, Armageddon, and more? Being born-in, this is just so tacky and embarassing. Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye come to mind but Russell beat them. Why is there such reverence for this man? People report as though things were ok until Rutherford emerged. My mom said people read Bibles rather than WT lit exclusively under Russell and more dissent was tolerated.
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Band on the Run
I could not find a reference in the NYT archives. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle archives evidently are not available for that date.
Is there something specific you are looking for that you feel might be in a transcript?
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Doug Mason
I am asking on behalf of a friend who specialises in researching the early 20th century history of the WTS. I intend forwarding your comments in due course.
I found what appear to be newspaper articles at http://www.archive.org, by searching for "miracle wheat" (Make certain you include those quotation marks, otherwise you get all sorts of things with "miracle" in the title.)
Doug
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Alleymom
There is a very brief transcript of a small part of the trial in The Way to Paradise, by W.E. Van Amburgh. See the section beginning on page 14.
Available on Google Books.