Deception in Court: Jehovah's Witnesses on the Witness Stand

According to a New York newspaper, The Brooklyn Eagle, (11 January 1913, p. 7) Rev. Ross, the pastor of the James Street Baptist Church of Hamilton, Ontario, accused Russell among other charges of teaching, "the destructive doctrines of one man who was neither a scholar nor a theologian," (Ibid).

Russell's attorney was none other that Joseph F. Rutherford who was to become the Society's next president after Russell's death in 1916.

Russell lost this case and was unable to prove libel in Rev. Ross's accusations that Russell, "...never attended the higher schools of learning; knows comparatively nothing of philosophy, systematic or historical theology and is totally ignorant of the dead languages," (Ibid; emphasis added).

A portion from the legal transcript reveals a small amount of the overwhelming evidence that helped Rev. Ross win in court.

The following is taken from the transcript as Rev. Ross's attorney, Mr. Staunton cross-examining C.T. Russell in the case Russell v. Ross.

Question: (Attorney Staunton) "Do you know the Greek Alphabet?"

Answer: (Russell) "Oh yes."

Question: (Staunton) "Can you tell me the correct letters if you see them?"

Answer: (Russell) "Some of them, I might make a mistake on some of them."

Question: (Staunton) "Would you tell me the names of those on top of the page, page 447 I have got here?"

Answer: (Russell) "Well, I don't know that I would be able to."

Question: (Staunton) "You can't tell what those letters are, look at them and see if you know?"

Answer: (Russell) "My way ..." [he was interrupted at this point and not allowed to explain]

Question: (Staunton) "Are you familiar with the Greek language?"

Answer: (Russell) "No."

(Ibid, p. 44).

As Martin observed, Russell first claimed to know the greek alphabet, then when challenged said he knew, "some of them" but may make mistakes on other letters.

Finally when presented with the greek letters themselves, admitted the he did not know Greek - one of the main points of Ross's "libellous" pamphlet.

Fredrick W. Franz

In another court case in 1954 in Scotland, Fredrick Franz [at the time a Governing Body member and later the Society's President] was placed on the witness stand to give testimony for the defense in a case questioning whether a Jehovah's Witness could be drafted into the military in Scotland.

The following is from the typed Pursers Proof, of the case, Douglas Walsh v. James Latham Clyde, representing the Minister of Labour and National Service, Court of Sessions, Scotland. Fredrick Franz is being cross-examined.

"Tuesday, 23rd November, 1954

"Q. Have you also made yourself familiar with Hebrew?

"A. Yes

"Q. Do you also know and speak Spanish, Portuguese and French?

"A. Spanish, Portuguese and German; but I have a reading knowledge of French.

"Q. So that you have a substantial linguistic apparatus at your command?

"A. Yes, for use in by biblical work.

"Q. I think you are able to read and follow the Bible in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, German and French?

"A. Yes.

"Q. And was it your duty on behalf of the Society to check the translation into English from the original Hebrew of that first volume of the Old Testament Scriptures [New World Translation]?

"A. Yes"

(Purser's Proof pp. 7-9).

However, the very next day, government attorneys decided to check Franz's linguistic abilities with a simple test. He was placed back on the stand and asked:

"Q. You, yourself, read and speak Hebrew, do you?

"A. I do not speak Hebrew.

"Q. You do not?

"A. No.

"Q. Can you, yourself, translate that into Hebrew?

"A. Which?

"Q. That fourth verse of the Second Chapter of Genesis?

"A. You mean here?

"Q. Yes?

"A. No. I won't attempt to do that."

(Ibid, pp. 102-03).

Apparently, Franz lost much of his "substantial linguistic apparatus" since the day before and was unable to attempt to translate a very basic passage.

This not only calls into question the honesty of statements made by Watchtower leaders but also makes one wonder about the scholarly ability of the New World Translation Committee.

The man who on the witness stand said he was responsible to check the accuracy of the Old Testament Translation was unable to translate into English a simple passage in Genesis chapter two.

Child Custody Cases

Not only has the Watchtower's leadership given questionable testimony under cross-examination, but their advice to rank and file members as to how to testify in court is quite controversial.

The Watchtower Society is currently distributing a book to members only entitled Direct and Cross Examination Questions in Child Custody Cases.

It coaches Jehovah's Witness parents and children on how to testify during a child custody divorce case.

Not too surprisingly, the book suggests that Witness children be instructed to say in court the exact opposite of what they would normally say in a Kingdom Hall. It warns:

"Be careful that they don't get the impression that they are in a demonstration at a circuit assembly, when they would show that the first things in life are service and going to the Kingdom Hall," (p. 42).

The Society is admitting here that it is instructing the Witness children to testify in court before a judge the exact opposite to what they would normally say at a Jehovah's Witness meeting.

The Witness child is instructed to:

"Show hobbies, crafts, social activity, sports and especially plans for the future. Be careful they don't all say that they are going to be pioneers [full-time door-to-door workers]. Plans can be trade, getting married and having children, journalism, and all kinds of other things. Maybe you can show an interest in art and the theatre," (Ibid).

However the Society has always taught that the door-to-door work and Watchtower activities should be the "...most important thing in their lives," (Watchtower, April 1, 1979).

Jehovah's Witnesses parents are told to, "...encourage their children to use after-school hours principally to pursue spiritual interests, rather than to excel in some sport. Participation in organized sports, we believe, would expose the Witness youths to unwholesome associations," (School and Jehovah's Witnesses, p. 23).

One is left to wonder - when are the children supposed to tell the truth, at the circuit assembly or on the witness stand?

The Watchtower Society has exhibited that when called to testify in court, Jehovah's Witnesses may not be reliable witnesses.

Watchtower leadership has shown by example and advice that at times their testimonies may be at best questionable and in some cases border on deception or even perjury.

How accurately God's Word has declared, "A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies," (Proverbs 14:5).