William Kinsey Hutchinson
Encyclopedia
William Kinsey "Bill" Hutchinson (June 27, 1896 – May 25, 1958) was an American reporter who became a friend of presidents, legislators, cabinet members, and other U.S.
government diplomats and officials. Between 1913 and 1920 William (Bill) worked as a reporter for a Reading, Pennsylvania
newspaper. He moved to Washington, D.C.
in 1920 and started work for William Randolph Hearst
's International News Service
(INS). As an INS reporter, he covered the John T. Scopes
trial, also known as the Scopes Trial
, in Dayton, Tennessee
and on July 24, 1925 he was the first reporter to file the dispatch stating the outcome. A conversation that occurred during the last days of the trail, Scopes said:
"There's something I must tell you. It's worried me. I didn't violate the law ...I never taught that evolution lesson. I skipped it. I was doing something else the day I should have taught it, and I missed the whole lesson about Darwin and never did teach it. Those kids they put on the stand couldn't remember what I taught them three months ago. They were coached by the lawyers." "Honest, I've been scared all through the trial that the kids might remember I missed the lesson. I was afraid they'd get on the stand and say I hadn't taught it and then the whole trial would go blooey. If that happened they would run me out of town on a rail."
When Bill mentioned that would make a great news story, John responded, "My god no! Not a word of it until the Supreme Court passes my appeal. My lawyers would kill me." In Lyon Sprague de Camp's book, The Great Monkey Trial
, de Camp goes on to say that Bill claimed he overheard Clarence Darrow
coaching the students on what to say, however, even with coaching, only one of the students implied that Scopes taught evolution.
Bill also covered the national political conventions and events in the Capitol. In 1939 he was the Bureau Chief of the International News Service
in Washington, D.C.
. In late 1949, during a Hearts (game)
, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover
and Bill came up with the idea for a list of names, photographs, and descriptions of the ten worst criminals wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI). On March 14, 1950, the list was compiled and distributed as the FBI's Most Wanted Fugitives list.
Following his transatlantic solo flight and return to the United States in 1927, Charles Lindbergh
gave his flight jacket to Bill. He wore this jacket on many outings and kept it until his death. The jacket was then willed to his brother Herb. By the time of Herb's death in 1986, the jacket had so deteriorated that it was mistakenly thrown out by someone who did not realize its historic value.
Bill was a member of the bar in the District of Columbia and wrote two books, Life and Works of William E. Borah and Ten Days that Changed the World, the latter being an account of the ten days between the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Japan and the surrender of Japan
. For many years he was owner and the Vice President of the Washington Redskins
football team. A World War I veteran, Bill received numerous awards from the Air Force, Army, and Navy for patriotic service. He died the day after the announcement of the merger of the International News Service
with the United Press International
. On May 26, 1958 the funeral was held with Vice President Richard Nixon
as one of the pallbearers.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government diplomats and officials. Between 1913 and 1920 William (Bill) worked as a reporter for a Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
newspaper. He moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1920 and started work for William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
's International News Service
International News Service
International News Service was a U.S.-based news agency founded by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1909.Established two years after the Scripps family founded the United Press Association, INS scrapped among the newswires...
(INS). As an INS reporter, he covered the John T. Scopes
John T. Scopes
John Thomas Scopes , was a biology teacher in Dayton, Tennessee, who was charged on May 5, 1925 for violating Tennessee's Butler Act, which prohibited the teaching of evolution in Tennessee schools...
trial, also known as the Scopes Trial
Scopes Trial
The Scopes Trial—formally known as The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes and informally known as the Scopes Monkey Trial—was a landmark American legal case in 1925 in which high school science teacher, John Scopes, was accused of violating Tennessee's Butler Act which made it unlawful to...
, in Dayton, Tennessee
Dayton, Tennessee
Dayton is a city in Rhea County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 6,180 at the 2000 census. The Dayton, TN, Urban Cluster, which includes developed areas adjacent to the city and extends south to Graysville, Tennessee, had 9,050 people in 2000...
and on July 24, 1925 he was the first reporter to file the dispatch stating the outcome. A conversation that occurred during the last days of the trail, Scopes said:
"There's something I must tell you. It's worried me. I didn't violate the law ...I never taught that evolution lesson. I skipped it. I was doing something else the day I should have taught it, and I missed the whole lesson about Darwin and never did teach it. Those kids they put on the stand couldn't remember what I taught them three months ago. They were coached by the lawyers." "Honest, I've been scared all through the trial that the kids might remember I missed the lesson. I was afraid they'd get on the stand and say I hadn't taught it and then the whole trial would go blooey. If that happened they would run me out of town on a rail."
When Bill mentioned that would make a great news story, John responded, "My god no! Not a word of it until the Supreme Court passes my appeal. My lawyers would kill me." In Lyon Sprague de Camp's book, The Great Monkey Trial
The Great Monkey Trial
The Great Monkey Trial is a 1968 book on the Scopes Trial by L. Sprague de Camp, first published in hardcover by Doubleday. This history of the trial was based on the memoirs of John T...
, de Camp goes on to say that Bill claimed he overheard Clarence Darrow
Clarence Darrow
Clarence Seward Darrow was an American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union, best known for defending teenage thrill killers Leopold and Loeb in their trial for murdering 14-year-old Robert "Bobby" Franks and defending John T...
coaching the students on what to say, however, even with coaching, only one of the students implied that Scopes taught evolution.
Bill also covered the national political conventions and events in the Capitol. In 1939 he was the Bureau Chief of the International News Service
International News Service
International News Service was a U.S.-based news agency founded by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1909.Established two years after the Scripps family founded the United Press Association, INS scrapped among the newswires...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. In late 1949, during a Hearts (game)
Hearts (game)
Hearts is an "evasion-type" trick-taking playing card game for four players, although variations can accommodate 3–6 players. The game is also known as The Dirty, Black Lady, Chase the Lady, Crubs, and Black Maria, though any of these may refer to the similar but differently-scored game Black Lady...
, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover
J. Edgar Hoover
John Edgar Hoover was the first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States. Appointed director of the Bureau of Investigation—predecessor to the FBI—in 1924, he was instrumental in founding the FBI in 1935, where he remained director until his death in 1972...
and Bill came up with the idea for a list of names, photographs, and descriptions of the ten worst criminals wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
(FBI). On March 14, 1950, the list was compiled and distributed as the FBI's Most Wanted Fugitives list.
Following his transatlantic solo flight and return to the United States in 1927, Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
gave his flight jacket to Bill. He wore this jacket on many outings and kept it until his death. The jacket was then willed to his brother Herb. By the time of Herb's death in 1986, the jacket had so deteriorated that it was mistakenly thrown out by someone who did not realize its historic value.
Bill was a member of the bar in the District of Columbia and wrote two books, Life and Works of William E. Borah and Ten Days that Changed the World, the latter being an account of the ten days between the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Japan and the surrender of Japan
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
. For many years he was owner and the Vice President of the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
football team. A World War I veteran, Bill received numerous awards from the Air Force, Army, and Navy for patriotic service. He died the day after the announcement of the merger of the International News Service
International News Service
International News Service was a U.S.-based news agency founded by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1909.Established two years after the Scripps family founded the United Press Association, INS scrapped among the newswires...
with the United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
. On May 26, 1958 the funeral was held with Vice President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
as one of the pallbearers.