New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-16
THE SAN FRANCISCO HORROR.
DURANT, THE PRISONER, DECLARES HIS
INNOCENCE.

STRONG CTRCUMsTANTIAL EVIDENCE CONNECTS
HIM WITH THE KILLING OF THE TWO
YOUNG WOMEN IN EMANUEL CHURCH
SUSPECTED OF OTHER MURDERS
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNEl
San Francisco, April 15.-Nothing Is discussed
in San Francisco to-day except the atroclous
double murder In Emanuel Church. The police
have charged young Theodore Durant with the
murder Of Blanche Lamont and Minnie Will
iams but they have gained no material ev'.
dence against the murderer from Durant himself
though the crcumstantial evidence Is so strong
that he can scarcely hope TO break 1t down
Durant is more nervous to-day than he was yes
terday but he is still watcnful and calm. and
cannot be surprised into any admissions that VIII
hurt his He persists In his declaration
that he knows nothing whatever Of the murder
Of the two young girls, and he tells a very
plausible story to account for his actions at tho
times the two girls were killed. He also refers
to his record and to his church friends to hea-
out his story that he lived decent life, and
had no complications with women. He refers
with pride to the fact that he neither drinks
smokes
Search is now being made for the body Of Mrs
Forsythe, wife Of pressman with the Schmidt
Label Company. on the suppositlon that she was
girls The principal reason for this theory Is that
she was a member Of Emanuel Church and fire.
quently attended there She known to have
been in the company of a man who attended the
church with her and from this and few other
circumstances 1t was thought that she had eloped.
IL is now thought that Durant was the man and
that he killed her also.
There are reasons for thinking that Durant also
murdered Eugene Ware, young drug clerk. who
was killed a few months ago. Those who saw the
scientific butchery displayed In both coupled
as IL was with horrible savagery, Immediately con-
nected the cases Ware and Durant were close
acquain;ances. and Durant frequently visited him
a, the pharmacy. He was seen with Ware on the
night Of the murder. As a motive, 1t is said that
Durant jealous OF Ware on account OF his at
tentons to girl Ware stabbed eighteen
times with a double-edSed dirk. and only two Of
the wounds looked though they had been de-
livered at random. Others were about the heart
and abdomen Furthermore. Ware was murdered
by leit-handed man. Durant uses both hands
with equal facility.
Durant already has his circle of female sympa-
th!zers, but yet none Of ,hem have been per-
m,tted TO hold an interview with him. Morbid
minded women were on hand al an early hour this
morning and made appeals to the officers on duty
suspected Of the two murders. The only person
who was allowed to Durant this morning was
hi. father. who remained In the cell with him for
nearly an hour.
1t is said AT Police Headquarters that IT is by no
means certain that Durant did not have an ar-
complice The theory seems to be based upon the
apparent lmpossib!ty OF man OF Durants ply
sique being able to carry Miss Lamonts body up
t. the bcliry Chief Crowley says that unless 1t
can be shown that Mss Lamont went voluntarily
into the belfry the chances are that Durant had
an accompce in the murder.
Durant who Is formally charged with the muir
der q the Williams girl when seen in his cell
said that he had been advised to make 10 further
public statement until the preliminary examine
tlon 81 am innocent of the dea tn o, the girls. he
said and nope to be able 10 prove that fact"
When he was told OF the marked similarity be-
tween his writing and the address on the package
containing Miss Lamon,s rings. sent 10 her aunt,
Ms. Noble on Friday last. he said; The writing
may be similar. but sta.e most soemaly that
know nothing Of the person who sent the rings ID
Mrs Noble"
on being questioned he admitted he had
charge Of The s'unday-school library. and that
the catalogue had been written by him Wnen
Durants admission 10 the writing was fol-
lowed hv Information that the police mad used
a norton of the catalogue for the purpose ot con-
e,lrS Elm with the writing Of the addresses men
toned Durant qualified his admissions with the
statement: Il only wrote part OF the catalogue
Four 0ther persons were engaged in that work
When pressed II give names. he took refuge IN
silence.
The evidence gathered by the police against Du-
rant is strong Its main points are that he was in
the upper part OF the church fixing the electro
wires ON the morning that Blanche Lamont was
killed: he nxel ;ha wire to the h-lfry, where the
body was round: he cannot satisfactorily account
for his actions On the night Miss Williams was
|. ktIed and he arrived at a party t. which she
invited in n heated condition. with his clothes and
hair disorderei
Mr. King the organist OF Emanuel Church to-
niyht made A statement TO the police in which
he said hc saw Durant come down from the
bclfrv on the day OF Miss Lamonts disap-
nearanre male and agitated. He asked King for
: restorative - he said escaping gas In the
telfry made him sick.