The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-02
WORSE FOR DURRANT.
A New and Important Witness
Has Been Discovered.
She Heard Durrant Burning
Some Old Clothes.
SHE WAS AT HIS HOME.
Remembered 1t When He Was
Charged With Murder.
Was On the Same Night That 1t
Occurred.
SIZE WAS AT HIS HOME.

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 2.-The police
have learned of witness whose story, If
repeated in court, may prove disastrous
to Theodore Durrants defense against
the murder charges with which he IS
dealing, The new witness is woman,
and it is said she declares that on the
night of the murder of Minnie Williams,
Durrant arrived home very late and
burned mething-probab clothing
in y stove before he retired to his bed
room.
The young medical student claims
that on the night Minnie Williams met
her tragic fate, he escorted two young
Ladies home from the reception at the
Vogel residence, and then went to his
own abode, ON Fair Oaks street, whore
he remained until about 5 o'clock the
next morning.
he police have contended all along
that Durrant stranglod Minnie Williams
before he went to DR.. VogePs, and after
the reception returned and hacked her
body with knife. The story that they
are now working follows up this line.
Mrs. Durrant, mother of the accused.
has stated that Ter son arrived home on
that eventful night about the same time
usual and went directly to bed. L his
story has just been directly contradicted
in the Durr2nt home that night. She
has told feminine friend of hers that
she was awakened by the noise which
Durranr made getting into the house.
81 heard d noise down stairs" she said,
shade by somebody who was at the
stove. Mrs. Durrant called out is that
you, Theodore? The answer came
YES
"sWhat are you doing down there?'
asked the young mans mother.
{" i am burning some old letters OF
mine,' he replied. / paid no more atten
ton to the matter. but soon L detected
the odor of burning clothing. 1t was
long after midnight when this occurred,
and ! thought no more of the matter I'M
til I heard that Theodore was charged
with the murder Of Minnie Williams.
Then the experience of that night came
back to me- But I have kept my os,n
counsel, q l do not wish to get mixed W
Ia the matter"
The police au horities are very reticent
as to this important witness, but the
general Impression is that they have To-
Gated and viii have her in court at the
proper time. Captain Lees, chief of de-
tectives, in speaking of the subject ad-
mitted that he had heard the story, but
would give no information regarding the
ide nifty of the witness. In fact, he de-
MED that he knew her.
The only way in which such matter
could be effective" said he, would be to
have this witness tell her story on the
witness stand. l have heard that the
lady has told the story, but whether she
will tell it in court is another matter"
The Chronicle says: Charles II. Clarke
did not see Blanche Lamont with man
who looked like Theodore Durrant, but
who was not Durrant, on a Powell street
car on April 8, the day Miss Lamont was
murdered in Emanuel church. There
fore Clarke's deposition will not be taken
in Boston, to be used at the trial of Dur
rant and the testimony of three young
girls who say they saw Durrant and Miss
Lamont on the car will go unchallenged
so far as Clarke is concerned.
Mrs. Clarke wife of the man who is
now in Boston, made statement to Cap
tain Lees, District Attorney Barnes, Eu-
gene Duprey and John Ii. Dickinson,
which proves conclusively that Clarke
could not have been on a Powell stree,
car at the time Blanche Lamont is known
TO have taken her last street car ride.