The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-28
DEFENSE BOASTS
rave Failed to Materialize In the
Burrant Murder Trial.
HHe PRISONERS CALM DEMEANoR
Is Second Only to That Of His
Maternal Parent.

SAN FRANCISCO, sept. 2S-il Ineouore
Durrant has anything tangible upon which
10 base his denial of the charge that he
murdcrcd Blanche Lamont and Minnie
WILLIAMS, bis attornsyshave failed to give
satisfactory evidence Of the fact up To the
presSns time, ia the opinion of those who
have watched the case closely.
After two days devoted TO the testi-
mAny of the defense, tho trial was ad-
iourned at neon yesterday until next
TUESDAY. In the meantime, however, the
defsuse has disclosed enough TO satisfy the
prosecution that Durrants attorneys are
gropng In the dark in the hope that sonSc-
Thing may develop within the next few
days.
The weakness of the defense Is. made APP
parent at this timo on account OF ex-
travagant assertions that Durrant's at
torpeys have 9nformally made since the
trial began. When the. prosecution was
engaged In putting in its case, and the
situation looked darkest for Durrant. At
torhey Ddpfes was accustomed to snap his
fngers. and remark that lac had no fears
for the future OF his client.
"We will clear him in three minutes"
said Drprey, ''and the public will be at a
loss to Understand how Durrant's name
was eyer cepRected with the case" The
saline line OF extrayagant claims was con-
tinued when Attorney Duprey made his
opening speech for the defense.
Not only will tho prisoner tell with his
own lips the simple story of his life on the
day that Blanche Lamont weA murdered"
said Duprcy, but DR. Cheney will tell you
that Durraht was MT Cooper Medical col
lege at the very hour when the murder OF
Blanche Lamont is said to have taken
place. Besides that, we will prove to you
that Durrant never tried to pawn Miss
Lannon'S ring Mt 0ppenheim's store. On
the contrary we wtll bring forward the
young msn who did try TO pawn ring
al Oppenhelm's similar To the one worn
by Miss Lamont"
In view Of theSe startling statements, 1t
was first believed that the defense might
have a strong case held in reserve which
would put To n severe test the case OF the
prosecution. Mr. Cheney, who was ex-
pected To tell so much for the defense, was
as strong witness for the prosecution as
has taken the Stand during the trial. In
stead of fulfilling Dupreys statement and
swearing that Durrant attended lecture
at Cooper Medical college, he said he had
no recollection Of seeing the young medical
student there.
senseless Testimony.
II further proof were needed, on the be-
lief that the defense has little to offer In
refutation OF the case put forward by the
prosecution, it was furnished yesterday.
Instead Of placing witnesses on the stand
60 testify In connection with Durrants
alibi. two gasfitters were called TO testify
with regard TO the suuburners in the gal
lery OF Emanuel church. For two hours
the crowd was bored and the jury made
tired by long series of questions and an
swers relative 20 the minutest part Of the
construction Of sunburner. Not once,
during the entire session was the name or
Blanche Lamont mentioned.
The evident purpose of the examination
was TO show that the repairing OF sun
burners would necessarily result in the
escape of great deal of gas. This testi-
mony will be used TO substantiate Dur
rants statement that he was suffering
from partial asphyxiation when he came
down from the church belfry, trembling
and flushed, and met Organist King in the
auditorium.
A significant feature of the testimony
of the two gasfltters was the fact that
each testified that he made an examina-
ton of the sunburners In Emanuel church
on Sept. 81. The prosecution interprets
this to mean that the defense had nothing
upon which to base case until the case
of the people was nearly completed
The present character of his case, how
ever, has produced no change in the de-
meanor of Durrant. Day after day he sits
In the courtroom beside his father and
mother and listens to the evidence against
him without sign Of emotion.
This stoicism on the part of the prisoner
Is only surpassed by that of his mother.
Mrs. Durrant seems to have no conception
OF the gravity of her sons situation. At
tired in waving plumes and tailor-made
gown such rs a lady might wear at mat
inee, she laughs and chats with her friends
while the evidence that the prosecution
believes will hang her son Is being put In
against him. To frequenters of the court
room, Mrs Durrant's conduct is almost as
unfathomable as that Of her son.
Durrant's father, however, looks care
worn, and gives evidence of the intense
mental strain through which he must be