The herald., 1895-04-15

mentals. was taken to the chiefs Office
aiid subjected, 10 d searching
ton. He appeared very cool and even
when arrested by Anthony and told that
Miss Lamont's body had been found, did
not lose his nerve, although he appeared
greatly shocked and surprised. After the
examination by the chief. Durant was
taken to cell where he was joined by his
parents and lawyer. He made the fol
lowing statement to the Associated Press:
1.-The last time | met Miss Lamont was
on the morning of the day she disap-
peared, April Sd. We talked about books
and promised to bring book for her
TO prayer meeting that night. Miss La
mont did not appear at prayer meeting
and the following Friday l took the book
to her house and gave it to her sister.
The latter told me that Blanche had gone
to school. evidently trying to keep the
fact of her disappearance secret. That is
all know of the Lamont case. The last
time l saw Minnie Williams was three
weeks ago."
When confronted by the evidence that
Miss Williams purse had been found in
his pocket Durant gave the following
explanation:
II was going home from the meeting
at DR.. Vogle's Friday night when my foot
struck a small object on the sidewalk. l
picked it up and found that it was
small pocket mirror. Near by was a
purse, which l also picked up and put in
my pocket. | took both purse and mir
ror home with me. intending to tell my
parents of my find. 1t was late, how
ever. and L went right to bed. In the
morning l was in a hurry to get away
with the signal corps and forgot all about
it."
No Easter Service
The police take exception to Durant's
statement that he had not seen Miss Will
liarns for three weeks. They say they
can prove that he was with her on Mon
day and Tuesday and possibly later.
From all appearances Miss Lamont was
not murdered in the room where her
body was found. The body had been
dragged up the belfry stairs and into the
lower room. Her clothing was found
stuffed into various corners of the room.
About the time this morning that Miss
Lannon'S body was found the congrega-
ton of Emanuel church were on their
way to attend the Easter service, for
which elaborate preparations had been
made. When they arrived. however, and
learned of the frightful crime, they fled
horror stricken from the spot The
church was locked and guarded by the
police all day.
In his statement to the police Rev. DR..
Gibson asserts his belief in Durant's in
nocence but is unable to offer any theory
as to the actual perpera tor of the crime.
This much can be said for Durant he
did not act like a guilty man when ar
rested, and his preparations to leave with
the signal corps were made without con-
cealment and before the murder of Miss
Williams. Even the police are forced to
admit that it seems incredible that he
would commit such a crime unless
afflicted by a mania for that sort of work.
No charge has been placed against Du-
rant.
Chief Crowley. in speaking of the case
tonight, after detailing the circumstan-
ces OF Miss Williams disappearance last
Friday night and the fact that person
answering Durant's appearance had
been seen entering the church with a
woman who answers Miss Williams de-
scription, said:
The Party at DIR. Vogel's
''Durant made his appearance at DR..
Vogel's house at $3.50 or 10 p. M. remain
ing there until about II 80. DR.. Vogel
states that at the time Durant arrived at
his house he noticed that Durant was
somewhat exercised and great beads of
Precipitation came from his forehead. His
hair was disheveled, and he asked DR..
VogeI's permission to wash his hands and
comb his hair before he made his appear
ace where the young people were, stating
to the doctor that he had just returned
from the Signal corps, and consequently
his hands were soiled. He afterwards
came down stairs, after washing his
hands and combing his hair, and during
the evening read letter purporting to
come from his sister in Germa n.y. and
after reading the letter he seemed more
composed.
About month ago, l am informed.
Durant accompanied young lady from
church, and during the conversation
which ensued he asked the young lady if
she was not suffering from some female
complaint, and suggested to her that he
would prescribe for her; that she agreed
TO take the medicine which he gave her,
and that it did benefit her. On later
occasion, one afternoon after church,
Durant asked her if she mad never been
examined. She was somewhat surprised
at his question, and answered no. Dur
ant then said she ought to be, and that
he could do it. She told him she did not
desire TO be examined; that her folks
would attend to that He then told her
that there was no fear of detection. and
he proposed that he knew a good place
in the church where no one would find
it out. She was very much surprised at
his offer, which she Indignantly repulsed.
When Durant left DR.. Vogel's resi-
dence at about IL 80 he left there in COM
pany with young man named Wolf
and number of young ladies. They
walked from Vogel's house to Twenty
fourth and Howard Streets when the
parties separated and Durant continued
west on Twenty-foruth street. At about
12:15 a. m. Wolf went to his stable and
saddled his horse, and crossing the corner
of Twenty fourth and Bartlett streets he
noticed Durant standing on the corner.
When the above facts we're made known
to me, l detailed Detective Seymour to