Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-04-19
THE SAN FRANCISCO MURDERS.
Theodore Dnrant was very cheerful

Theodore Durant was very cheerful
yesterday, and greeted every one with
whom he came in contact with smile
and pleasant words. The probable
change in the conduct of the accused
man is caused by the belief that the
police have exhausted every mine OF
information against him. The search
ing of the church is finished, and no
further evidence has been brought to
light. Durant rested we'll Wednesday
night and ate heartily at breakfast yes
terday morning. The police surgeon,
Somers, visited him yesterday to study
bis actions, in anticipation of plea of
insanity when the case is brought to
trial. DR.. Somers says that Durant
shows no signs of an unbalanced mind.
In fact, he spoke with intelligence on
every subject that was brought up. Du-
rant seemed pleased that he did not
have to make the trip to the morgue
yesterday. !,
Another witness has come forward
who thinks he saw Durant and Miss
Williams, or couple very much resem-
bling them, at about Ills o'clock Fri,
day night. AS he passed them he heard
the young lady laugh, and the young
man was smiling. He did not observe
their actions afterwards, but says they
were walking towards the church. The
description TALES exactly with the dead
girl and Durant, and if they were the
persons his testimony will 90 to prove
that the girl was not dead early in the
evening, as has been supposed.
Chief Crowley it still hard at work
trying to strengthen the evidence
against Durant. He says his men have
so far obtained no clue which would
lead one to believe that the murderer
had an accomplice. The chief had a
conference with the detectives engaged
in the case yesterday, and not one OF
them have found anything to prove
that Durant is not the guilty man.
General Dickinson, Durant's attorney,
called on Durant yesterday, and the
two held an animated conversation,
which lasted some time. At the CON
clusion of the conference General Dick
inson informed several persons that his
client was about to make a statement,
which was not to be made public at
present, and requested the police to
See that Durant was not disturbed.
Durant worked the whole afternoon on
the document, and denied himself to
all newspaper men and his friends.
Little hope is expressed that any
hloodv clothing belonging to the MUIR
derer will be discovered. This, the po-
lice say, is the only weak point against
the prisoner.
A Slight reaction in public opinion
has set in in favor of Durant, brought
about by the testimony Of those who
witnessed his cool actions after the dis
covery of the body. His comrades of
the signal corps, who were present
when the news of the finding of Miss
Williams's body and that Durant was
wanted for the crime was flashed by
the heliograph telegraph system from
San Francisco to Mount Diablo, say
that not a muscle moved or flush
passed over his face. His actions at
the Christian Endeayor meeting, on
the night of the murder of Miss Will
liams, were so gay, and he seemed SO
self-possessed, that there are many
who think the police have run down
the wrong man. On the other hand,
the circumstantial evidence against Du
rant is so strong that something else
will have to be done to remove from
the minds of many people the impress
sion that he is the guilty man.
The inquest will be resumed to-day.