The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1895-04-18


accused of the crimes and had been ar
rested. Great crowds surged to DR.. Glib
sons house, and the excitement grew
intense. 1t spread all over the city.
Extra papers were gotten out. and thou
sands of people fiocked to the scene
from all over the city. The rumor of
rests was later denied, and 1t became
known that Dr. Gibson and the sexton
of the church had merely been called
before the police to tell what they knew
ARREST OF DURANT.
AT o'clock came the news that Du-
rant had been arrested at Walnut creek
on the road to Mount Dablo. He was
caught by Detective Anthony, who left
in pursuit OF him this morning. The
detective and his prisoner left on the
next train for San Francisco, where
they. arrived this evening. A large
crowd had gathered at the ferries to see
the suspected murderer come in, but a
detachment OF police was in waiting,
and they kept back the crowd. Durant
was hustled into patrol wagon and
whirled away to the city prison, where
he was locked up.
The police are certain that they have
the right man. They claim to have two
witnesses who saw Durant with Miss
Williams last Friday night, and also
state that when a search was made of
Durant's house today, in the pocket of
his coat was found purse which Miss
Williams is known to have carried Fri
day night
Durant is about 20 years old and was
born and raised in the neighborhood in
which the murder occurred He is a
graduate of the Coggswell high school
and has been studying medicine for n
year. He is member of the Second
brigade signal corps, and was assist
ant superintendent of the Emanuel
church Sunday school, He was always
of quiet disposition and his friends
refuse to believe, in spite of the evil
| dence, that he committed the crime at
| tributed to him.
The police, however think that Du-
rant is another Jack-the-Ripper, with a
mania for murder. They say that 1t is
| highly probable that Durant is respon-
sible for the killing of Eugene Ware, n
| young drug clerk who was found stab
| bed to death several months ago in
| the store where he worked No trace
was ever found of the assassin, and the
| theory Is that Durant killed him. Nc
| motive for this murder was discovered
and the fiendish cruelty of it CWare was
| stabbed In eight places leads to the be
lief that 1t was the work of an insane
| person.
Durant's parents are highly esteemed
people. His father is chief engineer II
buckingham & Hecht's large shoe fac
tory, and. while not rich, has been abb,
to give his children good education
and start them in life.
DURANT'S STATEMENT.
Anthony met Durant and his com
panions coming back from Mount Diab
10. They wore uniforms and had beel
on a shooting expedition. When Du
rant was placed under arrest his com
rades at first wanted to resist the Off
GER, but finally allowed him to be takel
to Walnut creek, where the officer an
his prisoner boarded a train for Sal
Francisco. When they arrived at tn
prison, as already described, Durant
in his regimentals, was taken to tn
chiefs Office and subjected to a search
ing examination. He appeared YER
cool and even when arrested by Antho
ny and told that Miss Lamont's bod
had been found, did not lose his nerve
although he appeared greatly shocke
and surprised. After the examination
by the chief, Durant was taken to a Gel
There he was joined by his parents an
a lawyer.
| He made a statement to the Asso
ciated Press: 1.-The last time 1 met Mis-
Lamont was on the day she disappear
ed, April 3. We talked about books, an
I promised to bring book for her
prayer meeting that night. Miss Ls
mont did not appear at prayer meeting
and the following Friday l took 1t up I
her house and gave it to her siste
The latter told me that Blanche ha
gone to school, evidently trying to kee
| the fact of her disappearance secre
That is all 1 know of the Lamont cas-,
The last time I saw Minnie William
was three weeks ago."
When confronted by the evidence ths
Miss Williams purse had been found
his pocket, Durant gave the followin
explanation: II was going home froi
the meeting Friday night when m
, foot struck a small object on the sid,
walk 1 picked it up and found that
| was a small pocket mirror. Near
| was purse, which also picked up an
| put in my pocket l took both purs
and mirror home with me, intending
tell my parents of my find. 1t was lat
= however, and I went right to bed.
E the morning 1 was in hurry to g
y away with the signal corps and forg'
!, all about it.
: OTHER INCIDENTS.
I The police take exceptions to d.
n rants statement that he had not SEE
d Miss Williams for three weeks. The
j. say they can prove that he saw her {
= Monday or Tuesday, and possibly late
d From all appearances, Miss Lamo
y was murdered in the room where h
J.. body was found. The body had be,
,. ! dragged up the belfry stairs and in
G | the tower room. Her clothing w
n found stuffed into various corners of Il
4 | room.
> About the time of morning that Mi
l. Lamonts body was found the membe
of the congregation of Emanuel chur
d | were on their way to attend the East
= services, for which elaborate prepar
" tions had been made. When they a
Q rfved, however. and learned of T.
# frightful crime they fled mortified fro
+ the spot. The church was locked al
d / guarded by the police all day.
n In his statement to the police, Re
10 DR.. Gibson asserts his belief IN Duran
If innocence. but IL unable to give a,
r theory as to the actual perpetrator
w the crime. This much can be said I
"A Durant, he did not act like guilty m
h when arrested, and his preparations
10 leave with the signal corps were ma
40 without concealment, and before t
"a murder of Miss williams. Even the I
lice are forced to admit that it seems
20 credible that he would commit such
~ crime unless afflicted by a mania I