The record-union., 1895-04-18
Strong Sentiment Against Durrant
Undergoing Reaction.
APPEARS IN THE LIGHT OF AN
INNOCENT MAN.
Had Every Chance to Escape the OFF,
GERS When on His Trip With the
Signal Corps to Mount Dfablo. Had
He so DesIred-Tnquest Held on the
Body of Miss Williams.
snecial to the REcoRp-uNros.


est in the Emmanuel Church murders is
still intense, and the progress OF the
Coroner's inquest is closely watched for
exciting developments. So far nothing
startling, beyond what is already known,
has been brought out. The strong SEN
timent against Durrant seems to be un-
dergoing a reaction, and the number OF
people who assert belief in his lnno-
cence is on the increase. Durrant does
not act like guilty man. His demeanor
is more like that of a man who is per-
fectly confident that his innocence of
the awful crimes will be certainly proved
when the proper time comes. II be Is
ravisher and murderer he certainly is
possessed of wonderful nerve. Moth
ing appears to shake him or disturb his
air of confidence. He has been sleeping
badly but that is probably natural under
the circumstances. During his waking
hours he is quiet gentlemanly and self
possessed. lie makes no slips nor awk-
ward admissions, IN spite OF the many
traps laid for him by reporters and de-
teCUives. He conVerses readily on any
topic except that of the crimes with
which he is charged. When that su b.
ject is broached he begs to be excused,
and refers questioners 10 his attorney.
The testimony at the inquest to-day,
while in some respects damaging to Dur
rant was not as strong as had been antIcl-
pated. The fact that he had once made
an indecent proposal to DR.. Nogel's niece
was brought out and that will probably
tell against him, but the attempts to posi-
lively identify him as the man who
entered the church early in the evening
il company with woman failed. The
witnesses could only say that Durrant
~ T1-., Lao
stance 1t was shown that as far as the
knowledge OF the various witnesses went,
Durrant and Miss Williams were not
animate. They were never seen together,
nor did they ever speak OF each other.
Miss Williams father is the only one ap-
parenLiy to whom she had ever talk ed
about DurTant.
Some new facts have come to light tend
ing TO show the accused mans remarka-
bic powers OF self-cOntrOl. ON Saturday
afternoon, when members OF the Signal
Corps flashed the message from the top
OF Telegraph Hill totheir comrades many
miles away on Mount DlaDIO that Dur
rant was wanted for the murder of Miss
Williams, Durrant was the man who re-
ceived the message and read the flashes
on the mirror. His companions say that
his face never moved as he read of the
letters, and he appeared to be unCOn-
cerned, though greatly surprised. That
3 night Durrant was on guard for four
hours, While the rest OF his comrades
slept. There were dozen horses at MS
disposal, one OF them unusually fast, and
he mad an opportunity to attempt to es-
cape, and could have secured a lead of
many miles over his pursuers had he so
desired. Instead he started TO return TO
San Francisco with the rest OF the party.
INQUEST ON THE BODY OF MISS WILL
IAMS.
SAN FRANCISCO, April II. - Coroner
Hawkins resumed his inquiry into the
death OF Minnie Williams this morning
an hour earlier than yesterday, but for
an hour before the doors were opened
crowd commenced to gather, and the de-
tail of policemen had all they could do
to keep the curious throng quiet.
Considerable interest was manifested
by those present in the proceedings, as it
was generally expected that some sensa-
tional testimony would be introduced by
women witnesses and other links added
to the chain of evidence against Durrant.
Judge Thompson, the accused mans
attorney, arrived on time, but his client
failed to put in an appearance. It was
soon learned that the prisoner did not
want to attend unless his presence was
requested by Coroner Hawkins. That
gentleman thought Durrant's presence
necessary, and asked the Chief OF Police
to have him sent TO the Coroner's office.
No disturbance whatever was created
by the arrival of the prisoner, who
looked trihe worn. but carried himself
we'll \ slight smile was sometimes lurk-
ing around his mouth, but that was ali.
DR.. Gibson was late, but appeared after
a slight delay, and was the first witness
called. He testified that be had nevor been
in the belfry Of the church until the 18th
inst, and that he had only seen Miss
Williams three times TO his certain
knowledge. He had never been very
intimate with Durrant. Ha did not
identify the body at first sight. lie had
never slept in the church, and did not
know if Durrant had or not. He identi-
fed the broken pieces of knife as those
found near the body, and also the stick
used to tamp the cloth into Miss Will
iams' mouth.
Mrs. Noy, at whose house Miss Will
Jams stopped on the afternoon of the
night on which she was murdered, testi-
fed that she had never heard of Dur
rant, and knew Miss Williams by, no
other name. She had given the dead
girl a night key. She identified the
clothes shown by the Coroner as those
worn by Miss Williams.
Miss Noy gave corro Dorative evidence,
and added that Miss Williams had told
her that she intended to resign from the
Christian Ende1vor Society, as she could
not afford the expense. She also identi-
fed the clothing.
Elmer A W off testified that he last
saw Durrant on Friday night about L
o'clock, both being of the party that saw
young lady home from a social at DIR.
NogePs. He thinks he saw him a few
minutes after, standing on Twenty fourth
street, but is not sure. He said that Dur
rant arrived at Nogel's house about 9:3t
O'Clock. but he dId not come directly into
the parlor.
DR.. Nogel, at whose home the social
was held, testified that he knew all the
10 I,osr l<asl 40
disheveled when he arrived at the house
Durrant asked to be shown place where
he could wash and comb his hair. Wit
ness denied ever having said that he saw
blood on Durranps hand, but had said
that his forehead was wet with Derspira-
tion. He said Durrant had explained mis-
tardiness by saying that he had been al
the armory.
A statement was read to the witness in
which he is quoted as having said that a
young lady had told his cousin. Miss
Lucille Turner, that DurranU had once
suggested that she allow him to make a
medical examination of her, he TELLING
her that ne knew of good place in the
church where it could be done without
anyone being the wiser. The young lad Y
resented the proposition. and after thai
would have nothing 10 do with Durrsnt
Witness said the statement was practi-
cally correct, and that he had heard his
cousin say that she did not like Durrant
Witness said he knew Miss Williams
well. She never spoke of Durrant.
G. j. Hills was the next witness called
he said he knew neither Durrant mol