Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1895-10-11
Durrant's Gauzy Story.

out answers TO TWO or three
questions were palpable lies and he
changed his answers to fit the occas-
slons, besides he told story about
the disappearance of Blanche Lamont
that was SO gauzy that everybody
wonders how Durrant had the hardi
hood to think the jury would accept
1t as a fact. The pitfall into which
Durrant fell was in telling about the
afternoon that he spent at the ferry to
see if Blanche would not attempt to
cross the bay to escape from the city.
Durrant said he had clue that Miss
Lamont would cross the bay that af-
ternoon. When asked where he got
the clue, Durrant said he was stand
ing at the corner of Markpt and
Montgomery streets that day when a
stranger came up to him and asked if
his name was not Durrant. The pris
oner replied that it was. The strang
er then asked if he was not interest.
ed in her disappearance. In view of
the fact that his name had been con-
nected with the case, Durrant replied
that he was. The stranger then said
watch the ferry this afternoons: that
Is my advice. She will try to cross
the bay.
Although Durrant said he was over
Joyed to get the clue to Miss Lamont,
in reply to District Attorney Barnes
questions he said he did not ask the
mans name, residence or anything
about the source of information he
had received. Neither did he ask for
further information on the subject.
He simply watched the man walk to-
ward Dupont street and then Durrant
went to restaurant and ate lun cheon.
He then went to the ferry, he says, to
see if he could find Blanche.
Four of Durrant's friends saw Dur
rant at the ferry that afternoon and
by one of them the prosecution ex-
poets to prove that Durrant went there
not to meet Blanche Lamont but Min
ME Williams.
Aaron Hoge, an old schoolmate of
Durrant testified at the preliminary
examination that Durrant met a
woman answering Minnie Williams
description, and boarding Howard
street car with her rode to Mission.
Durrant testified to, day that he did
not meet any woman at the ferry and
that he went from the ferry to the
armory to pack up his blankets pre-
paratory to making trip to Mount
Diablo next day.
To Frank Sademan, whom he saw
at the ferry, Durrant said that he was
looking for Blanche Lamont. TO
Dodge and Dukes, students at the
medical college he said he was waiting
for members of the signal corps who
were coming from Oakland.
When asked to day if he told
Dodge and Dukes he was tracing a
| clew to Miss Lamont, Durrant at first
replied that he did. The next mo-
ment he realized that he had given a
wrong answer and replied he did not.
! He attempted to reconcile the state
, ments by saying he was looking for
, Miss Lamont and waiting for mem.
, bers of the signal corps at the same
time.
! District Attorney Barnes asked
, Durrant why he left the ferry at
o'clock to make preparations to go ON
pleasure trip if he was so much in
terested in finding Miss Lamont, with
whose disappearance his name had
been 30 unpleasantly connected.
Durrant testified he did not think il
necessary to remain at the ferry long
3 er.
: The District Attorney then asked
3 if he had told any of Blanche's friends
> of the important clew he received
= from the stranger.
Durrant replied he had not as he
7 had not had an opportunity.
After yioorous questioning Durrant