The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-22
The Prisoner Talks GuardedIy
and Has All Faith in His
Lawyers.
JUDGE MURPHY's PRECAUTIONS.
Captain Douglass to Guard the De-
fendant-A Woman Who Lives
Near the Church.


cause it was the day preceding their ap-
pearance in one of the most famous
criminal trials of the century-the trial of
Theodore Durrant for the murder of
Blanche Lamont. 1t has been determined
by the District Attorney to base the prose
cution on the Lamont case, as offering the
best evidence.
But to the central figure in the coming
famous trial, yesterday passed like other
days, II one may judge from outward in
dlcatlons and from the way in which Dur
rant spent the hours Immediately pre-
cedlng his appearance in court. He
passed them as he has passed other Sun.
days since his incarceration, in reading the
Bible somewhat, the Sunday-school lesson
leaf entirely, in eating, sleeping, walking
back and forth in his cell, and in reading
the story books that are in his prison
library.
He spoke guardedly of his case when
questioned concerning it. He said he was
glad that his trial was so near at hand,
but he said it much the same way as he
might have remarked that it was pleas
ant day.
II do not know just what the line of de-
Tense will be-" he said. II place implicit
confidence in my attorneys and have not
even talked with them about my case since
the first statement [ made to them at the
City Prison. Whether they are sanguine
of the outcome l cannot say. They have
called to see me here, but he did not talk
about my defense then. [ have left it all
to them.
Am I sanguine of acquittal? Yes. 1
am innocent; why should | not be san
guine? OF course, shall not be convicted.
They cannot prove an innocent man
guilty. | have not much concern on that
score, it is true
The Rev. j. George Gibson, pastor of
Emmanuel Baptist Church, has not visited
Durrant since his confinement in the
County JAIL but the prisoner says he does
not consider this fact as mark of loss of
confidence or faith on the part of the
preacher toward the ex-Sunday- SUI
perintendent.
81 know that he must believe in me ano
have faith in my innocence, - said Durrant.
II feel certain of this when I think of our
former relations. / cannot blame him for
remaining away. He was placed in very
unpleasant situation by this affair, and
believe he acted conscientiously and for the
best interests of his church in not coming
to see me. Mr.. Gibson is man of sensa-
tive disposition and rather nervous tenn
permanent. To the public he may have
acted somewhat strangely at times under
the stress of the terrible circum stances, but
those who knew him intimately, as l did,
were not surprised. / think he did right
and was at least conscientious.
No; do not have many visitors. How
much interest is being taken in my defense
| cannot say, for / do not know. | seldom
talk about that to those who come to see
me. l am satisfied that my attorneys will
do all that is needful to clear me"
Ii Durrant is confident of acquittal his
attorneys, General Dickinson and Eugene
Duprey, are equally confident that their
client Will not be convicted. 1t is gen.
orally thought that both the prosecution
and the defense have considerable new
evidence that is unknown to the public,
and which will not be divulged until it
makes its appearance in court. However,
the defence will rely largely upon the
proof of an alibi and the failure of the
prosecution to adduce a complete chain of
evidence against Durrant. His good |
character will also be shown, and on this
will be based a strong argument against
the possibility of such man committing
terrible deeds.
And if Durrant and his attorneys are
confident of the success of their case the
District Attorney and Captain Lees, who
are the chief prosecuting officers, have no
doubt of the soundness of the peoples
case against the prisoner. There is no
real difference of opinion as to the method |
to be adopted in prosecuting the peoples |
case, and the Police Department and the
District Attorneys department are work
ing in complete harmony.
Captain Lees does not deny that there is |
new and important evidence in the La
mont case, and that for this reason it was |
given precedence in the plan of prosecu-
ton. One of the new witnesses is said to be |
O woman who lives near the church. She |
saw Durrant and Miss Lamont together |
on the afternoon of the crime. She is quite |
certain in her naturalization. It will be |
claimed by the State that Durrant met his !
victim that afternoon by appointment, |
and that they remained together until the |
awful deed was accomplished.
Judge Murphy, fearing crush in the |
courtroom, has given orders that only |
those connected in some way with the trial /
shall be admitted to the court this morn
ing. Captain Douglass has been detailed |
to guard the prisoner, and Sheriff Whelan |
has assigned several of his best men to act |
as guard around the prisoner throughout |
the trial. Captain Douglass will accom-
pany Durrant to and from the County |
Jail, and will not leave his side during the |
time the prisoner remains outside his cell. |
Every precaution has been taken against |
acts of violence of any kind, and also to
prevent any demonstrations during the |
trial.
1t will be difficult task, it is expected,
to secure jury in this county, but neither
side will, on that account, ask for change |
of venue.
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