The herald., 1895-10-09
ONE OF DURRANT'S DOUBLES
Who Does Not Much Resemble
the Defendant
PAWNED A DIAMOND RING
HE Tocfsrunuv Wneco Thnc IIcnlnee n
His Testimony Worse Than Useless t.
the Defense
The Press Club Recognizes Miss Cunning
hams Firmness in Declining to Reveal
Information Received In Confidence
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. s.-After wan
dering through maze of un1mportant
witnesses, tho defense. in the Durrant
case this afternoon sumomned to the
stand two OF the most important with
es that have been called since thu accusa-
ton closed its case. One of the witnesses
materially aided the defense, from the
fact that upon cross-exam nation he
tailed to give important testimony ex-
pected BY the prosecution. The examin-
alton of the other witness had only just
begun when the court took recess until
tomorrow morning, but in the short time
that the witness was on the stand he tes
tilted to one important fact VIII ich was
directly opposed to what the defense had
hoped to establish.
The most important witness OF the day
was Charles T. Lenahan, the young man
whom the defense contends was mistaken
for Durrant by pawnbroker Oppenheim.
Lenahan, who does not bear striking
resemblance to the prisoner, said that On
April Sd he attempted to pawn small
diamond ring, similar to the one worn
by Blanche Lamont, at Oppenheim's
shop. The witness said that he asked
Oppenheim the same questions and re-
ceiyed the same replies that Oppenheim
quoted in relating the conversation he
had with the young man whom Open
helm testified was Durrant. Then came
the surprise to the defense, which coun-
teratcted nearly all of the strength gained
from the witness testimony. Lenah an
said he tried to pawn the ring in tho
afternoon. while Oppenheim testified
that Durrant entered the shop In the
morning. Attorney Deuprey was consid-
erably disconnected by the statement of
the witness, and endeavored to impeach
Lenahan's testimony by reading q letter
written by Lenahan to the attorneys for
the defense. in which he divulged the
fact that he had tried to pawn small
same date that Durrant was said to have
entered the place.
The court interrupted Deuprey, how
ever, and refused to let him read only
such parts of the letter as referred TO the
question at issue. DeupreY then asked
and at the close of the struggle over this
move court adjourned for the day. The
court refused to admit the whole letter In
evidence, as some parts were devoted to
the expression of the writer's opinions
as to the correctness of Oppenheim's tes-
timony. The remainder of the letter was
admitted.
After Lenahan surprised the defense
BY stating that he tried to pawn the ring
in the afternoon, instead of the morning,
Deuprey asked him several questions in
tended to indicate that he had trans
ferred his sympathies from the defense to
the prosecution. Among other things,
Attorney Deuprey asked Lenahan If he
had not been Influenced by persons
known to be in sympathy with the prose-
cution. Deuprey also asked him when
he shaved off the moustache that he wore
when he entered Oppenheim's shop.
Lenahan said he had never worn
moustache in his life. Deuprey init
mated taht he would impeach the testi
mony of the witness on this point and
also the statement contained in Lena
hans letter to the defense.
w. A. Dukes, student OF the Cooper
Medical college. who was expected to
give strong evidence for the prosecution,
disappointed them. Dukes said Dur
rant asked him if he could not remember
that he attended DR. Cheneys lecture on
the afternoon OF April 8, and to that end
have taken place at the time.
Although Dukes seat in the lecture
| room was next to Durrants, Dukes did
not remem Der Whether Durrant was
| there or not, and told him so. Dukes
| said it was untrue. as had been reported,
| tify that he did attend the lecture. On
the contrary, Dukes said that Durrant
| told him he wished him to testify only
to the facts as he remembered them.
| With one exception the remainder OF
| the witnesses were recalled to testify to
| the previous good reputation OF the de.
| PENDANT.
| H. F. N. Marshall. a reporter on a
morning paper, testified that on April
| l4th, Detective Gibson. who discovered
| Blanche Lamonts body in the brlfry OF
Emanuel church, told him that he saw
the prints of No. shoe near where the
body lay. Durrant wears a smaller shoe.
| In the case of Miss Carrie Cunning
ham. a newspaper reporter who refused to
disclose the source of certain informa-
ton relative to the nature of Mrs. Leake's
testimony, Judge Murphy ruled that the
witness was right in refusing to answer
the question. Miss Cunningham was
therefore not punished for contempt.
In recognition OF Miss Cunningham
firmness the Press club today elected her
an honorary member.