The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-28
None OF Their Extravagant Claims or
Sensational Intfmations Yet Justi-
fed by Their Evidence.
DURRANT AND HIS MOTHER
BOTH SEEMINGLY UNCONCERNEI
DESPITE THE WEAK TESTIMONY.
Nothing of Importance ELECTED Dur
parent Weakness Of the Defense.

SAN FRANClSCO, Sept. Zi.-lf JneOd0re
Durrant has anything tangible upon which
to base his denial Of the charge that he
murdered Blanche Lamont and Minnie Will
liams his attorneys have failed to give
satisfactory evidence of the fact. After
tive days devoted 10 the testimony OF the
defense, the trial was adjourned at noon
to-day until next Tuesday. In the mean
time, however. the defense has disclosed
enough to satisfy the prosecution that Dur
rants attorneys cropping in the dark.
in the hope that something may develop
within the next few days to save the
prisoners life. The weakness of the de-
fense is made more apparent at this time
on account of the extravagant assertions
that Durrant's attorneys have made since
the trial began. When the prosecution was
engaged in putting in it's case and the
situation looked darkest for the young SUM-
day-school superintendent. attorney Du-
prey was accustomed to snap his fingers
and remark that he had no fear for the
future of his client I'VE will clear him in
three minutes" he said. land the public
will be at loss to understand how Dur
rants name was ever connected with the
case" The same line of extravagant
claims was continued when attorney Du-
prey nldue MS opening sptecu lOF the ue-
fense mot only will the prisoner tell with
his own lips the simple story of his life
on the day that Miss Lamont was muir
dered," said Duprey, but Dr. Cheney will
tell you that Durrant was at the Cooper
Medical College at the very hour when the
murder of Blanche Lamont is said to have
taken place. Besides that, we will prove to
you that Durrant never tried to pawn
,l,z;..,
On the contrary. we will bring forward the
young man who did try to pawn a ring at
Oppenheim's similar to the one worn by
Miss Lamont"
In view of these startling statements it
was at first believed that the defense
might have a strong case held in reserve
which would put TO severe test the case
of the prosecution. In one day, however,
the case of the defense crumbled and fell
of it's own weight and to-day Durrant's
alibi has not a leg upon which to stand
Dr. Cheney who was expected to tell so
much for the defense, was as strong a
witness for the prosecution as has taken
the stand during the tral. Instead of full
filling Duprey's statement and swearing
that Durrant attended lecture at Cooper
Medical College on April g. he said he had
no recollection of seeing the young medical
student there. The denial dumfounded the
defense.
If further proof was needed on the belief
that the defense has little to offer in
refutation of the case put forward by
the prosecution il was furnished to-day.
Instead of putting a witness On the stand
to testify TO some material sfacss In con-
nection with Durrants alibi, the two gas
filters were called to testify with regard
the burners in the gallery OF I.snan-
uel Church. For two hours The crowd " as
bored and the jury made tired by long
to the mnutest part OF the construction
Of a sun burner Not once during the
entire session wa, was the name o. blanche ,e
TO indicate that IL was rot 4 suit 10 cof-
lect a plumbers bill instead of a murder
trial that was before the court the evil
dent purpose Of the examination, however,
was to show that the -epalring OF sun
burners would necessarily result in the es-
cape of a great deal OF gas This testi-
mony will be used to suostansiase Dur
from partial asphyxiation when he came
down from the church nelfry, trembling
and flushed. and met orga list King III the
auditorium
A significant feature Of The testimony
of the two gas filters was the TACT that
each testified that ne made ar e1am1na-
ton of the sun burners in Emanuel Church
on Sept 81 The prosecution iDicrprets
this to mean the prosecution had nothing
upon which to base case until the case
of the people was nearly completed, only
when confronted by the actual necessity
of opening its case. The apparent HOPE
lessness of his case, however. produced no
change in the demeanor Of Darrant. Day
after day he sits in the court room beside
his father and mother and listens to the
evidence against him without siGn of
emotion. This stoicism on lhe part Of the
prisoner is only surpassed oy mis- mother.
Mrs Durrant seems to have no conception
of the gravity of her sons situation. At
tired in waving plumes and tailor made
gown such as lady might wear al a
matinee, she laughs and that's with her
friends while the evidence thai the pros
ecution believes will hang ner son is being
put in against him. To frequenters of the
room Mrs Durrant's conduct is almost as
unfathomable as that of her so1's. Dur
rants father however. looks carewcIn,
and gives evidence of the intense mental
anguish through which he must be pass
iuU