The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-10-17
Is a Source of Fear to Durrant's
Attorneys
IT WILL BE CONTRADlCTED
Ry Witnesses the Defense Now Has
in Readiness
rhe Young Woman's Story Of Her Experience
With the Man Claimed tr
Be Irreproachabie

Asociated Press Special Wire
SAN FRANCISCO. Oct. 1e.-Miss Lu-
cllle Turner promises to figure as more
conspicuous witness in the Durrant case
than was at first imagined. Durrant's
attorneys intend to do their utmost to
throw cold water on Miss Turner's testi-
mony. They are afraid of it, and this
very fear makes them determined, if
possible, to break the young woman
down. They realize tnat it will be very
difficult for the jury to regard the prison
or as an inoffensive, e,irreproachabie young
man after hearing Miss Turner tell how
be endeavofed to entlce her into Emanuel
Baptist caurch for the ostensible pur-
puse OF a medical examination. The
story, coming from Miss Turner herself.
will be doublv effective. and the attor-
neys for the defense are fully aware of the
fact. They realize the situation perfect
ly and were it not for the two witnesses
they have in readiness, would manifest
considerable uneasiness over what Miss
Turner may say.
The defense has maintained strict
silence about these witnesses. With the
exception of Durrant no one has spoken
uf them, and their identity remains
secret. Durrant was willing to give an
outline of " hat their testimony would be
and to enlarge on its value to the defense,
but he declined to give their names. He
said that the two witnesses were his
friends and that they had visited Miss
Turner shortly after his arrest. DurIant
claims that the young men were entire
strangers to Miss Turner and called on
1ei merely out of curiosity, to see what
kind OF a girl she was. They intended,
if possible, to induce her to relate the
unpleasant experience she claimed TO
have mad with Durrant.
The prisoner further stated that, with
out the least hesitation, Miss Turner told
the strange young men the story TO
which she afterward testified at the pre-
llminary examination. He also said that
she gave them all the details and seemed
neither embarrassed nor annoyed at dis
cussing such a topic with young men.
Durrant claims that his friends were
amazed at Miss Turner's lack of conven-
tionality, and on leaving her home went
directly to him. He said these young
men were willing and even anxious to
take the stand.
Miss Turner has heard that the two
strange young m sn are to be witnesses
but she is not In the least disconnected
over the fact. She absolutely refused to
discuss the matter, but from another
source it was learned that the two young
men did call at Miss Turner's home one
Sund ~ afternoon shortly after the dis
coveiv of the murders. They represented
themselves as newspaper men and said
they had come for the purpose of having
Miss Turner identify Durrant's hand
writing, sample of which was on a
paper one of the men drew from his
pocket. Miss Turner recognized the
writing as some that had been taken from
the library catalogue. but she did not
propose to acknowledge it to her visitors.
She told them to bring her the catalogue
if they wished her to ientIfy the writing
of Theodore Durrant After few caAual
remarks the young men left. During the
CONVEX lsation there was no allusion to
Miss Tur, r,er's experience with Durrant
The friends of the young lady are furious
at the bare possibility of these men
swearing 70 any imm odesty on her part
and threaten trouble if the defense puts
them on the stand as witnesses.
Miss Turner has never discussed her
unpleasant experience with Durrant even
With her most intimate lriends. She told
the story to ner aunt, Mrs. Nogel, the
morning after the discovery of the mur-
ders, and in the afternoon her cousin. DR..
NoSel, gave Iue Information 10 lie police.
Miss Turner never made statement to
Captain Lees or anyone else. The only
time she has spoken of the affair outside
her own home was when she testified at
the preliminary examination.
Durrant's attorneys expect to conclude
the case of the defense next Monday.
There is no truth in the report that the
counsel for Durrrant had disagreed and
that DeupIey was making an excuse vi his
opportune illness to get out of the case.
The most perfect harmony exists be-
tween General Dickinson and Mr.. Deu-
prey.
ln speaking Of the friendly feeling
which exists between the attorneys, Gem
eral Dickinson says:
1.-The defense has tried this case fairly,
and 1t is gratifying to know there has
been no vindictive spirit shown by any
of the attorneys. Ws have defended the
accused to the best of our ability. firmly
believing in his innocence from the start.
The case cf the defense will rest upon the
merits OF its testimony. great many
of the leading attorneys have spoken to
me about onr action in putting Durrant
on the stand. We did that in order to
give the young man chance to tell his
story in his own words. The legal breth-
rem have been disposed to criticize us
Tor permitting Dnrrant to tell the story of
the unknown man and of his going to
the ferry. The object in allowing II m
to do this was to convince the jury and
the public that Dlrrant was telling his
own story and not repeating memoir
iZed sta ement. 1t was to show that the
young man was not coached"
The condition of Attorney Eugene N.
Deuprey was much i'm proved TODAY. DR..
George Palmer. the physician attending
him, said that it was very probable the
sick man would be well enough to appear
in court by Monday.