The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-23
DEFENSE RESTS.
RebuttaI Testimony Being Given u
the Currant Murder Case.
EVIDENCE GIVEN BY Or. GRAHAM
Strengthens Chances of the
Prisoners Conviction.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 23.-At the open
Ing Of court yesterday, the defense In the
trial of Theodore Durrant announced that
Ii had finished its case, and tho taking OF
testimony In rebuttal was at one begun
by the prosecution. The testimony was
the most important given during the trial.
rs 1t con0icted with several vital state
ments made by Durrant while he was on
the stand.
The testimony Of DIR. G. f. Graham, for
instance, is considered by many to sweep
away Durrant's entire defense. Graham,
who Is medical student and an intimate
friend Of Durrant, told of a sensational
interview that took place between him
self and the prisoner at tho county jail on
April 20. DIR. Graham said that Durrant
asked him If he would let him see his
notes of DIR. Cheney's lecture, in order
that he might compare them with his own.
Graham demurrcd ut first, after which
he said Durrant stated frankly To him
that he had no notes OF the lecture. Ho
said Durrant told him If he had the notes
OF the lecture he could easily establish a
strong alib for himself and urged him 10
leave the notes with Mrs. Durrant in order
that she might bring them to him at the
pIlSOn. DI. Sttll nt Itiuhcu Alio
request, and never aftcrward visited Dur
rant at the prison.
DIR. Graham's story was not shaken in
any particular on cross-examination.
While he was testifying, Durrant gave no
sign to indicate that he considered tho
testimony OF any Importance. DIR. Graham
will be recalled for further cross-examina-
tion.
More Important Testimony.
The first wi nesses called in rebuttal by
the prosecution were the five trustees of
Emanuel church. While Durrant was on
the stand he testified that he was asked TO
repair the sunburner at Emanuel church
on April by the trustees. The trustees
denied that they had asked Durrant to
make repairs of any kind at the church
during March or on April l.
Witnesses were next called to dispSove
Durrant's statement that on the after
noon of April IL he was at the ferry for
the purpose OF searching for Blanche
Lamont, who, he said, a mysterious
stranger had told him would cross the bay
that afternoon. T.. w. Nodge, a medical
student, said he saw Durrant at the ferry,
and the prisoner told him he was waiting
for number of members of tho signal
corps, who were expected from Oakland.
g. A. Dukes. medical student who ac-
companied Dodge, corroborated his testi-
mony.
A. A. Hobo testified that he saw Dur
rant at the ferry the same afternoon In
company with n young woman, who an.
swcred the description of Minnie Will.
iams 1t Is known that Minnie Williams
came over from her home In Alameda tha,
| afternoon, and the next day her body wa.
found in Emanuel church. 1t is the theory
| of the prosecution that instead OF being a
| the ferry TO look for Blanche Lamont, Dur
rant was there for the purpose of meeting
Miss Williams and Turing her to her death
E. A. Glasor, u student mt the medica
| college, testified that on April 10 he rea,
| his notes to Durrant, who devoted three
| quarters OF an hour to writing in his note
| book.
Thomas Price, n chemist, was called I,
| give expert testimony on two or thrc
points at ISSUE. He was asked practically
in what condition man would be VIII,
had brcathcd illuminating gas for tn,
length of time Durrant said he was work
ing over the sunburner. Tho witnes
said man would be unconscious In flv,
minutes-the length of time Durrant sai,
he was engaged at work over the burner
From the present outlook the case will
go to the jury not later than the close o
next week, after having been on trial sine,
July 90 IL is now believed that Attorney
Deuprey will not again appear In the case
as his physician gives little hope Of hi
speedy recovery.