The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-09-27

SnOc,
SAN Francisco, Sept. 9G.-Tho key.
stone in tho arch OF Durants alibl
crumbled aud lell to-day, The witness
upon whom the attorneys for tho de.
ienso depended most to sustain their
contention that Durant was attending
lecture at Cooper Medical College ut
tho hour when Blanche Lamont was
murdered, gave disappointing testi-
nony. Instead OF teitiiying that Dur
ant was present at tho lecture, Us Attor-
nsy Duprsy said DR.. Cheney would do,
the doctor said he had no recollection
OF seeing the young medical atudsnt,
To offset this reverse, the defense
gained only ono point, tho admission as
an exhibit the roll call book at the col
loge, IN which Durant was recorded as
present ut tho lecture given on the AZ
ternoon OF April 3. The prosecution
holds tho roll call book in little esteem
from the fact that II will place witnesses
on the stand to prove that Dnrnnt ire'
quently asked his classmates TO answer
to his name when no Was absent, and
that they complied with his request.
Tho crush in the corridors at the en-
trance 10 the court was greater to-day
than upon any other day since tho trial
began. Men and women fought for ad.
mission, while the sheriff and score OF
deputies struggled as desperately to
keep tho crowd back. at times the
confusion outside was go great that tho
proceedings OF tho court were inter-
rupted. At loncth Judge Murphy sum.
monod tho sheriff aud ordered him to
clear tho corridors. II tho shoriti's
forcs was insufficient the Judge said he
would call on the chief Of police for q
squad OF men TO execute the order.
Sergeant Raynclds, the police oticer,
who conducted tho search Of Emanuel
church after tho discovery OF tuo bodies
OF Blanche Lamont and Minnie Will
Jams, was tho trGt witness called 10 the
stand. Airsr describing tho furniture
and other articles found in tho pastors
atudy, he Was Askod about tho chlsel
marks found in tho door leading to the
belfry. The door and casiug through
which tho murderer passed with the
body OF hia victim, was brought iuto
the court and formed ono OF tho most
interesting exhibits produced. The
witness testified that the marks cores.
pended In size to chi'el found In q
tool box in Rev. John j. GibSons study
Tho witness was also asked to indeniiiy
a shoe supposed to have been stained
with blood, which was found in tho
pRstar's study. As sergeant Reynold,
did not know to whom tho shoe belong
cd, Sergeant Burke was called, but no
was also in ignorance with regard to
the ownership Of the shoe.
Dr.. w. Cheney OF Cooper Medical
College, who was supposed TO be tho
mainstay Of the defense. was tho next
witness. lie said tho lecture on April
3, began at $3.50 and lasted until i:l5,
at tho close OF which the roll was called.
The witness did not know whether
Durant was present or not, as the roll
was called by DR.. F. +. Gray. Dr.
Cheney was Temporarily excused and
Dr. Gray summoned. DR.. Gray did not
know whether DurAnt was present or
not, but assumed that he was from the
fact that he was not marked absent on
tue roll call. Questioned with regard
10 tho roll.cAll book, the witross ad'
mitted that the entry Of April was not
an original record, as II had beOn trans.
ierrod from another page subsequent
to that dAlO for tho purpose OF recti.
iying an error. On this ground tho
district attorney moved that tho book
bu not admitted as an exhibit, but tho
objection was oYerrulcd. Dr. Cheney
wa, then recalled and reiterated his
statement to tho effect that ho had no
recollection Of seeing DutAnt at the
lecture given on tho afternoon Of
April 3,
Attorney Duprsy was plainly netLled
nj tho conflict between what tho do.
fonso had promised Dr. Cheney would
testify to aud what no really did say; 20
another effort was made to obtain II s0i.
isiaCtory answer. Tho Witness was
asked II Ia 4 conversation with Qua Of
tho attorneys for tho defense ho (thG
Witucas) had not said that hO believed
that DufRnL was present At tho lcClutr.
Tho court asked Attorney Dunroy II
be was irving to impoach his own wit
moss, aud thon sustained an objection
iniorpoaod by the prosecution.
On Cross.oNamlnhtlOn District AttOr'
nov Barnes triad 10 show that students
At tho college frequently bad their class.
mates nnBwcr to thclr nHInOB A. roll
call when thOy worO absent. Tho wit
noes was asked II In his experience ~
an instructor nt thu college lG had not
become nwAto OF tho existence OF such
practice, Tho dCiOn'o objected to
the question. Of itS Awccplng nature,
Tho court sustained tho objection. but
intimNlcl that tho question might bC
asked II made In proper form. Two or
ilIroO more QUESTION: Of similar import
wOfO asked, but objections were sus.
tanned IN each case.
Court adjourned until Tomorrow
morning with tho CroW.oSnmDnRliOn Of
Dt. Cheney still incomplete.
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