The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-05
DURRANT'S MOTIVE
HIS BOON COMPANION WILL GO
ON THE STAND AS HIS
ACCUSER.
WHAT CLARENCE WOLFE WILL SAY

Durrant Spoke to Him of Blanche
LamOnt's Beauty and Purity and
Stated in Words too Plain for Print
His Devilish IntentiOn-''FrOm His
Own Circle His Condemnation Comes
Like a ThunderbOlt.'' .''-Progress Of
the Trial.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, Sept. 4. When
the trial of Theodore Durrant was re-
sumed to-day, hundreds struggled to get
admission to the court room. The pros
ecuting attorney commenced the intro
duction of evidence to-day. The first
witness was @. G.. Noble, the uncle of
Blanche Lamont. He testified to her
disappearance on April 3, and the find
ing Of her body in Emanuel Church on
April IA. Cross examination was waived.
The next witness was DR.. A. S. Bar
rett, autopsy physician at the morgue,
who described the autopsy. He said
death was due to asphyxiatiou. On the
left cheek were several marks made by
finger nails. Asphyxiation was caused by
strangulation. He expressed the opinion
that the finger marks on Blanche La
mont's throat were made by only one per
son. There were no solids and very little
LIQUID in her stomach, this statement
carrying oHt the theory that the girl was
murdered between and 5 o'clock in the
afternoon. The discoloration of the
girls neck gave evidence of there having
been violent struggle.
The cross-examination was continued
until the noon recess, and occupied the
larger part of the afternoon session, but
elected no points of advantage to Dur
rant. The police in the afternoon
brought to the court room model of
Emanuel Church exact in every detail,
to be used in the trial to illustrate the
testimony of the witnesses.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, Sept. AT the
Durrant trial to-day the taking of testi-
mony was begun. The first witness was
DR.. Barrett, who performed the autopsy
on Blanche Lamont.
The Examiner says the prosecution has
a witness whose testimony will show a
motive for the murders something
that has been lacking heretofore,
on account of Durrant's standing
in social and religious circles.
The name of the witness is Clarence
Wolfe, and it is said that he will swear
that in April, or the day before Blanche
Lamont was murdered, he and Theodore
Durfant held conversation which ex-
plains with terrible significance the
young students motive for killing the
girl. Wolfe has told the police and will
tell the jury that on the afternoon in
April he and Durrant held the conversa-
ton which meant so much concerning
the pretty girl, whom both knew only for
a few months.
Durrant commented upon the beauty
of Blanche. In a tone of exultation and
not of respect, he assured Wolfe that
she was pure girl, and that heintended
to rob her Of that virtue whick she SO
priced.
This overwhelming testimony which
Wolfe will give has been kept
profound secret by the prosecution. The
defense and the public have
held that the young friend of the
accused would take stand only to
speak a good word for the man who's 9
life is at stake. Intimations were given
that Elmer Wolfe would be dragged into
the case in a manner little to his liking.
but there was no suspicion that Durrant
had confded to his friend the ignoble
purpose which inspired him. He spoke
in words far palmer than those which
have been published. He left no possible
doubt of what he meant.
The source of this evidence is, in the
opinion of Capt. Lees, one of the strong
est proofs of its reliability. Had some
one who enjoyed no more than simple ac-
quaintance with Durrant come forward
with it there might be some doubt, but
its sponsor here is one who possessed the
students confidence, shared with his
pleasures and took part in much of the
daily routine of his life. From his own
circle his condemnation has come like a
thunderbolt.