The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-10-09

fed that on A prii , he Tried to Pawn
Small Ring Similar TO the One
Worn by Blanche Lamont at Open
helms Shop, but that it was in the
Afternoon Instead of Morning--Stud-
eBt Dukes Testimony.
SAN Francisco, Cal, Oct. 8.-After
wandering through a mass of unimpor-
tant witnesses the defense in the Dur
rant case this afternoon summoned to
the stand two of the most important wit
nesses that have been called since the
prosecution closed its case One of the
witnesses materially aided the defense
from the fact that upon cross-eXamina-
tion he failed to give important testimony
expected by the prosecution. The ex-
animation of the other witness had only
just begun when the court took recess
| until tomorrow morning, but in the
short time the witness was on the stand
he testified to one important fact which
was directly opposed to what the defense
had hoped to establish.
The most important witness Of the
day was Charles T. Lenahan, the young
man whom the defense contends was
mistaken for Durrant by the pawn broker
Oppenheim Lenahan, who does not
bear striking resemblance to the pris-
oner, said on April 3, he attempted to
pawn a small diamond ring, similar to
the one worn by Blanche Lamont, at
Oppenheim's shop
The witness said that he asked OPP
penheim the same questions and received
the same answers that Oppenheim
quoted in relation TO the conversation he
had with the young man whom Open
helm testified was Durraut. Then came
the surprises to the defense which co0n-
teracted nearly all Of the strength gained
from the witness testimony. Lenahan
said he tried TO pawn the ring in the
afternoon, while OppeEheim testified
that Durrant entered his shop in the
morning.
Attorney Dapeey was considerably
Disconnected by the statement of the
witness and endeavored to impeach Len
ahan's testimony, by reading a letter
written by Lenaban to the attorney for
the defense in which he divulged the
| fact that he had tried to pawn small
ring at Oppenheim's on the same day
| Durrant was said to have entered the
place. The court interrupted Duprey,
however, and refused to let him
read only such parts of the letter as
| referred TO the question at issue. Duprey
| then asked that the letter be admitted IN
| evidence, and at the close of the stru &
| gle over this move the court adjourned
| for the day.
The court refused to admit the letter
in evidence, as some passages were de-
voted to the expression of the writer's
| opinions as to tie correctness of Open
helms testimony. The remainder Of the
| letter was admitted
After Lenahan surprised the defense
by stating that he tried to pawn the ring
| in the afternoon, Attorney Duprey be-
came very suspicious Of the witness and
asked him several questions intended to
indicate that he had transferred his sym
pathy from the defense to the prosecu-
tioD. Among other things, Attorney
| Duprey asked Lenahan If he had not
been informed by persons known to be in
sympathy with the prosecution. Duprey
also asked him when he had shaved off
the moustache that he wore when he
entered Oppenheim's shop. Lenahan
said he had never worn a moustache in
his life
Duprey intimated that he would i'm
peach the testimony of the witness on
this point, by statement contained in
the letter written by Lenaban to the at
torneys for the defense. w. A Dukes,
student at Cooper Medical College, who
was expected to give strong evidence for
the prosecution, gave disappointing ties
timony. Dukes said that Durrant asked
him if he could not remember that he at
tended Dir. Cheney's lecture on the after
noon of April 3D. and to that end recalled a
number Of incidents said to have taken
place at the time. Although Dukes
seat in the lecture room was next to
| Durrant's Dukes could not remember
| whether Durrant was there or not, and
| told him so. Dukes said it was untrue
as had been reported, that Durrant
| asked him as favor that he would at
tend the lecture. On the contrary
Dukes said that Durrant told him he
wished him to testify only to the facts
as he remembered them.
With one exception the remainder Of
the witnesses were called to testify to
the previous good reputation of the de-
fendant.
II. F. Marshall, a reporter on a morn
ing paper, testified that on April IA,
Detective Gibson, who discovered
Blanche Lamont's body in the belfry Of
Emanuel Church, told him that he saw
the prints of number nine shoe
near where the body lay. Dur
rant wears a smaller shoe. In
the case Of Miss Carrie Cunning
ham, a newspaper reported who re
fused 10 disclose the SOURCE of certain in
! f2fmeti0n r"'af W. fo he nature 3f #rs
L axis te7s s'rocuv, Iud@a Hurpav rnlad
thar the witness was ragnr in refusing +
an@Wer toe quae ton. Miss Cunningham
was, therefore, not punished for con
tempt.
| NrNNEAP0IIs, Mimi, Oct. g The
House Of Deputies to-day decided by 80
to 81 in favor of the term "Bishop Co
o1iutCv y fnafaa1 ~ osygtov,4 pssbcy