The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1895-04-20
TELEGRAPHIC.
THE INQUEST.
Further Testimony in Regard of the
Crime For Which Durrant Is Held.

Crime For Whlch Durranu Is helus
SAN FRANCISCO, April 16-The cor
oner began an inquest upon the re-
mains of Minnie Williams at the
morgue this morning. The surround
ing streets were packed with crowd
of morbidly curious people. Among
them were many fashionably attired
women. the latter being especially
bitter against the fiend of Emanuel
church.
Pending the commencement OF the
inquest. Durrant was temporarily
lodged in a cell of the old city prison.
He was calm on his arrival, and did
not seem bit pertubed by his hurried
trip from the new city hall. He
passed through the people with his
head bowed down. He was trifle
pale, but displayed the same GOODNESS
and ability to control his feelings that
had characterized his actions since his
arrest at Mount Diablo.
AS the appearance of the murdered
girl was described by the witnesses,
Durrant began to look haggard. His
ewes became heavy and red and he
drummed nervously with his fingers.
The most sensational testimony of
the day was given by Clark Fl. Morgan.
at whose house in Alameda Miss
Williams resided.
Morgan said Durrant has made in
sulting proposals to Miss Williams,
who had repulsed him. Several times
he tried to decoy Miss Williams, with
view of betraying her. Morgan said
last summer Durrant had taken Minnie
out to Fruitvale. and when in lonely
spot he tried to reason with her with
the intention of betraying her. Nor
gan said Miss Williams, for whom he
had a parental feeling, contided freely
to him her suspicious OF Durrant, OF
whom she was in mortal fear. Dur
rant seemed to possess great influence
over her. but she both feared and dis
liked the prisoner. Morgan also testi-
fed that a few evenings before the
tragedy he had given Miss Williams a
street-car ticket which he had had in
his possession for 20 years. She had
said on receipt of same, jestingly: 4
can try to ride on it in Oakland. The
ticket was in her purse when found in
Durrant's overcOat pocket.
FURTHER INFORMATION.
The police have learned of further
information connecting Durrant with
the murder of Miss Williams. Last
Friday evening Mrs Mackay, a washer
woman, was passing Emanuel church
with a bundle of clothes at the time
Durrant and his supposed victim were
being in front of the side gate
of the church. When Mrs. Mckay
passed she says the man was urging
something, the girl shaking her head
disapprovingly. The man said,
you're afraid: come, don't be cow
ard She thought it was a lovers
quarrel and passed on, thinking no
more of the incident until the account
of the murder was published. Her
description of the couple tallies exactly
with that of Durrant and Minnie Will
iams.
The marks of the fingers that stran-
gled Blanche Lamont were plainly
visible on her neck. Careful measure
ments were made by physician and
plaster cast of Durrant's hand has been
made. If it can be shown that the
marks on the neck correspond with,
and were made by hand similar to
Durrant's, the police think they will
have gone considerable length to-
ward proving the guilt of the man now
in jail.
Durrant appeared a trifle nervous
when told of the statement made by
Organist George King. He at first ap-
peared to treat it lightly, but finally
realizing the Importance of the state
ment, he grew suddenly demonstrative
and emphatically declared that King
was liar. He said: 81 cannot under
stand why King made such statement.
There is absolutely no truth in it, and
he evidently made the statement to
hide the real culprit. Before God,
am innocent of the terrible crimes that
have been charged against me. | fully
realize my situation, but trust that
with the help of my friends and the
one who watches over us. my innocence
will be esta ablished and the murderer
brought to justice. King lies when he
says that he saw me leaving the belfry
of the church on the day that Blanche
Lamont is supposed to have been muir
dered. Even if 1 had passed out of the
belfry, as stated by King, it would
have been impossible for him to have
seen me. A survey of the premises
will show that. A person standing on
the ground cannot see the belfry. 1
admit that was in the church on the
Qdy OF UDo mufuSf Vi MISS LdInOnt, DuG
1 was engaged in repairing some
electric wires. I did not see Miss La
mont at the church, and have no
knowledge that she was in the building
that day.
"The only evidence the police have
against me is the purse which belonged
to Minnie Williams. can prove that
/ found it on the street and placed it in
my overcoat pocket, where the detec-
tives found it. l have had number of
callers, but strange to say, DR.. Gibson
has not visited me. l cannot under
stand why he has not been to see me,
as we have always been the warmest
friends. 1 sincerely trust he does not
think me guilty of the horrible crimes
which have been laid at my door. But
the truth must triumph, and then 1
will show him and the other members
of the church that am not the mon
ster the public have painted me-"
Durrant was arraigned in the police
court at l o'clock this afternoon for the
murder of Minnie Williams. His hear
ing was set for next Monday at II
q clock.