Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-27
THE DURANT TRIAL.
Witness Wol1s Coat Like the Ono
Worn BY Prisoner.
TESTIMONY or THE ORGANISE.
n Rciatcs to Keys to the Church
Aibrnry. which Were Held Only
NV Himself md tho Accuscd-Dr.
G,b.on's Atibi.

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. April 2S.-
There was as large crowd as ever
Of the purant trial to-day. The defence
aprarontiy have no hope OF preventing
the prisoners being held. and are de-
vo,ing their efforts 70 obtaining informa-
ton for use at the trial
Elmer Wolf was the first witness this
morning lie repeated the testimony
Given az the inquest Of his being present
- Dr. Vogers on the night OF the muir
der. OF Duranrs arriving about $50. of
leaving the house with Dursnt and seve-
raj young ladies. OF accompanying Miss
Lowe home, and about midnight, seeing
man. who roScmbled the accused. near
the church.
puring Woin'S cross-examination he
sas requested 10 take of his coat, but
.,fys,d 10 do so. Counsel for the de-
fcnce appealed to the Court. and Noln
.asry removed the garment. He then
admitted 20 counsel that 4, bore re-
.nblance TO the one worn by Durant. On
.-c n!ght in question. witness wore
sark coat and vest and ligh, trousers.
ohich were now at the ranch where he
was employed. and could be secured at
THE ORGANISE.
George Il King. the organist Of the
church. was then called for the first time.
IN. Rad been organlst for two years. was
secretary OF the sunday school. and had
teip,d 20 aTranSe the Sunday-school
library. in company with Durant. who
was superintendent OF the Sunday school.
I!e had no ky 10 the side door Of the
church. but had one 10 the library. lie
flf the new lock on the library door.
Long assisted by Dursnt, who was the
only one other than himself who had
key 70 Il.
The lock (which was produceD caused a
great deal Of discussion among counsel.
D. was apparent that the defence would
maintain that Durant. having ii key.
could have unlocked the door. and that
an his case there was no need why he
Should break the door The prosecution,
On the other hand. IL Of the opinion that
.- only he and King had keys TO the
room. he knew that TO have unlocked the
DOOR would have pointed TO one Of them
Immediately.
Chlef-oi- Police Crowley is OF the opln-
on that there Is not single fact that
points other than TO Durant MIR. Glib
oa has a perfect abb" he said to-day.
Eve have studied him very carefully and
I.fI tfdltl no ra,NS 10 ascertain the
ruth or falsiiy Of his statements 1t
s evident that Mr. Gibson arrived at
pr Vosers house at $50 Good-Friday
night lie took part IN the business
meeting az the Young Peoples Society
~ Christian EndeeVor. and remained In
The house until ll30. These facts Mr..
G BISON can prove 10y abundant testimony,
and. 10 me the facts seem conclusive
as 10 his innocence.
STRONG CASE AGAINST DURANT.
Il believe the facts make very strong
-ssc against the prisoner. and though
every possible clue has been run down
ana carefully Investigated. we have not
succeeded in finding any facts upon which
reasonable man could construct a theo-
- consistent with the innocence of Du-
ant"
Speaking OF the Lamont case. Chief
crowley said the Police Department
would present. II possible, a stronger
'hain Of circumstantlel evidence than In
The case ~ Minnie Williams.
we shall follow Durants movements"
ie said "up 10 the time when Miss La
mont met her death. and his relations
with her and all the circumstances OF the
tragedy viii be clearly brought out 1t
seems 20 me that this case is perfect. and
II Durant Is innocent. as his friends CON
tend. / have only 10 say that he is in
most unfortunate POSITION.
Chief Crowley added that at this time
+; would not be prudent for him 10 make
public an the evidence in the case. but
be- intimated that new witnesses would
DO produced 10 show that Blanche La
mont was last seen alive with Durant,
and in the vicinity Of Emanuel church.
IL Is understood that Dstrict-Attorney
Barnes will elect TO try the Lamont case
IN the Superior Court before taking up
The case OF Minnie Williams.
The Durant case was continued until
next Tuesday. IL is said the defence at
that time VIII have Wolf present, dressed
as he was on the Friday night and see
whether the witnesses who saw the man
near the church that night will swear it
was not Wolf.
CRAXED BY THE CHURCH MURDERS
SAN DIEGO. CAL. April 26--James
Smith. a ranch hand. near Delmar crazed
by reading accounts Of the Emanuel
church murders In san Francisco,
made criminal and murderous
assault on Mrs. Hugh Frazer.
wife of his employer. yesterday.
She escaped and gave an alarm. Consta-
ole Blsdworth attempted TO arrest Smith.
but the latter made an attack on him
with huge dirk. and the officer shot and
Efifgi Cr1f ia ceff-1as.nro