The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-18
IN DURANT'S FAVOR
REACTION IN THE SENTIMENT OF
SAN FRANCISCO PEOPLE.
Nothing but CircumstantiaI Evidence
Against the Alleged Murderer of
Miss williams and Miss Lamont.

SAN FRANCISCO April 1.-THE Eman-
uel Baptist Church murders are still the
main topic of discussion in this city. Not
withstanding the fact that one or two
newspapers have tried and convicted Theo-
dore Durant of the frightful crimes there
seems to be reaction in favor of the ac-
cused young man. The evidence so far pro-
duced against him is only circumstantial,
and while the police say they have enough.
evidence to convict ten men, it is doubted
If any jury would find Durant guilty un-
less further conclusive proof is furnished.
The young medical student does not act like
guilty man, and If he did commit the
murders, he is certainly man of remark
bic nerve. Last night he slept well and he
has good appetite. He continues to assert
his innocence, and his whole demeanor is
that of man confident of proving it when
the time comes. The inquest over the re-
mains of Miss Williams was continued to-
day.
Durant protested against being forced to
attend the inquest and said his attorneys
had advised him that the police had no
right to make him go. He was told by
the officers that if he refused to go they
would take him by force, and he finally
reluctantly accompanied them to the cor
oner's Office.
Rev. Dr. Gibson was the first witness
called He said he had seen Miss Williams
probably three times .and was not intimate
DIR. vogel testified that Durant came to
the party at his house Friday night a
few minutes before 10 o'clock. His fore
head was covered with perspira tfon, but he
saw no blood about his person. Durant
he entered the parlor DR.. Vogel had never
seen, Miss Williams and Durant together,
of the accused man. The witness stated
that his niece. Miss Turner, had told him
that Dufant had asked her to allow him to
examine her about some complaint with
which she was troubled.
A. E.. Williams, the father Of the mur-
she did not go into deaiis. He Identified
as one he had given his daughter.
The testimony of the witnesses who
claimed to have seen Durant and Miss
Williams entering the church early Friday
evening was rather vague. They
nhe ana aarS he ap 5ne se na 70 an ns
coat resembling those worn by Durant, but
they were not positive that Durant was
nesses s s'''', was to the effect that the they had
never seen Durant and Miss Williams to-
OF each other. The inquest will be re-
sumed tomorrow.
An afternoon paper. publishes sensa-
tional story TO the effect that a trail of
blood has been found leading from the
church to Durants house, but the tale is
highly. improbable, since Friday night
there has been a heavy shower that would
have obliterated all traces of blood on the
sidewalk.
The funeral services over the body of
Miss Williams were held to-day in the
First Baptist Church. An immense crowd
attended and hundreds of floral pieces were
sent. George r>ing who says that he found
Durant in the church the day Miss La
mont was murdered was one of the. pail
bearers The Rev. Gibson was also in at
tendance. The Rev. Boynton made brief
address. referring to the murderer, and
many of the women present wept. The
body of Miss Lamont was shipped to her
home III Dillon, Mont, to-day. in charge
of her sister.
Joseph E. McClinchy committed suicide at
his home, on Locust avenue, last night, by
hanging. 1t is believed that the murders
In Emanuel Church affected his reason, as
he had been reading all the news obtain
able on the subject. When last seen, about
10 o'clock. he was lying in bed, reading
a newspaper, and about an hour later his
mother went to his room, and finding him
gone, made search of the house. finding
his dead body in the basement.
The mother of Durant has made an ap-
peal to the public through the newspapers,
asking for. suspension, of judgment in
the case of her son until other than cir
clrastantial evidence is produced