davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-18

It's nice enough place, but it's funny
you've got no books | said Here are
the books and opened the closet door, I
then saw the body and did not stop an in
slant, but ran out"
Harry E. Shook of 2429 Mission, in an
swer to questions, said he had known Min
ME Williams about three months and The
odore Durrant about three years. He never
saw them in company.
Q.-What do you know about the finding
of the body? A.-The Rev. Mr. Gibson
and DR.. King came to me and wanted to
know what they should do in the circum-
stances. 1 told them the only course open
to them was to notify the Coroner and the
police. l telephoned for them and then
went to the church. The body was lying
on the floor. One leg was bent under the
other, the dress was up to her knees, her
bodice was ripped open and a broken knife
was lying on her breast.
Q.-Could you tell if there had been q
scuffie? Al could not. There were
some marks, but not enough to account for
struggle.
AT this point Chief Crowley came in and
took a seat near the prisoner.
James Sademan, the 15-year-old son of
the janitor of the church, was the next wit
ness. 1t was while he was cleaning the
church last Saturday that he noticed the
lock on the library door was broken. The
JOCK was put on SO as TO keep the witness
and others from meddling with the books.
The door was open about an inch, but the
closet door was closed.
Q. Who have keys to the church, A
My father has key and [ use his. Mr..
Gibson has one and Mr.. Durrant has an
other. [ saw Mr.. Durrant many times in
the church. He was there the Saturday
before Miss Williams was killed. George
King was with him. Mr.. Durrant was as
sistant superintendent of the Sunday
school.
Odd any women come alone to the
church? A.--Miss Turner used to core
there to fix flowers for the following Sun
day. When the body was found the
young ladies came out screaming. They
asked me if l had put wax figure in the
closet and 1 said no. They then warned
me not to go near the place or would get
a big scare. [ didn't hear any noise in the
church that morning at all.
Sergeant W. f. Burke told straightfor-
ward connected story: Saturday last be-
tween the hours of 1 and l received a
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-18

did not wait for an introduction to those
around them before asking questions and
expressing opinions. In the little knot of
women in which the young lady happened
to be was middle-aged woman who told
those about her that at about 10 o'clock on
the night the murder happened her servant
girl went out the back door and came in
quickly, saying that she heard screams.
The woman went out and at once heard
two or three sounds that appeared like
stified shrieks Of agony in the direction of
the church near by. Then all was still.
''To think" the woman had said, "that
should have heard the screams!"
The girl who told DR.. Townsend of what
she had heard described the woman as one
of middle age, rather large, with a pleasant
face and wearing a plush cape. She in
ferred from what the woman said that she
had son and daughter.
DIR. Townsend reported the young lady's
story at police headquarters that day, but
the police have not found the middle-aged
woman.
Who the lady is who told this interesting
story on the sidewalk could not be learned
in the neighborhood last night. 1t is but
natural that vague rumors about screams
should get started, and one lady was found
who said that some strange woman had
told her that she had heard a girl say that
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-18

the police to keep them from forcing their
way into the building. Finally one of the
doors was opened and the people went in
until every seat was filled. Then the door
was closed and the announcement was
made that there was no more room. Still
that did not satisfy those who were on the
sidewalk and the street. Many women at
tempted to force their way over the railing
in front of the main entrance to enter by
the side. So persistent were they that the
officers were placed on the defensive and
were forced to push back the crowd.
When the funeral cortege, consisting OF a
white hearse, containing the fiower-covered
white casket came in the police had to
clear the crowd and open passageway to
allow the pall-bearers to enter the church.
The pall-bearers were: Dr.Vogel, George
Underwood, Clarence Wolf, George r.
King, W. S. Bowker and Truman Cald-
well. They placed the casket on trestles
in front of the altar The church was strewn
with hundreds of callas.
Shortly after clock the organist in
toned a sweet melody and the Rev. M. P.
Boynton, acting pastor, followed by the
Rev. j. George Gibson appeared on the
platform.
Rev. Mr.. Boynton read Psalm LIX, COM
mencing, "Deliver me from mine enc
mics, 0 my God; defend me from them
that rise against me-" and this was fol-
lowed by the reading of the fourteenth
chapter of the gospel according to ST. John.
The prayer that followed moved many
of the congregation to tears.
Mrs. King, mother of George R. King,
the organisJ of Emmanuel Church, rem
dered, ~ am nearer my home to-day than
ever I've been before as solo, in a
most impressive manner, her son pre-
siding at the organ.
Rev. Mr.. Boynton then said:
This is a most unusual crime. 1t is to be
hoped that a lesson may be drawn from this
terrible tragedy. 1t is not my purpose to en-
large upon the horror that has shocked the
city. There has been fearful period OF terror
in this city. In the dead of night an unknown
fend entered drugstore and stabbed to death
the young man in charge. That crime, so
horrible shocked the city to the very center.
An officer was shot down by bandit on a
commonwealth highway. Who were their
murderers? The echo answers who A citi-
zen from the interior visits this city and on
one of the public streets is attacked by two
highwaymen, and because, like the courageous
man that he was, he resisted and .came
near paying with his life for having
made that defense; two men meet in a
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-18
STILL A MYSTERY.
No Trace of the Blood
Stained Garments of the
Murderer.

The floor of the room in which Minnie
Williams was murdered is spotted and
splashed with blood, but on the carpet in
the library, into which the only door in
the little chamber of horror opens, there is
not the faintest trace of gore. The carpet
is white and red ingram and any stain
upon it would be visible.
There is little camp stool in the room
in which the crime was committed and it
is thought that the murderer sat upon it,
and after removing his shoes stepped
across the blood and the body to the car
peted floor of the library and thus left no
stain.
1t was thought that perhaps the muir
derer donned one of the baptismal robes
used in the church when he fell upon his
victims, but none of the robes are missing
and none are stained. A physician who is
studying the case thinks that the criminal
thrust the girl into the room, undressed IN
the library and then attacked her.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-18
He Tried to EntiCe An
:: other Girl Into the
Church.
=
TOLD AT THE INQUEST.
Cries Heard in the Structure
J." the Night Of Miss Will
liamS' Death.
FOOTPRINTS IN THE DUST.
Impressive Scenes at the Funeral.
The Prayer Meeting-New
Theories.

The mystery that was born in the crime
stained church on Bartlett street, and the
monster who was its father are still the
topics that crowd all others in the public
mind. Durrant is still regarded as the
central figure in the awful crime, but there
are many who believe that if he sinned he
did not sin alone. The police are still toll
ing indefatigably on this case that was
celebrated before it was twenty-four hours
old. The blood-stained tabernacle has
been searched from foundation to roof for
more evidence, but more was not found
there yesterday. Stalwart policemen
guarded the structure, and Pastor Gibson
and Janitor Sademan went IN and out.
Sademan had little to say, and the minis
ter would not talk. He tried to have the
police keep reporters out of the building,
and failing in the attempt refused to talk
to the newspaper men.
The policeman who sat at the door
thought with a sinking heart of the long
hours of the night that he would be COM
PEELED to spend in the deserted building,
and deplored the fact that the Police Com
missioners would not permit their subordi-
mates to gather courage from the exhilarat-
ing glass.
Among the important developments of
the day was the finding of a woman who
says she heard shrieks in the church at 10
O'Clock on the night of Miss Williams
murder. At that hour Durrant was at DIR.
Nogel's house, and if the girl was muir
dered then he is innocent of her death. a
policeman was found who measured the
footprints on the dusty floor of the belfry
where Blanche Lamont's body was found.
He said that the prints of a mans and a
Homan's shoes were found there and the
prints of the former of No. shoe, and
that is not Durrant's size
Minnie Williams body was taken to
Laurel Hill Cemetery and placed in a vault.
Prosecuting Attorney Barnes will have the
coffin opened and the face of the dead girl
photographed this morning. Rlanche La
mont's body was sent to Dillon, Mont, to
be buried there. The Coroner's inquest
was resumed, but was not concluded.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-18
IN THE BELFRY DUST.
Footprints Made by No. 9
ShOeS-Durrant Wears
No. 8.

1t has been said, and again denied, that
when the officers found the body of
Blanche Lamont they also found footprints
in the dust on the belfry floor and they
measured them. A police officer who is
in position to know, but whose name for
obvious reasons is withheld, said yester-
day:
1.-The officers did find those footprints.
They measured them and found, as stated,
that they were made by man wearing a
No. or No. shoe. AS Durrant's shoe
is No. or it will not fit the tracks, and
for that reason those fellows down at the
City Hall are subordinating that circum-
stance. They know they have got to catch
and hang somebody for these murders.
don't believe Durrant is the guilty man.
Don't use my name, though, for if you do
Ill lose nv lob +"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-18
THE FUNERAL.
An Impressive Sermon by the
Pastor of the First Baptist
Church.

At no time in the history of the First
Baptist Church was there such congre-
cation as assembled there yesterday after
noon at 2 o'clock to take part in the SER
vice held over the remains of the unfortu-
nate girl, Minnie E. Williams.
Long before the appointed time crowd
of men, women and children, all eager to
gain admittance into the sacred edifice,
assembled on Eddy street, and it required
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-18

at Dentist Vogels. because if otherwise he
would have been drenched with the warm
thin blood of his victim, and only bath
and complete change of clothing, even to
linen, would have made him presentable
at the party"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-18
is FRIGHTENING UP,
Durrant Chats Pleasantly With
Many People Who Visit
Him.

People who imagined that Durrant
would break down in day or two did not
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-18

Continued on Eighth Page.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-11
SPRING AND WINTER WHEAT.
The Showing Made by Reports 20 the
Agricultural Department.

Washington, June 10-The report Of
June 1. consolidated from the returns Of
the correspondents OF the agricultural de-
partment, makes the acreage of winter
wheat at present growing. after allowing
for abandonment, s6.1 per cent of the
area harvested in 1894.
The percentages Of the winter wheat
acreage upon the basis indicated Of the
principal states are as follows: Ohio. 50:
Michigan, 80: Indiapa 9S; Illinois, 80; Kan
sas 81; and California, lis.
The percentage Of the spring wheat area
for the entire country Is &5 per cent, be-
ing but slight reduction from last year $
area. The percentage of spring wheat ac-
sin, lOI; Minnesota, leo; Nebraska, lOl (;
North Dakota, 100; South Dakota, 100.
The condition Of winter wheat has fallen
decidedly since the last report being Ill
per cent, against S2.s on May l. The con-
dition reported June l, 1894. was S32 per
cent The percentages of the principal
states are as tollows Ohio, 39; Miehiga1n. m
Kansas 81; Nebraska, 81. and California,
The condition of spring wheat shows an
average for the whole country OF Sl.S per
cent. and for the principal spring wheat
states as follows: Minnesota, lO9 Wiscon-
sin, 81; Iowa, l0l; Nebraska. 60; South Da-
kots, 9S; North Dakota, 80; Washington,
So; Oregon, 80.
The average percentage Of all the spring
wheat acreage is 81 and the condition or
the same is 1876 per cent.
The preliminary report places the acre
age of oats at 1882 of last years arsa.
The returns make the condition S4.3,
against 81 last June.
The acreage in rye Is 67.7 per cent. OF
that of last year. The average condition
June l was S5.7 per cent
The acreage of rice Is 1902 per cent. or
that OF last year and the condition Se2.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-11
RECEIPTS OF THE TREASURY.
They Are Now Nearly Equal to the
Expenditures.

Washington, June 10.-The treasury re-
ceipts are partaking of the general busl-
ness revival, and while they still do not
quite reach the point of equalizing the ex-
penditures, they are getting nearer strik-
ing an even balance each day. For the
ten days of June the receipts have aggre-
gated s., ,435, 900, or $1,0O000O a day, Sunday
excluded, and the expenditures have been
$40, ,OO4 900, or only 81 $500 in excess of the
receipts This deficit will be wiped out
before many days. and the end of June
is likely to show for the month an excess
of $2,0OO,O0O ro $3.000,O00 receipts over ex-
penditures, a condition not reached in any
one month for several years by the treas
ury.
The deficit for the year, which now
stands at $4S, ,326, 600, will be reduced to $45,-
900, 900 or below by June 80. This turn of
affairs in the treasury's condition is ac-
counted for by the fact that business is
adjusting itself to the tariff conditions,
and that large revenue is now being re-
ceiVed from articles that heretofore yielded
little as they were In stock" This is
notably the case as regards sugar, which
had been imported free under the former
tariff laws. The free stock is now ex>
hausted, and imports have been resumed.
The large quantity of whisky taken out of
bond to escape the increased tax of 20
cents a gallon is now nearly or completely
consumed, and new whisky is being taken
out of bond to supply the consumptive de-
mand. The increase in internal reVenuS
receipts shows this plainly
With all the principal lines of business
adjusting themselves to the present tar
iff conditions, and with an increased vol
ume of business apparent, still the reve-
nues of the government are not quite suf-
ficient to meet the fixed expenditures.
The increased revenue of SAC, 900, 600 or $780,
COO 900 provided by the Senate over the
House tariff act, principally on the items
of sugar, iron ore and coal, makes the
deficit Just so much less. but leaves the
treasury still short by about 23,0000 900 or
$50 100000 a year of equalizing expendi-
lures. This will have to be provided for
by the next congress.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-11
AN ANGL0-ITALIAN ENTENTE.
A SIGNIFICANT DECLARATION ny
KING HUMBERT.

An IntimRtiOn That the NaVies of the
Two Powers Are To Act in Concert.
Cooperation in Africa Also Dc-
of the Entente-The King and
queen Enthusiastically Cheered.
Rome July 10.-The new parliament was
opened to-day with more than the usual
display of ceremony. The king and queen,
upon their arrival, were enthusiastically
received and loudly cheered by the im-
mense crowd assembled in the plaza. All
of the ministers and a large number OF
other officials, together with the entire
diplomatic corps. were present. and
strong force OF troops were confined in
barracks to preserve order should their
services become necessary.
Three hundred and seventy deputies pre-
scented themselves TO take the oath. Signor
Cavalotti and the other socialist members
were absent in accordance with their pre-
vious announcement.
The speech from the throne appealed to
the patriotism OF the members Of all par
ties to assist in expediting the budget. The
financial situation, the speech declared,
had already been sensibly amellorated.
The government also promised such judi
cial reforms and laws as would enable
better defense Of social order. II might
become necessary for the government TO
have recourse TO force in order to preserve
the required decree of order. but the king
preferred the pursuit OF humane methods
always. and believed In a policy Of love
before force. This passage in his majes-
tvs speech Is understood to forecast
large measure Of amnesty and was vehe-
mently applauded.
The speech also announced officially
the coming marriage of the Duke OF Aos-
ia to Princess Helene of Orleans and the
participation of the Italian squadron IA
the ceremonies at Kiel upon the occasion
of the opening OF the Baltic North sea
canal.
His majesty also made allusions to the
friendship existing between italy and In
gland, TO the victories won by the Ital-
ians and to the anniversary Of the liberia
tion of Rome.
When the speech was concluded the
cheering was loud and prolonged. The
speech as a whole made an excellent i'm
preston.
one particular passage in the speech has
been greatly commented upon. After re-
ferring to the part to be taken by ltaly
in the Kiel celebration, his majesty SAID
I'VE shall render our cordial greetings
to England and show our close connec-
tion with the English navy"
Pursuing the subject, he expressed
thanks TO the government of Great Brit
ain for having given a new proof OF the
sympathy of England with Italy by pro-
hibiting the importation of arms into Ar
rica, to the detriment of the undertake
ings of Italy on the frontiers OF Abysslpia.
These utteTances are interpreted In dip
lomatic circles as disclosing a definite
agreement between Italy and England for
common and concerted action In Africa.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-11
LOVES MURDEnOUs LuNACY.
a German Of 80 Kills n Girl of IL
and Commits Suicide.

Hyannis. Mass, June l0.-The quiet VII
lage Of Osterville was greatly excited this
morning by the murder OF Lizzie Coleman.
l3 years OF age. while on her way to
school, by a German laborer named Henry
Litkey. who afterward committed suicide
by shooting. He was a married man with
a wife and three children in Germany, and
has been employed on the farm OF S. 5.
Leanorad more OF less OF the time for the
and a faithful laborer.
For the last six months he has been in
fatuated with the Coleman girl and has
spent considerable OF his spare time at the
house Of Mr.. Coleman His infatuation
was not noticed by the family or the girl
until recently. when her parents forbade
his coming TO the house. He made the girl
various presents at different times and
also made "A present 20 the mother.
After his visits were forbidden he want
ed the presents returned. which request
was refused This refusal melted him to
commit the terrible deed. The girl with
her two brothers. started for school about
$40 o'clock this morning. Litkey was in
the habit OF meeting her on the way to
school for the purpose OF speaking with
her and often intercepted her on her way
home. He Immediately fired two shots
at one Of the boys. missing him. Then
he turned to the girl and shot her twice,
the first time through the mouth, the
second taking effect In the back OF her
head or neck He next turned the weapon
upon himself, the BAH passing through
his head. Both probably died instantly.
Litkey was about 90 years Of age, and
was an intelligent man.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-11
FRANCES FRIENDS AND FOES.
THE GOVERNMENTS FOREIGN POL
ICY EXPLAINED.

NJ. HanatOux Denies That the Ac-
ceptance of Germany's Invitation
10 Take Part I'm the Ceremonies at
NfeI Indicates Any Change in Pol
fcy-M. FIOurens and ex-Premier
Goblet Inclined to Criticise the
Governments Course.
Paris. June 1O.-M. Milleraud, socialist.
interpellated the government in the Cham
her of Deputies to-day in regard to the
policy of France in the east, and the ac-
ceptance of the invitation of Germany to
take part in the ceremonies at Kiel on the
occasion of the opening of the Baltic
sea canal, declaring that the latter indi-
Gated a change in the French policy.
NJ Hanatoux, minister of foreign af-
fairs, denied that the acceptance of Ger
many's invitation furnished any evidence
Of any change of policy whatever on the
part Of France. The acceptance of Ger
many's invitation, he said, was merely an
act Of politeness. The French sailors who
would go to Kiel would represent free
and strong France, fearing no comparison
with the sailors of any power.
Disavowing any feeling of resentment
respecting the east, NJ. Hanatoux said
France was unwilling to leave Russia to
struggle alone with difficulties which
might influence the general policy of the
republic. France, he declared, remained
faithful to her allies.
NJ. Flourens said that in return for
French support of Russia in the east
France ought to have obtained a gua-an-
tee that when the question of the an
nexed provinces (Alsace- -Lorraine) came
before Europe, Russia would give France
her moral and material support. Fur
thermore, Russia ought to help France
in Egypt in return for her services TO
Russia in the Armenian question.
EX-Premier Goblet declared that the ac-
tion of the government in sending French
Warships to Kiel wounded the national
tered into with Russia had commanded
French gratitude, but now it seemed
that it was not sufficient for effective ac-
tlon. If great European alliance is
expected between France and Russia let
NJ Hanotaux plainly say so. Germany,
he said, had not hesitated to publish the
fact and terms of the Dreibund, and
France certainly had no reason to be
ashamed of having established an alli-
ance with Russia. He (GobleO was not
animated by any feeling of revenge, but
the separation Of Alsace-LOrraine from
France constituted a just reason for dis
pleasure and until that question was set
tied, France would remain neither cour-
teous nor conciliatory.
Premier Ribot said that France hai
united her interests with those of Russia
for The preservation of the peace of Eu-
rope and this alliance had made both coun.
tries stronger.
The Chamber then voted confidence in
the government by 1862 to 105.