The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1895-10-29
ALLEGED CONSPIRACY
New Phase Developed in the
Durrant Case.
MOST DIABOLTCAL PLOT IF TRUE
Conspirators were to Have Implicated
Preacher GibsOn-One is Con-
characterization.

SAN Francisco, Oct. ga strange
story of an alleged plot IN connection
with the trial OF Theodore Durrant came
to light today through letter addressed
to the coroner. The police claim they
have known of the plot for some time,
and that the knowledge of that plot had
been discovered, and led Attorney Deu-
prey, for the defense, to abandon the
case and take to his bed, leaving the
closing management of the case to Cen
eral Dickinson, who, it is alleged, did
not know of the plot. Six men are, ac-
cording to the story, implicated as those
who were to swear to false statements
prepared for them, it is alleged, by the
defense. The police say the plan was
conceived entirely by Durrant and car
ried out largely under his direction by
the aid of one of his counsel. The plan
was to make such evidence as would
prove as alibi for Durrants and at the
same time implicate Rev. ]. George Glib
son in the murder of both Blanche La
mont and Minnie Williams. One of
these alleged witnesses, who, by his let
the plot, said he and others were ready
to manufacture an alibi, but when they
were asked to implicate Gibson they
weakened and gaYe hint to the police
which spoiled the whole plan.
A letter dated October 81, and signed
George Reynolds, is as follows;
Tonight I will seek rest from all
\ Al kl.
Cliff House. 1 write this so you need
have no inquest or Identification. I was
some months ago to be witness in the
Durrant trial for the murder of Minnie
Williams. L send you a statement pre-
pared for me to learn with five other
men named Smythe, Dugan, Stewart,
Taylor and Harrington. 1 object to
take part in this matter because of the
part of the plan to implicit tie Preacher
Gibson. Iasslsted E. M. Thayer, Dur
rants friend, in fixing up the plan.
Smythe, Dugan and Stewart were to he
lor, Harrington and 1 were to help him
out in the Williams case. tried to get
statements of tie other five to enclose
with this, but they would not give them
up. Smythe was to say Blanche La
mont was at his house, near Haywards,
until Friday, April 5th, when she left
for home. The strap with Blanche La
mont's name 1 marked myself with her
name. 1 cut off the end of the strap and
sent it to Chief Crowley three months
ago with other matter. Dickinson's ex-
planation about the strap is clever, but
very improba BILE. I should think Dick
inson would be sick, too. Dngan and
Stewart were to say they had been to
DR.. Anthony's funeral in Oakland on
Friday, April 9TH, and when returning
saw Miss Lamont on the ferry boat,
Dugan knowing her we'll. The plan was
also to produce bloody handkerchief
with the initial g. meaning Gibson,
upon it. 1 Uttered five other handker-
chiefs, and Thayer sent them by mcssen-
ger to Gibson, with a card written by
Smythe, saying, From four little infant
class girls The bloody handkerchief
was to be offered as having been found
in the lot back of the church on Sunday,
April 14th, but it never was delivered
because we declined to take part in the
plot to implicate Gibson. This is all
have sgt to say. Let Durrant tell the
rest" (Signed),
GEORGE REYNOLDS"
Accompanying the letter was lengthy
statemaDt cOmDr1sin0 tho DurDOrfod bO-