Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-10-03
.I'TLOOKS HOPELESS
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Statements That Durran{'s Inno-
cence Would BE Proven in Three
Minutes Are Not Substantiated
by the Attorneys for
the Prisoner
DISAPPOINTED IN A WITNESS
The Man Who Wns Expected to Do
Much for Durrant Proves a Good
Witness for the Prosecution.

San Francisco, Sept. %. - If Theo-
dore Durrant has anything tangible
upon which to base his denial Of the
charge that he murdered Blanche La
mont and Minnie Williams, his at
torneys have failed to give satisfac-
tory evidence of the fact. The de-
Tense has disclosed enough to satisfy
the prosecution that Durrant's at
torneys are cropping in the, dark in the
hope that something may develop
within the next few days to save the
prisoners life. The weakness of the
defense is made more apparent at this
time on account Of the extravagant as
sertions that Durrant's attorneys have
uniformly made since the trial began.
When the prosecution was engaged in
putting in it's case. and the situation
looked darkest for the young Sunday
school superintendent, Attorney Dl-
prey was accustomed to snap his
fingers and remark that he had no
fears for the future of his client.
1--WE will clear him in three min
utes," said Duprey, land the public
will be at a loss to understand how
Durrant's name was ever connected
with the case" The same line of ex-
travagant claims was continued when
Attorney Duprey made his opening
speech for the defense.
'Not only will the prisoner tell with
his own lips the simplest story of lis
life on the day that Blanche Lamont
was murdered" said Duprey. "but DR..
Cheney will tell you that Durrant was
at Cooper Medical institute at the very
hour when the murder Of Blanche La
mont is said to have taken place. Be-
sides that, we will prove to you that
Durrant never tried to pawn Miss La
mont's ring at Oppenheim's store. On
the contrary, we will bring forward
the young man who did try to pawn q
ring at Oppenheim's similar to the one
worn by Miss Lamont"
In view of these startling statements
it was first believed that the defense
might have a strong case held in re-
serve, which would put to severe
test the case of the prosecution. In
one day, however, the case of the de-
Tense crumbled and fell of it's own
weight, and to-day Dnrrant's alibi has
not a leg upon which to stand. Dr.
Cheney, who was expected to tell so
much for the defense, Was stroS:S
witness for the prosecution. Instead
Of fulfilling Duprey's statement, and
swearing that Durrant attended lee
ture at Cooper medical college on April
3. he said he had no recollection Of
seeing the young medical student
there. The denial dunif0unded the de-
Tense.
If further proof were needed on the
belief that the defersc has little to Of
fer in refutation of the case put for
ward by the prosecution it was fur
nished to-day. Instead of placing wit
nesses on the stand to testify to some
material fact in connection with Dur
rants alibi, two gas filters were called
to testify with regard to the sun burn
ers in the gallery Of Emanuel church.
For two hours the crowd was bored
and the jury made tired by long
series of questions and answers rela-
tive to the minutest part of the con-
struction Of the sun burner. Not once
during the entire session was the name
of Blanche Lamont mentioned, nor
was anything said to indicate that it
was not 4 suit to collect plumbers
bill instead of murder trial that was
before the court. The evident purpose
Of the examination. however, was to
show that the repairing of sun burn
ers would necessarily result in the es-
cape Of great deal of gas. This
testimony will be used to substantiate
Durrant's statement that he was SUI
fering from partial asphyxiation when
he came down from the church belfry
trembling and flushed and met Or
ganist King in the auditorium.