The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-09-26

llOutu Vl tue ueHu sIEl WAS HlIsHtI
open.
OPENING FOR DURAST,
Attorney Eugene Duprey, ior the de-
ienss, then bagau his opening state
msnt. IIis intimatiou that the murder
was committed not by Durant, but BY
Rev. John George Gibson, pastor Of
Emauuel church, by a significant aIlu-
sion 10 the resemblance Of the preach-
er's handwriting with the lettering on
tho paper enclosing Blanche Lamonts
rings, created q marked sensation.
Duprey then said:
"rhe district attorney has presented
a strong case OF cirCumstantial evil
dence, which at first would create 4
strong SuIpioiOu OF the guilt Of the de-
fendant. We claim that beyond q
strong suspicion the prosecution has
failed to 70. WO contend that with all
the testimony introduced the only ia-
sues to DO passed on have not been ar
rested. Where did Blaucho Lamont
forfeit her lie? When did she meet
hor death? Who caused her death?
"lheIe questions have not been an-
swered, a fourth question is the cause
OF death. A fifth has not aud cannot
be answered, What was tho motive Of
the accused to take the life OF Blanche
Lamunt2 Under tho testimony tHHs
far, we claim the right to ask the court
NJ this time to instruct the jury With
ont one word, TO acquit. AZ a duty to
the defendant, his parents and the COM
mnuliy, bis lips should be unSealed.
The district attorney promised 10
show that Durant was not where
hs should have been on tho alter
noon OF April 8, namely, at tho lecture
room Of tho Cooper Medical College.
" here is that proof? No alIusion to it
hns bern mndc. Tho prosecution haa
called between forty and fifty witnesses.
OF tina. number, VINO have Civon mate.
rial evidence? Three elderly lRdieI.
thrao vonng indios, 4 pawn.brok0r, a
Victoria hOtei keeper and n police court
shyster and his colleague have fur.
uishcd tho substantial! testimony upon
which tho prosecution relies
MoTuER's TESTIMONY.
Lot me carry you along the ground
upau VIII ich We ask tor verdict for the
defense. First, you shNll hear from tho
mother Of DuraRt how he was inter
ostcd ~ church work and what he did
for EmGaueI church, We will tell you
how ho met Blanche Lamont aud OF his
associations with her. Mrs. Durant
will tell how her son was dressed when
las ieGt home on tho morning Of Aprii3.
sho will tell what hor son did that
evening.
On tho morning oil April Durant
left lie homo aud walked towards the
house OF George King, 80 that ho might
haYo II hripor that evCning to fix tho
gaa in tho church. lie accidentally
mot Binnrhc Lamont, whom 10 told hn
was on his way Ia Kings house, and
asked horto accompany him. ShO said
HhO did not have timG to accompany
him beiOfO school ant requested Dur
ant tn accompany hcr to school. Ilo
aCQnlcsCCd IN this and accompanied hCr
as far no suItCr street aud OCtnVia,
whore tho defendant wont on tO Web
stct strCOl 10 tho medical college. Then
hc wont TO Dr. ChOnav's lecture, aud
wn will produce his notes different from
any other ptudOnrs anl show lie IL
marked ntOsnnt DR.. Cheney will tell
you that iu was ptcIOnt,
WO will show that no arrived alone at
tho church at 1855 aud not before; that
ho Culutcl by tho door on tho south
side; that hc went into shc library. took
II book aud n Cnrd hn wanted. llO 10.
moved hs coat, neatly folded II, took
out hii watch 10 that Il would not drop
out whilO hu was fixing tho gas jot5.
ilo then went up to tue cOlllug by
laldOr and fixed tho gas burners, We
will show that when tito gas attots
turned on tho h0sevCnty.tWoga ga' lets much
gas escaped lhtough lack u vontila.
ton this gas remained In tic atmui.
uhoro near tho GcIlIug aud wien DHtaHt
went to tho ceiling hu Inhaled tho gas
which made hIm sick, @ testified by
King
Tnp oRoANEt's StoEM
You ara nkoi 10 believe that this
man nrrt0nl of Of mufINr want liyarilV