The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-01
AGAIN IN COURT.
A Motion for a Discharge and
Bail for Durrant Was
Denied.


in the preliminary examination of the pris-
oner for the murder of Minnie Williams in
the Emmanuel Baptist Church has not
abated.
Yesterday morning the corridors of the
new City Hall were crowded with persons
eager TO gain admittance to Police
Judge Conlan's courtroom and listen to
the proceedings. There were six police
officers on duty and they kept the curious
people at bay and only allowed such per-
sons as had a right to enter the courtroom
pass through. They afterward relaxed
their structures and allowed limited num-
Der of spectators in to comfortably fill the
courtroom.
Durrant when he was taken into the
courtroom by Police Captain Douglass
looked worn-out man. His countenance
had lost all the color which was in it when
he was first arrested and the expression
was pinched and drawn. Another notice
able feature about the prisoner was that he
did not look around the courtroom so
boldly as he did on previous occasions
He sat in his chair during the examina-
ton, apparently taking little interest in
what was said or done, with the exception
of the time during which DR.. Barrett was
testifying. In all that the autopsy doctor
said he seemed to be keenly interested.
In the opening proceedings, which began
rather late, Attorney Dickinson said that
he wanted TO deny the report that there
was any discord between the counsel for
the defense. He wanted to appear on the
records as sole counsel for the prisoner.
Eugene Deuprey, the associate counsel,
said nothing, and then the first witness
was called.
The witness was DR.. j. S. Barrett who
made the autopsy on the body of Minnie
Williams, and also on that of Blanche
Lamont. He was asked regarding the
autopsy, and wounds, and the cause of
death.
''The girl" he said, "died from asphyx-
iation and hemorrhage. The asphyxiation
was caused by forcing rags down the
throat. The wrists were cut. There were
two cuts on the forehead over the nose and
three wounds of the chest. Two AFTER
les were severed. The radial on the thumb
and the ulna on the other side. There
are also branches of other arteries"
I'm what condition did you find the "a
dial and ulna arteriesP
''They were severed"
"Were these wounds inflicted before or
after death ?"
"Some were post and others ante NOR
tenn. The wounds were necessarily fatal.
Those of the wrists were, and l am of the
opinion that the chest wounds would have
been fatal if inflicted before death. The
lungs were congeSted.
did you find air in the lungs?"
AZ did"
"What did that show?'
at might have been due to the fact that
some air was inhaled through the creases
between the rags in the throat"
Under croSS-eXamination by Deuprey
the witness testified that he had been
educated at the Cooper Medical College,
and had since been connected with the
City and County Hospital as house doctor.
He became connected with the Morgue on
the 9th of January last. He had made
about $50 autopsies-150 at the Morgue and
100 at the hospital. Janitor Tom Smith of
the Morgue was present when the autopsy
on Miss Williams body was made.
The witness was then excused to get his
autopsy notes, and DIR. c. T. Hills was
called.
He testified that he lived at 203k Bart
lett street, and that on the evening of April
II, between and 9 O'Clock, he was on the
corner of Twenty-third and Bartlett
streets.
What did you see on Bartlett and
Twenty-third streets that night?" was
asked.
About 8:15 o'clock 1 saw young man
standing on the corner. He had a long
overcoat and a soft or low stiff hat on"
'Did he meet anybody?"
''In few minutes he met short woman
near the lamppost by the corner of Bartlett
and Twenty-third streets"
Did you know the woman"
mo, sir.''
Where did they go?'
"They went into the church through the
door in the fence. 1t was about $40
o'clock at the time"
From which way did the lady conner"
"From the direction of Twenty-second
street."
''At what point Gid they meet?"
Near the lamppost, a short distance
from the church and 80 feet from where l
was. / walked down behind them. They
were on the same side of the street with
the church."
How long after they entered the church
did you remain in the YicinityP"
"a few minutes"
did you see them come outP"
No; did not"
How tall was the woman as compared
with the man?"
inches''
What kind of hat did she wear?"
"A small, fat hat"
AT this point the hat and cape worn by
Miss Williams on the fatal night were
shown to the witness, but he could not
identify them.
The coat and hat which were worn by
OuAId l1C Oll JlldI ulSIlL were also SHOWN the
witness, and he said they resembled those
worn by the man he had seen.
Attorney Dickinson conducted the cross
examination.
He asked the witness if he had wife
and the witness replied that he had, but
that she did not live at his residence Gus
Hanson, chimney-sweeper, he said kept
the house.
Where is your wifeP"
"She is out working on Mission street,
near Second"
!, How long has your wife been working
there2"
About two months"
April 1927
tAt my house. She arrived there about
$50 O'Clock. and remained there until
about 10:30.'
''How do you fix the time she arrived ?''
"As went in the door my wife remarked
that the clock had just struck half-past s."
''When. you left that house that evening
where did you go2"
alto the corner. | only had to walk the
length of the building"
What did you go out for?'
81 was expecting my wife to come and
1 went outside to watch for her.
while you were on the corner did Won
see these parties?"
Eyes; the man was standing on the
corner leaning on q most ~