The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-10-11
PLOT THICKENS
Durrant on the Stand in His
Own Defense.
SAID TO HAVE HURT HIS CASE
Pushed to the Wall by Attorneys Be-
comes Confused, but is Not
Again Shaken.

San Francisco, Oct. 10,--The halo OF
train that surrounded Theodore Durrants S
head IN account Of the prominent posi-
tion he held in Emanuel Baptist church
was dispelled today. Under the rigid
cross-eXaminaltion of District Attorney
Barnes Duauilnt did more to convict
mself IF he murder of Blanche Lamont
than any of the witnesses who have
testified against him have done. The
,ouug Sunday school superintendent even
went further than that and proved to
the satisfalcltion of the most casual lis
tener that he was deliberately perjurlng
himself. Several times he gave answers
that were directly in conflict with we'll
established facts and then changed his
replies when he realized that ne was on
dangerous ground. Besides that lie gave
an explanation Of the clew regarding
Blanche Lamont's disappearance, said to
have been received by him, that was
so palpabcy falsehood that everybody
in the court room laughed aloud.
Without tremor Durrant handed
Blanche Lannon'S torn clothing, which
was found hidden AWAY in little crevices
of the beifry, and denied that he had
secreted the garments. Even the grew
some model, bearing the waist and skirt
worn by Blanche Lamont when she was
murdered, did not affect him. although it
stood within three feet of where he was
sitting. But the prosecution were never
theless wel satisfied with the days work,
for 1T had accomplished what had never
been done before-Durrlnt for a moment
had lost hIs wonderful seif-pogtession
and had been caught in a number of
bare-faced unltruths.
.g,N,tT TN,
rant recovered his composure, "a surprise
wia5 sprung ON him in the hope that It
might disconcert him. After asking Dur
rant If he had ever made a written state
ment of his whereabouts on the day
Blanche Lamont was murdered and re-
ceiving an affirmative reply, District At
torney Barnes asked the following ques-
ton:
"Is 1t not fact urdt you sent a written
statement of your case to your attorneys
and wrote ON THE envelopes: TO be opened
II / am convicted and TO be returned II
I aim acquTtted?"
The excitement caused by the question
was intense. In the hum of voices Dur
rants answer was lost and the stem
ographer WAS asked to read the reply:
81 never sent an Envelope to my attor-
neys bearing such an inscription" he
said.
Durrant was questioned at length re-
gardlng the communication and signih-
can't inscription on the envelope but
denied that he ever sent such a document.
Durranlt's strong nerves were tested by a
number Of questions relating to the last
time HE SAW Blanche Lamont The climax
was reached when Barnes, with mis- voice
pitched in higher key than usual, ad-
vanced Ito where Durrant was sitting and
asked: "Dld you ever lay eyes on
Blanche Lamont after the morning of the
day upon which she was murdered, Liv-
ing or dead?"
Durrant replied THAT he did not. "Liv-
ing or dead ] said" thundered the dis
trtict attorney, advancing a step nearer.
Although every eye in the court room
WAS conferred upon Durrant he remained
ais cool as If he had been asked the most
question. He again replied
that he did not.