The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-15
TWO GIRLS SLAIN INAc CHURCH.
A MEDICAL STUDENT SUSPECTED
OF THE CRIME.

He Was Engaged to One of the Girls
and when She Suddenly Disnp-
peared the other Suspected Foul
PIay-The student Supposed 10
Have killed the Second Girl to
Prevent Her From Exposing the
First Crime-The Pastor Prisoner
Pending an Investigation.
San Francisco, April 14-Another horrl-
Bile discovery was made this morning in
small room in the steeple Of Emanuel
Baptist church, where the mutilated re-
mains of young Minnie Williams were
found yesterday. The church had been
desecrated by a second murder, the vic
tim being another young girl. Blanche
Lamont. who had been missing since
April 3. She had been strangled to death,
her clothes had been torn from her per-
son and the body was almost nude when
discovered. Her shoes and stockings
were missing. The imprints Of the assas-
sins finger nails were plainly visible
on the murdered girls throat. but there
was no indication of further violence.
Shortly after the awful discovery was
made DR.. George Gibson, the pastor of
the church. was taken into custody by
the police, no charge was placed against
him, but he will be held until the mystery
is fully cleared.
Miss Lamont was last seen alive in the
company Of Theodore Durant, a young
medical student and assistant superin-
tendent Of the Sunday school, connected
with the dealed place of worship. Du-
rant, who is said to have been engaged
TO be married to Miss Lamont. is sus-
pected of having taken the life of the
Williams girl, who is known to have been
warm friend of Miss Lamont. They were
members of the church. which they fire.
quently attended together, and were also
in the same Sunday school class.
After the disappearance of Blanche,
Miss Williams often said that she knew
that her companion had met with foul
play. This startling statement reached
the ears of several members of the church
and the girl was asked for an eXplana-
tion, but she positively declined to re-
veal the nature of her Information and
the matter was dropped. The police are
now inclined to think that Durant, know
ing that Miss Williams was in possession
OF sufhcient evidence 10 prove his guilt.
in connection with the disappearance cf
Miss Lamont, concluded to decOy her IN
to the church and silence her forever. The
police argue that Durant had heard the
statement of the Williams girl and mo-
mentarily feared exposure. As she con-
tinued to declare that her friend had been
murdered Durant concluded to kill her.
"One of the most damaging witnesses
against the young medical student Is
Charles Hills, who resides across the street
from Emanuel Baptist church. Shortly af-
ter O'Clock Friday night he saw man
and woman standing near the street cor
ner. They chatted together for some time
and finally started up the street toward
the church. When the church was reach
ed the man caught the girl by the arm
and half dragged her to the gate leading to
the pastors study. After a few minutes
conversation the couple passed through
the garden and finally entered the church
through the side door. Hills is positive
that the man opened the door with key
and was apparently thoroughly familiar
with the premises. Suspecting that some
thing was wrong he waited outside for a
few minutes but hearing no outcry con-
cuded that the couple were members Of
the church and went to his home. The de-
scription of the man who accompanied the
girl tallies exactly with that Of Durant. A
thorough searh Is being made for Durant.
San Francisco April IA. 10 p m.-This af-
ternoon Rev. George Gibson made a salts
factory explanation to the chief of police
as to his movement since last Friday and
was allowed TO depart. He denied having
tried to keep the Williams murder quiet
and also denied having been Intimate with
Durant, whom he does not thdnk guilty,
though he admits the circumstances are
very strong that way.
Theodore Durant was this afternoon ar
rested at Walnut Creek, q point on the
Sacramento river, thirtymiles from this
city.