The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-09-28
Durant Identified in a Dramatic
Fashion in the Court Room.
BUT HE DID NOT FINCH
The Prisoner Neither Displayed Guilt
Nor Flushed Back the Glance
of Injured innocence.


the jury. Adolph Oppenheim, the brolS-
er who stated that Durrant had, about
the middle of April last tried to pawn
a ring with a Clipped diamond. identi-
fed by Oppenheim as one belonging to
Blanche Lamont, was recalled for fur
Their cross-examination. The witness
was questioned at length by the defense
regarding DuIsant's visit TO his shop,
in order to ascertain the possibility Of
mistake in Identification. To test his
memory, he was questioned concerning
other persons VINO had visited his
pawnshop on the day Durrant is charg-
ed with having tried to sell the ring.
Oppenheim said only two other persons
had called. Both were strangers, yet
he described them minutely and re-
counted the particulars of their visits
as If they had occurred yesterday.
Oppenheim was asked regarding other
specific days, answering promptly. In
the minds Of the spectators of the
courtroom he was too good a witness,
remembering events on special days
months back with extraordinary vivid
ness. The counsel for the defense tried
to confuse Oppenheim by showing him
number OF silver articles and inquir-
ing If he had ever seen them before. In
many cases the pawnbrol5er replied in
the affirmative and described the per-
sons who had tried to sell or pawn
them. The defense evidently consid-
cred Oppenheims testimony of great
Importance and tried hard to break it
down, but without marked success.
w. J. Phillips the cigar manufacture
er, testified in a positive manner, that
he had seen Durrant coming out OF
Oppenheim's store in the early part
of last April. He had no doubt of the
identity OF Durrant.
A sensational scene followed when
the district attorney requested the wit
ness to step down and indicate the
man he saw coming out of the pawn
shop Phillips rose. walked from the
stand to within three feet of the pris-
oner and with pointed finger and steady
gaze said in positive tones: THAT is
the young man."
Durrant did not finch under the or
deal. He returned the gaze and not a
muscle OF his impassioned face witch
ed. He neither betrayed guilt nor
flashed back the glance of injured in
nocence. The witness was cross-ex-
amined regarding his business enter
prises and his family history with the
apparent intent of discrediting his tes-
timony. He said when Durrant's por-
trait was first published he remarked
that he had seen him in some place.
When Oppenheim's picture was pub
lished. the scene at the pawnshop
flashed across his mind and all the de-
tails came back to him. Phillips said
he came into the courtroom a week ago
to see II he could identify Durrant.
which he did without a moments hest
tation. The witness said he did not
know Oppenheim and had never bowed
to him, although he had frequently
seen the pawnbroker standing in the
door Of his shop as the witness went
to his office. He had avoided speaking
to Oppenheim since Durrant's arrest.
as he wished to prevent any suspicion
of collision between them.
Leigh II. Irvine, a newspaper man.
said he interviewed Durrant on the
evening of April ii in the city prison.
Durrant's statement was made in the
presence Of Judge Thompson, who was
then Durrant's attorney. 1t was as to
his whereabouts on April 3. Durrant
then said he left home about o'clock
on that morning and met Blanche La
mont at Twenty-first and Mission
streets. She invited him to accompany
her to the college on the day of the
conversation about "The Newcomes"
took place. He went to the church at
4:30 and took off his coat and hat and
went upstairs to fix the gas He stated
that he met King in the church and
left 1t with King. He said nothing
about having seen Miss Lamont in the
afternoon.
Mrs. A. B. Perry of Alameda. who
was visiting Mrs. Crossett on April 3.
corroborated Mrs. Crossett's statement
as to her trip to the Mission on that
afternoon.
Thirty-seven witnesses have given
testimony in nine weeks since the COM
mencement Of the Durrant trial. Half
a score more will take the stand for
the prosecution the present week. The
district attorney is sanguine he can
put in his case not later than Wednes-
day evening. In opening the statement
for Durrant it is semi-oficialy stated
that Mr.. Deuprey will state that neither
himself nor his colleagues ever enter
tanned the idea of disputing the testi-
mony of Mrs. Mary VOge and three
normal girls to the effect that Durrant
Joined Blanche Lamont at Kay and
Powell streets at 3 o'clock on the after
noon of April 3. lie win admit that the
young woman and the medical student
got on the car together and rode In
the direction Of Market street. Upon
arrival at Market and Powell streets
they separated, Miss Lamont going in
one direction. and Durrant in another,
bent upon keeping his engagement with
Mrs. Rosalin Holland.
Hides easier at Boston. but more active