The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-05
A MODEL YOUNG MAN
WITNESSES TESTIFY AS TO THE
CHARACTER of THEO. DURRANT.
Step That Leads the Prosecution to
Believe the Defense Il Weak-The
Rev. Gibson ON the Stand.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 4.-If the manner
in which the attorneys for the defense in
the trial of Theodore Durrant are handling
their case is any Indication Of the strength
of their position, the prosecution believes
the developments of to-day leave little
doubt of the prisoners conviction. To the
surprise of everybody, the defense this
afternoon began the calling of witnesses to
show the previous good character of the
young Sunday school superintendent. By
the prosecution this step is interpreted to
mean that the defense had introduced all
the evidence 1T has to refute the mass of
testimony piled up by the people. If this
be true, the verdict of the jury is a fore
gone conclusion Not only has the defense
failed to establish an alibi for Durrant, but
it has actually strengthened the case
against the prisoner.
Miss Cunningham, the newspaper report
er. who was threatened with Imprisonment
Yesterday because she would not answer a
question propounded to her by the defense.
was called to the stand again this morning
to give her an opportunity to answer the
question. She refused to divulge the source
of her information with regard to the ma
ture of Mrs. Leake's testimony. but. in
stead OF sending her to prison. the court
took the matter under advisement until
next Tuesday. In a similar case the Su-
preme Court OF California sustained the po-
sition of a newspaper reporter, and the
court Is in doubt of its power in the prem
ises.
Rev. j. George Gibson, pastor of the
Emanuel Church, was called by the de-
fense for the purpose of Identifying speci-
mems of his handwriting. The witness re-
fused positively to identify any of the spec
linens handed to him. He -aid the writing
looked like his own, but as the document
had not been in his possession for some
time. II at all, he could not positively iden-
ney Duprey Mr.. Gibson printed the name
and address of Mrs. I. G. Noble, Blanche
Lainont's aunt. He also wrote several
which were introduced In evidence. The
writing of Rev. Gibson will play an impor-
tant part In future proceedings. as attorney
Duprey announced in his opening state
ment that he would prove that Mr.. Gibson
directed the wrapper In which Blanche La
monts rings were returned to Mrs. Noble =
The defense summoned ex-Congressman
Henley and several other witnesses to show
the bad reputation of attorney Quinlan.
who testified that on the afternoon of April
he saw Durrant and Blanche Lamont
walking towards Emanuel Church. Fifteen
witnesses were placed on the stand to show
the previous good reputation of Durrant.
The witnesses all regarded Durrant as
model Young man. Not one-half ever heard
of his doing anything wrong.
Summed up briefly, the result of the first
ten days of the testimony introduced by
the defense is as follows: DR.. Cheney failed
to testify as attorney Duprey said he would.
that Durrant was present at the lecture
given on the afternoon Blanche Lamont
the fact that the roll-call book in which
Durrant was recorded as present at the
lecture is unreliable. as another student is
ahsanf TO Offset these two strong points
gained by the prosecution. the defense has
placed on the stand sixty-eight students
who testified that they did not answer to
Durrant's name at roll call on April 3. As
newt Monday is Labor day in California.
court adjourned until Tuesday.