The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-20
iournment in the Durrant case. From the

iournment in the Durrant case. From the
latest reports on Sunday it was confidently
expected that his Honor had recovered
sufficiently from his asthmatic attack to
resume his seat on the bench. No one
knew differently until 10 o'clock yester-
day morning, when his son Harry came
into the courtroom and stated that his
Honor was unable to get down. Upon
this the presiding Judge was notified and
Judge Belcher of Department IL was as
signed to adjourn court.
The prisoner and his counsel were in
their places, the courtroom was crowded
with citizens summoned on the venire and
the corridors were damned with the usual
crowds when Judge Belcher took his seat
on the bench and ordered the roll of the
jurors sworn. This being quickly DONE all
of the eight responding to their names, his
Honor announced that, by reason of the
illness of Judge Murphy, recess would be
declared for the purposes of the Durrant
case until next Thursday morning at 10
o'clock. Judge Belcher then cautioned the
jury and the trial came to another stand
for the time.
This sudden shutting off of the proceed
ings, while absolutely necessary under the
circumstances, came as a genuine disap-
"
counsel, who were fully prepared to use
their utmost endeavor to complete the
jury ere the end of the present week. AS
it is, should Judge Murphy be able to take
the bench Thursday morning, but two
days of the week can be devoted to the
trial, and no one dreams for a moment
that the necessary jurors can be secured
in that time. Of necessity, therefore,
the matter will run over, and everybody
will consider it good work if the State can
get to the introduction of evidence by the
LIST of September.
However, the delay may not be the
worst thing that could have happened
and in the end it may prove of value in ex-
pediting the case. Certainly this is true
as regards the prosecution, and the District
Attorney will put in the hours between
dence in the order in which it will be in
troduced. Just what counsel for the de-
tense is doing in this regard is not known,
but 1T is safe to say that no grass is growing
under the feet of two such energetic gentle
men as General Dickinson and Mr.. Deu-
prey.
In addition to arranging his evidence,
the District Attorney proposes to familiar
lze himself with the interior of the church
and the surrounding Deighborhood, and
for this purpose made tour of the edifce
yesterday in company with Captain Lees
and Detective Seymour. After a thorough
inspection OF the premises short call was
made upon Mrs. Leak, who met the
District Attorney for the first time.
Late yesterday afternoon it was decided
to subpoena the reporters on the morning
papers who received statement from
Durrant on the evening of his interview,
which statement was printed on the morn
ing OF April Is last. The principal point
In view In this, it is understood, is to fix
beyond cavil the point that Durrant stated
that he was in Emmanuel Church at 4 80
o'clock in the afternoon of April 8. It is
not known and not supposed that attorneys
for the defense will dispute this point, but
the prosecution wishes to be prepared for
any emergency. 1t is even whispered that
the fact that Durrant stated that he arrived
at the church at 80 o'clock on that after
noon will make the proof of an abb very
difficult one.
Each side is busy with it's own affairs,
seals are on every lip and the public can
only wait and hope for developments as
the trial progresses.