Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1895-04-25
CRIES OUT In TERROR
YOUNG DURANT's SLEEP IS SOME
WHAT DISTURBED.

YOUNG DURANT's SLEEP IS sO,.E-
WHAT DISTURBED.
The Alleged Murderer of the Two
Young Ladies I'm San Frnncnsco is
Afflicted With Nlght-mnrc, hut
When Awake Mas Great Nerve.
San Francisco, April 16. - The
Emanuel Baptist church, at Bartlett
street, between Twenty-second and
Twenty-third, in this city, has been
the scene Of two Of the most atrocious
murders ever committed in the state.
Yesterday the mutilated body of Min
ME Williams was found in the library
of the editice. To-day the nude body
of Blanche Lamont was found in the
tower of the same church. The same
hand, the authorities believe, slew
both girls. and w. II. T. Durant. the
young man suspected of both crimes,
is now in custody.
Blanche Lamont and Minnie Will
Jams were members of the Emanuel
church, and members of the Sunday
school class. The former was a
student in the normal school, on Pow
ell stree. in this city; the latter was
a companion in family in Alameda
across the bay from the city. They
were both twenty-one years old, bru-
nettcs and pretty and modest girls.
Both had been the recipients of atten-
tons from a young medical student
named w. II. r. Durant. who is also
the librarian of the church and the
secretary of the Young Peoples So
ciety of the church. On April 3 Miss
Lamont disappeared. Diigent search
failed to reveal any trace of her
whereabouts, and her aunt. Mrs. No
bic, with whom she had been living.
was totally unable to throw any light
upon the affair. Miss Lamont came
from Dillon. Mont. several months
ago. having been III San Francisco for
her healtl. and at the same time to
attend the normal school to perfect
herself us teacher. The last person
seen in her company was w. II. It.
Durant, who, it seems, had been on
friendly terms with the missing girl.
Yesterday about 11:lO p. IN. the multi
atcd body of Minnie Williams was
found in the library of the church.
The girl had been assaulted and her
having evidently died from loss of
blood. On further examination it was
found she had been gagged. the as
sailant tearing part of her under
clothing and thrusting it down her
throat with n sharp stick, badly lacer-
ating the tongue
Miss I.nmont's Body Found.
Late last night the detectives had
about decided Durant had murdered
Miss Williams. and this theory was
further strengthened this morning af-
ter making a thorough search of the
Emanuel church. The dead and out
| ragged body of Miss Lamont was found
been caused by strnngulation. The
body was lying just inside the door
Of the tower room nude and on the
floor. Around the neck We're marks
of fingers that had been pressed deep
into the tender flesh. The mouth was
open showing the teeth. the features
were badly distorted. being drawn,
and the lips We're swollen and blood
stained. The nose was the only feat
IRE that retained its original shape,
for the cheeks were bloated. The
girls hair was matted with dirt and
hung loosely about her shoulders The
body was badly decomposed. the odor
emanating from the remains having
reached tho nostrils of the detectives
before they opened the door. When
the officers reached the top of the
stairs they found the door leading to
the tower dome locked. They broke
in the door. 1t was so dark they
could not see. and one of the officers
struck n match and when the light
tiared up they saw before them the
dead body of the girl for whom they
taken to the morgle where it was
placed Oh slab by the side of Miss
Williams. Durant has been arrested.
III his possession was Miss Williams
purse. 1t is believed that he has a
mania for numbering girls.
San Francisco. April 1S.-Theodore
Durant keeps his rerve under excel
lent control. During his waking hours
he gives little sign OF trepidation even
When undergoing severe orleals of ex-
animation and accusation. His calm
ness is characterized as cold-blooded
by physicians. His slumbers, howev-
er, are not so peaceful. Since his in
generation he has not passed an hour
III quiet sleep. When lie closes his
eyes lie invariably becomes the vic
tim of nightmare and groans and
cries in terror. His shrieks last night
disturbed the occupants of the prison
and gave color to the rumor that the
alleged murderer had committed sui
eide. At daybreak this morning he
was bathed III n cold PRECIPITATION.
Those who supposed that after his
ngonizing dreams lie would make
confession were surprised at his self
possessed demeanor after he had
made his careful toilet. Evidently
nothing was further from his mind
than to admit his guilt.
Durant attended the inquest of Miss
Williams. Police officers described
the finding of the body of Miss Will
lams, its mutilated condition, its dis
heveled clothing and the blood spat-
tered floor on which it lay. Rev.
George Gibson. pastor of Emanuel
church. described the position Of the
remains and told Of the reception late
Friday night when Durant appeared
late with "A flushed face and dis,lr-
ranged clothing. The pastor said Du-