The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-04-25
SEEN WITH THE GIRL
An Important Witness Who Identifies the
nedical Student

IleOlCdl otuuSut
SAN FRANCISCO, April 24.-Addi-
tional statements made show the growing
Importance of Hodgson's story. The wit
ness testified yesterday, His statement,
made to Chief Crowley, is of a nature to
make certainty of the belief that the
young medical student induced Marian
Williams to enter Emanuel church with
him on the night of the murder.
The witness. James z. Hodgson. lives
at 100 Bartlett street. few doors from
the church. He saw Durrant and Il
young woman within a few feet OF the
church at 8 :15 O'Clock Friday n ig hit. the
night of the murder. The actions of the
couple were so peculiar that his atten-
ton was attracted as he walked past them
to see if he knew them
The young man was apparently trying
to compel the young woman to do some
thing she did not want to do.
When the body of Marian Williams was
found in Emanuel church Hodgson re-
membered the circumstance of the night
before, but said nothing, because he did
not want to be known in the case, and
for the additional reason that he was
afraid he would involve some innocent
man. 1t was not until yesterday after
noon, when he was approached by De-
tective Seymour, that he deemed it advis-
able as matter of public Justice, to tell
of what he had seen.
1T is my habit he said, while max
ing his statement at police headquarters,
ito smoke a cigar in the evening after
supper, and if the weather is fine | us
ually take my smoke while walking up
and down the sidewalk in front of my
house. On Friday evening, April 18th,
I was SO engaged, when | noticed couple
standing on the sidewalk below my house
and about 200 feet south of the church.
The man wore long dark overcoat and
black SLOUGH hat, and was consid erably
taller than the girl. In fact she ap-
peared to be quite slight little thing, but
wore long dresses, and was, SO far as
could judge, a young woman. By this l
mean she was not girl.
What first attracted my attention was
the fact that they were standing still and
appeared to be arguing about something.
Their attitude impressed me with the
idea that the man was insisting upon
something which did not meet with the
young woman's approval.
After watching them for a minute or
two | conluded to walk past them and
see if | knew them. l passed close to
them, and as L did SO the young man
turned and looked me square in the face.
! saw that he was unknown to me, and
not wishing to appear inqulsitive
passed on, only barely glancing at the
girl, whose head was turned partly from
/ 30 +Ia
bought cigar, and when | came back
the couple were gone; at least, l could
not see them anywhere. though l looked
UP and down both sides of the street,
Durrant was taken from his cell in the
prison by two detectives, who escorted
him to 70 ON near the chiefs office.
Hodgson was awaiting his arrival.
THAT IS the face-that is the man. -
said Hodgson. as soon as he saw the prls-
oner. THAT is the man l saw. l am
sure of that
Durrant stood bewidered before the
group and looked blankly from one to an
other as if seeking an explanation. When
it was given he shook his head and said
t'I don't know this man. He is GER
tainly mistaken, for l was not on Bartlett
street that night l deny the truth of
what he has said.''
To make the Identification complete, the
hat and overcoat which Durrant wore on
the night in question were brought out
and the prisoner was asked TO don them
This he did with evident reluctance.
That is the man, y repeated Hodgson.
when Durrant had completed the opera
ton OF putting on the hat and coat.
That is his face, and with that coat
and hat there can be no mistake"
J. p. Hodgson was called. He testified
that ON Good Friday night about O'Clock
he left his house, which is near the
church. to take stroll. As he passed
down the street he saw man and girl
standing together, and the man seemed
to be ia king liberties with the girl. Wit
ness first impulse was to 90 up to the
couple and separate them. The man
seemed to be trying to persuade the girl