The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-04-20

b"u Eopu'hr OuniRhd Ahdt ~ DO
Razed TO tho Ground.
SAN FEAsciioo. April lo.-The excite.
mont that follawed the discovery ,of tho
murdered body Of Marian Williams In
the library Of Emanuel Baptist church
on Saturday laat, aud the finding Of the
mutilated. nude and decom posing re.
mains Of Blanche Lamont In tho beliry
OF the same church on Sunday morning,
just as the Easter balls were calling tho
devout to tho church, ha, subsidized In a
great measure; but though a week ha,
elapsed since the awful tragedies came
TO light public interest in the case con-
tinusa uuabated and It is the chief topic
OF conversation. Tho body Of one youth
ful victim, Miss Williams, Is at rest in
tho cemetery. and the body OF Blanche
Lamont is now on its way 10 Dillon,
Mont, her home, aud will roach thero
to-day.
In spite Of many expressed suspicious
against the pastor OF the church, 1t Is
almost beyond doubt that he is not In
any manner implicated, as his where-
about oil tho night OF the murder and
during the hour when Miss Williams
Tas murdered are known, for he wRs
during that time at q gathering OF tho
Young people At church members
house. II should DO proven that Miss
Williams was not killed until midnight,
instead OF between s and 0 o'clock. then
there might have bson grounds tor tho
suspicion voiced BY many people.
The intimation by friends OF the &C.
cused man that the police have ignored
all claim, except those that point to
Durants guilt led tho chief OF police to
call his detectives before him last night
SO aa 10 Get q summary OF tho evidence,
and Q coucensus OF opinion. Five de.
teeuves have had charge OF the case.
DETECTIVES ARE CONFIDENT.
The chief read the reports. questioned
tho men. and then asked the detectives
il in their Investigations anything had
suggested that tho murders were done
by several men ia company. The do.
tail was unanimous in declaring tho be-
lief that both women we're killed by one
and the same man, aud that man, W.
d. /. Durant, was now under arrest.
The conforeucs ended with renewal
OF orders by tho chief to continue the
investigation. not only along the main
line, which seemed TO load to Durant,
but on all collateral lines, no matte.
toward whom they tended.
That section OF the city whore Eman-
uel church is located was originally
tho Mission Dolores. founded by the
friars. a hundred years ago, and is to
this day generally designated as "The
Miss ON. Popular sentiment OF the
mission iayors the razing OF the edifice.
This feeling extends even to those who
are not financially interested In the
property, but nave an interest in the
moral atmosphere of the neighborhood.
Tho church has always been under a
cloud. A stain OF blood marks its his
tory from ono pastor who killed news
paper reporter and who blew out his
hrains, and thence TO the awful tragedy
that 10 now before tho people. Every
where is heard the expressions: BURN
the place down" Tho feeling ia that
tho church should never again be used
as place Of Worship
THE INQUEST.
Tho usual crowd OF curiosity-seekera
was present when the coroner's in
quest was resumed this morning. Du-
rant and his attorney were also present.
Elmer Wolfe, tho young man whose
statements have been questioned re.
Gently, was ro-cal,ed to tho stand and
ollercd to produce witnesses to subs.an-
tiate NIL he had previously said in re-
gard to his movements on the night
Minnie Williams was murdered, but
the coroner declined tho offer, and both
that official and tho chief Of police said
they were satisfied with Wolfe 'sestats.
ments, aud did not believe hc wds con-
nccscd with tho crime. Two OF Durant's
comrades in tho National Guard COM
pany wcro examined and said that on
tho afternoon oil the night thai Mimic
Williams was murdered thoy saw Du-
rant lettering about tho fprry at tho
foot OF Market street and talked to him.
They said Durant told them he did not
expect to be at the asmory that night
and ho asked them to respond to his
namo al. roll call.
DuRAST HELD FOR TRIAL.
DR.. Bartlett, who conducted tho au-
topsy that Minnie Williams diod OF
asphyxiation as result Of having part
Of her clothing forced down hor throat
by tho murderer. aud that the knife
wounds found on various parts OF hor
body wore inflicted after her death.
He also testified that the girl had been
criminally assaulted and that previous
10 tho limo Of tho tragedy she had led
blnmcless life. Several other witnesses
were examined on minor mnttors and
about II O'Clock tho coroner announced
that hc had no moro testimony 10 offer.
though ho called Durant 10 tho stand
and the latter left his seat rs il TO pre-.
sent himself Tor examination and then
looked toward his attorneys, who ad.
vlscd him not 10 speak, md no further
eilort was made TO question him.
Tho jury did not occupy al hour in
elaboration aud returnod verdict bo-
foro noon charging Durant with tho
murder OF Minnie Williams. It was tho
case Of her death only that was being
Investigated. Tho case Of tho. murder
Of Blanche Lamont,wiI! DO taken up
lator.
When Durant was shown tho verdict
aiIcr his return TO tho city prison, his
taco flushed for the first timo sinco tho
terrible crimo Tor which ho Is accused
WIS discovered.
Elmer VOLTS testimony at tho in.
quest was slightly miSod mud snmn of