Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-08
DRESSMAKER DUMMY
II Is introduced in the Murder Trial Of
". \. 7. Dulrant.
REPRESENTS BLANCHE LAMONT.
Az Nearly rs Possible of Her Height
and Figure-stnrtiing I'm Its Like
ness to- Reslity-New Witness pis-
covered.


SAN FRANCISCO. CAL, Sep'enio''
Though yesterday was the fourth uay
OF the trial Of w. II. It. Durrant' tne
prosecution is still O good distance from
its testimony. II IL has any, which VIII
prove beyond doubt that the mild-niah-
nered. well-bred little man is the one
that committed the fendish double
tragedy at Emmanuel Baptist church.
A fresh stage In the case was reached
vesterday-a stage which was thrilling In
IT'S horror. and kept the crowded court
room almost gaping with interest. The
story Of the finding OF Blanche Lannon'S
clothes that were hidden away among
the rafters OF Emmanuel church oeliry'
was told on the witness-stand by the man
who found them, and as each torn, ragged
bit OF cloth was shown. the crowd sway
ed with excitement. There was just one
man In all that crowd who seemed 10 feel
no interest in the garments. This was
the man who, OF all others. might have
been expected TO shudier and cover ms
eyes when the clothes were exposed-the
man accused Of the murder OF the girl
who wore those garments when she was
last seen alive The Introduction OF the
girls clothes was rather startling, almost
theatrical. IL happened soon after the
noon recess. A man bearing a burden
pushed through the crowd. and into the
courtroom. No one could see exactly
what he held in his arms, but IL APP
peared TO be wOman's form.
REALISTIC.
What the plaintiff brought into court
was really harmless enough-simpiy q
dressmakers' dummy. over which hao
been draped Blanche Lanunts basque ana
skirt. In order TO make 1t realistic, now
ever, the dummy was as nearly as IL
could be made OF the girls heisht ana
figure-a tall. slight, girllsh fisurc' I'M
mature. but still not lacking In grace.
The basque and skirt were worn ana
wrinkled, but the tears were pinned up
I'm part, and the gown was draped go as
70 appear much as II must have done
when its wearer was alive.
They stood the dressmahers' dummy
beside the witness-stan1, and there II
remained all the afternoon, and, TO the
excited imagination OF the attendants on
the Durrant trial-and IL is q trlab that
sets the dullest nerve on ed6e-the poor
figure seemed like an accusing presence
Men and women shuddered as they look
ed at IT, II made Blanche Lamont who,
under the fuss and technlcalltles or the
trial, has seemed more like an abstrac-
ton. one Of the conditions in game. the
stakes of which are Theodore Durrants
life.
Probably nothing In the trial has done
| no much to raise again the thrill OF horror
that swept over the city when II was
known that two young girls mas been as
saulted and murdered.
NEW WITNESS.
A new witness has been discovered by
I the prose eutiCn IN the person or II. '
/ Sha!mont, street-car conductor, whos'
! car reached Mission street day after day
| a time T. receive Blanche Lamont a.
| "a passenger. Having TO be at the school
house at a certain hour. the pretty school
girl had made It habit 10 take the same
! car every morning. From the Mission
street line she transferred at Ninth
street 10 the 1arkin-street bra 4Ch Of the
| Sutton-street road.
Shalmont came 10 know her face. lie
| noticed that she was n very pretty school
! girl. and always seemed 10 be unaccom
| panied.
on the morning of April 81 this rule
was broken ShalmOnt observed thai
blanche was accompanied by young
| man whom he did not know. Ihe con
| ductor was particularly attracted TO tbs
couple by their laughter and conversa
ton. They seemed busted in some in
| teresting discussion In their books, L
which, now and then, they would refer
Shalmont took a good look at Blanche
| Lamont's companion. and when the pic
! lures OF Theodore Durrant were subse
| quently published. the conductor knew
! that the girls escort on the morning o.
April 81 was the young man who stooC
| accused of double murder.
AS the prosecution VIII endeavor e
trace IN accurate and logical detail th'
movements OF Theodore Durrant anC
Blanche Lamont upon the Yatal day thi
new witness Is looked upon as one o
great importance. lie will draw the con
nectlon between the two as he saw then
upon his car, and be in the recital OF ;
terrible story. which the prosecution con
hdently expects 70 see end in the sen
tence Of death.