The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-10-10
DURANT ON THE STAND
THE ACCUSED TELLS HOW HE
SPENT THAT FATEFUL DAY
IN APRIL.
He STRENGTHENS HIS CASE


He Displayed His Usual Characteristic
Goodness and his Answers were
Brief and to the Point and CaIcu.
lated to Impress the Jury with the
Belief That he Was Telling the
Truth--Once Did he Hesitate When
Asked About Attending Lecture.
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, Oct. 9.-Theo-
dore Durrant, assistant superintendent
of Emanuel Church Sunday school, was
placed on the stand to day for the pur-
pose of convincing the jury, selected to
try him, that he did not murder Blanche
Lamont in the belfry of the church on
April 3rd
With the same GOODNESS that has char
acterized his conduct since his arrest, he
denied the principal allegations that
have been made agaidst him by the most
important witnesses for the prosecution.
His answers were always brief and to the
point, and many were interpreted to
mean that he had studied his part well
before taking the stand
Only once during the course of the
direct examination did he show any ner-
vousness or hesitation. When Attorney
Dickinson asked him if he took notes at
DR.. Cheney's lecture on the afternoon of
April 3, he cast his eyes towards the
floor and for moment was silent He
replied that he had taken notes, but
that they were brief The hesi-
Cf a yATTiDn hn R16
when it is explained that Gilbert F. Gra-
ham, one of Durrant's most intimate
friends, will testify that Durrant asked
to borrow his notes of the lecture. When
the request was made Durrant explained
that he only needed the notes to establish
a good alibi Graham refused the re-
quest.
Taken altogether, Durant's direct tes-
timony, which ended at o'clock, when
the cross examination began, probably
had tendency to strengthen his case.
His demeanor while on the stand was
certainly intended to impress the jury
with the opinion that he was telling the
truth. Questions that would ordi
narily cause a visible impression on
a guilty man, were answered by Durrant
with the utmost unconcern. Even when
attorney Duprey asked him if on the
third of April or at any other time he
murdered or participated in the murder
of Blanche Lamont, the prisoner cooly
replied n the negative
Coming down TO the day upon which
Blanche Lamont was murdered, the
prisoner was asked to relate his move
ments from the time he left his home in
the morning until be returned at night.
He said he met Miss Lamont on her way
to school and rode with her on a street
car until he reached Cooper Medical
Collage. He said he remained at the
college until 10 o'clock when he and
another student named Ross went for
a walk. When he returned an hour
later. he went to the library where he
was engaged in his studies until noon.
| Then he went to luncheon with student
named Diggins, and returned at /
O'Clock, After luncheon Durrant re-
NAMED n the library until $3.50 O'CLOCK
when he attended Dr. ChenSy's lecture.
He said he was present at the roll call
at the close of the lecture and answered
to his name AT the close of the lecture
Durraut said he boarded a street car and
rode to Emanuel Church for the purpose
of repairing the sun. burners. He denied
that he was accompanied by Blanche
Lamont or anybody else. After repair
ing the burner, Durrant said that he
descended to the auditorium, where
he found George King playing on the
organ. King remarked that Durrant
looked pale, and Darrant replied
that King would he in the same
condition if he had been nearly over
come by escaping gas. at Durrant's re-
quest, King brought some brOmO seltzer,
which the prisoner drank. The medicine
made him feel better, and at o'clock
Durrant left the church in company with
King. He went out of his way two
blocks to converse with King, after which
they separated and Dnrrant went home
to dinner. In the evening he
went to prayer meeting at Emanuel
church. He saw Mrs. Noble and asked
her if Blanche was coming to prayer
meeting. Mrs. NOBLE replied that sic
did not believe her niece would be prec-
ent. He related a number of other
minor incidents in connection with his
conversation with Mrs. Noble who evi-
IDENTIFY did not endorse his statements
from the fact that she shook her head
several times. At the close of the ser
vices Durrant said he went home and
retired.
The ross-examination, which lasted
only an hour, before court took recess
till tomorrow, was confined to questions
relative to the life of Durrant prior to
April 3.
EasY Victory for Princeton.