Evening journal., 1895-09-26
The PASTOR ACCUSED.
Duprey Intimates That Rev. MIR.
Gibson Killed Miss Lamont.
DURAETs DEFENSE Is OUTLINED

His Lawyers WIN Try TO Discredit tho
Testimony Against Him and Cast suspi.
oion on Others-The Prisoners Mother
ON the Witness Stand.
SAN Francisco, Sept e6.-The depart.
ment OF the superior court, In which
Theodore Durant is on trial for the muir
der Of Blanche Lamont, was the scene OF
excitement when the announcement was
made by the district attorney that "the
people rest. % The subsequent statement
Of the attorneys for the defense that they
would be ready TO proceed at once drew to
the city hall a crowd that ccfld not get
admission to a room ten times the size OF
the apartment set apart for the trial.
The fact that the defense in its opening
statement would reveal for the first time
the nature Of the evidenSS relied upon for
an aoquittal served 10 arSdse public inter
est to a degree never before seen in Cali
fornia at a trial OF a man for his life.
The hot, sultry day was intensified In
the crowded courtroom. Although the
occasion was Of the gravest importance TO
sive individual present.
Tho defense first called for further cross
examination Detective Gibson, Deputy
Coroner Hillott and Mrs. Leak. The last
mentioned was questioned regarding her
eyesight, she maintaining that it was
good and that she mover had any optical
trouble. Gibson said that he had found a
hatchet in the belfry on the occasion Of
his second examination, and the deputy
coroner testified that when he first viewed
the body OF Blanche Lamont in the hclfry
the mouth of the dead girl was slightly
opened.
Attorney Eugene Duprey, for tho de-
fense. thon began his opening statement.
His intimation that the murder was COM
mitted not by Durant, but by Rev. John
George Gibson, pastor Of Emanuel church,
by significant allusion TO the resem-
blanoe Of the preacher handwriting with
the lettering on the paper inclosing
Blanche Lamont's rings created marked
sensation. The address Of Duproy began
with definitions of the duties Of jurors in
capital cases. He attacked the newspa-
pers for the articles writton and published
concerning Durant and warned the jury
against improper deductions from circum-
stantial evidence. Duprey then said;
Lawyer Dupreys Sensational Address.
"The district attorney has presented
strong case OF circumstantial evidence,
which at first would create strong suspi-
cion Of the guilt Of the defendant We
claim that beyond a strong suspicion the
prosecution has failed TO go. We contend
that with all the testimony introduced
the only issues TO be passed on have not
been arrested. Where did Blanche Lamont
forfeit her life? Whom did she meet her
doathg Who caused her deathg
"Thoso questions have not been answer
cd. A fourth question is, the cause of her
death. A fifth has not and cannot be am
swered What was the motive Of the 40
cused TO take the life Of Blanche LamontY
Under the testimony thus far we claim 60
ask the court at this time to instruct the
jury, without one word, to acquit AS a
duty to the defendant his parents and the
community his lips should be unsealed.
"You are entitled TO and should know
whore Durant was and What he did on
April 3 from the time he arose in the
morning until no went 10 bed at night.
The district attorney promised TO show
that Durant was not where he should have
been on the afternoon Of April 3-nnme-
ly, at the lecture room Of the Cooper Med
ical college.
"Whero is that proofs No allusion TO
it has been made.
1.-THE prosecution has called between 80
and 90 witnesses. OF that number who
have given material eyidencoP Three eld-
erly ladies, three young ladies, a pawn
broker Victoria hotel keeper and po-
lice court shyster and his colleagues have
furnished the substantial testimony upon
which the prosecution relies.
'We insist that the proper proof is want
ing to connect the defendant with the
murder. We will show that other men
had access TO Emanuel church. Proof may
point TO others Let me carry you along
tho ground upon which we ask for YER
dict for the defense.
First you shall hear from the mother
Of Durant-how he was interested in
church work and what he did for Emanuel
church. We will tell you how no met
Blanche Lamont and Of his associations
with her. Mrs. Durant viii tell how her
son was dressed when he left homo on the
morning Of April 3. She viii tell what
her son did that evening. The good re-
pute and honorable character OF the de-
fendant will be proved. The attendance
at the Cooper Medical college and his gon-
eral demeanor will be shown.
"On the morning Of April 3 Durant
left his homo and walked toward the
house Of George King so that he might
have helper that evening to fix tho gas
jets in the church. He accidentally met
Blanche Lamont, whom he told he was
ON the way to Kings house, and asked her
TO accompany him. She said that she did
not have time to accompany him before
school and requested Durant to accompa-
ny her to school. He acquiesced in this
and accompanied her as far as Sutter
street and Octavia, whore the defendant
went on to Webster street to the medical
college.
The Foundation of the AIibi.
eve will show these facts and what
Durant did from his arrival there until
noon hour, when he walked to Broadway
and to a bluff overlooking the bay. We
will show you his return 20 college at 80
and what was done from then until $3.50; F;
then that he went 20 DIR. Cheney's lee
ture, and we will produce his notes, diff
ferent from any other students, and show
he is marked present. DIR. Cheney will
tell you that he was present. We will
show that after this lecture he took the
Sutton street car 20 Polk, TO Mission and
Ninth, out Mission and then TO the
church and alone did he Wnl< into the