The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-09-26
DURRANTS Side OF IT
His Attorney Says Pastor Gibson
Killed Blanche Lamont.
WHAT HE WANTS TO PROVE
The Lawyer Says the Prosecution
Has Put Up a Very Weak Case
The Eyeslght of the Old
Ladies' ls Bad.

san francisco, sept. 2o.-The DEPART
ment Of the superior court in which
Theodore Durrant is on trial was the
scene Of excitement this morning. The
announcement by the district attorney
that "the people rest" and the subse-
quent statement Of the attorneys for
the defense that they would be ready
to proceed to-day. drew to the city hall
a crowd. Although the occasion was
OF the greatest importance to Durrant,
he was the most cool and impassive in.
dlvidual present. The defense first
called for further cross-examination OF
Detective Gibson. Deputy Coroner
Hallett and Mrs. Leake. The last men.
toned was questioned regarding her
eyesight, she maintaining that 1t Ia
good and that she had never had any
optical trouble. Gibson said that he
had found q hatchet In the belfry on
the occasion Of his second examination
and the deputy coroner testified that
when he nrst viewed the body of
Blanche Lamont in the belfry the
mouth Of the dead girl was slightly
open.
Attorney Eugene Duprey, for the de-
Tense. then began his opening state.
ment. His intimation that the murder
was committed not by Durrant but by
Rev. John George Gibson. pastor Of the
Emanuel church. made In a significant
ellusion to the resemblance Of the
preachers handwriting with the letter.
ing on the paper enclosing Blanche La
mont's rings. created a marked sensa-
tion. The address of Duprey began
with definitions of the duties of the
jurors In capital cases. He attacked
the newspapers for the articles writ
ten and published concerning Durrant
and warned the Jury against improper
deductions from circumstantial evi.
dence. Duprey then said: THE dis.
trict attorney has presented strong
case of circumstantial evidence which
at first would create strong suspicion
of the guilt Of the defendant. We
claim that beyond strong suspicion
the prosecution has failed to go. VIZ
contend that with all the testimony in
troduced the only issue to be passed on
has not been answered. Where did
Blanche Lamont forfeit her lifei
When did she meet her death? Who
caused her death? These questions
have not been answered. What was
the motive Of the accused to take the
life of Blanche Lamont? Under the
testimony thus far. we claim to ask the
court at this time to instruct the jury
without one word to acquit. You are
entitled and shall know where Dur
rant was and what he did on April 3.
6rom the time he arose In the morning
until he went to bed at night. The
district attorney promised to show that
Durrant was not at the lecture room
of the Cooper medical college on the
afternoon Of April 8. Where Is that
promised proof? No allusion to 1t has
been made. The prosecution has called
between 40 and so witnesses. and OF
that number all have given material
evidence. Three elderly ladies. three
young ladies' and one broker. q Victoria
hotel keeper. q police court shyster
and his colleague have furnished the
substantial testimony upon which the
prosecution relies. We insist that the
proper proof Is wanting to connect the
defendant with the murder. We will
show that other men had access to the
Emanuel church.
LET me carry you along the ground
upon which we ask for verdict for
the defense. First you shall hear from
the mother of Durrant how he was in
terested In church work and what he
did for Emanuel church. We will tell
you how he met Blanche Lamont and
of his associations with her. Mrs.
Durrant will tell how her son was
dressed when he left home on the
morning of April 8. She will tell what
her son did that evening. The good
repute and honorable character of the
defendant will be proved. The attend
ance at the Cooper medical college and
his general demeanor will be shown.
On the morning Of April Durrant left
his home and walked towards the
house Of George King, so that he might
have a helper that evening to fix the
gas 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 before
school and requested Durrant to ac-
company her to school. He acquiesced
In this and accompanied her as far az
Sutter street and Octavia while the
defendant went on to Webster street
to the medical college. We will show
you these facts and what Durrant did
from his arrival there at the noon hour
when he walked to Broadway and to
the BLUM overlooking the bay. We will
show you his return to the college at
1.3O o'clock and what was done from
then until $3.50. He went to Dr. Chen
ey's lecture. DIR. Cheney will tell you
that he was present.
I'VE will show you that after this
lecture he took the Sutter street cars
to Polk. to Mission and Ninth. out
Mission and then to the church and
alone and walked into the church. We
will show you that he arrived at the
church at ASS o'clock and not before,
that he entered by the door on the
south side. that he went into the H.
brary In regard to a book and a card
he wanted. He removed his coat,
neatly folded II, took out his watch
so that 1t would not drop out while
he was fixing the gas. He then went
up to the ceiling by a ladder and fixed
the sun burners. We will show that
when the gas filters turned on the 72