Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-10-11
THE DURRANT TRIAL.


Under the rigid cross-examination of
District Attorney Barnes at San Fran
cisco yesterday, Theodore Durrant
made number of answers that are re-
garded as decidedly discriminating, in
asmuch as they appear to be in direct
conflict with well.established facts, and
then changed his replies when he
realized that he was on dangerous
ground. He gave an explanation of
clew regarding Blanche Durrant's dis
appearance said to have been received
by him that was so palpably afalsehood
that everybody in court laughed aloud.
The sitting atmosphere of the over
crowded court room came to DurraDts
rescue and he was enabled to recover
from his confusion during the short
recess which followed. When he again
came to the stand he remained calm
during the most trying ordeals. The
prosecution was, nevertheless, well
satisfied with the days work.
Two days before the body of the
young woman was discovered, Durrant
said, as he was standing at the corner
of Market and Montgomery streets
s Stranger approached him and asked if
his name was not Durrant. The
stranger then asked Durraut in view
of the fact that his name had been
unpleasantly connected with the
disappearance of the girl, if he would
not like to find her. Durrant replied
that he would be overjoyed ever to OBJ
tain trace of the missing girl. "Watch
the ferries them" the stranger said.
';sbe will try to cross the lay. Tho. is
my advice" He did not asL, the
stranger his name, his residepce. or for
any additional information. He went
to lunch and from there to the ferry,
where he remained up.,il 5 o'clock. not
having caught glimpse of the missing
girl.
While he Was waiting, however, be
saw three medical students and an old
schoolmate. One of these men has al
ready testified that he saw Durrant ac-
cost a school girl, whose description
answered to that of Minnie Williams.
who was murdered that night, and ride
away toward the mission on a Howard
street car. Mr.. Barnes asked him if he
told anybody else of the clew given him
by the stranger so they could continue
the search. Durrant said he had no
opportunity to tell any of Miss La
mont's friends. When questioned
closely, Durrant admitted that he at
tended meeting of the Young Peo-
ple's Society the same evening where
he saw several of Miss Lamont's init.
mate friends. Among others was Thos.
Vogel, whom Durrant had said a mo.
ment before was more interested
in the disappearance of the young WON
an than anybody else except Mrs. No
bic, her aunt. Durrant admitted that
he had been in conversation with Vo-
gel, but did not think to tell him about
the clew he had obtained.
After short recess, during which
Durrant recovered his composure, a
surprise was sprung upon him In the
nope that it might disconcert him.
Alter asking Durrant il he had ever
made written statement of his whefY-
abouts on the day Blanche Lamont WI s
murdered, and receiving an affirmative
reply, District Attorney Barnes asked
the following questions
SIS it not fact that you sent writ
ten statement OF your case to your at
torney and wrote on the envelope, To
be opened If l EN- convicted and to be
returned if am acquitted p"
The excitement caused by this ques-
ton was intense. In the hum of voices
Durrant's answer was lost, and the
stenographer was asked to read the re-
ply,
II never sent an envelope to my at
torneys bearing such an inscription
said he.
Durrant was questioned at length re-
garding the communication and the
significant inscription on the envelope,
but be denied that he had ever sent
such document.
Durrant was next shown the various
garments won by Blanche Lamont, and
asked if he had secreted them in the
belfry, where they were found. He
identified the pieces of clothing as the
ones worn by Miss Lamont on the Gay
of her death, but said he did not hide
them in the church.
Durrant's strong nerves were tested
by number of questions relative to the
last time he saw Miss Lamont, but he
stuck to his former statatement on that
point.
49, n mt i