The San Francisco call., 1895-11-06
MRS. DURRANT STILL HOPES
She Receives Letters Expressive
of Strong Sympathy
Daily.

Mrs. Durrant's hope and courage are
phenomenal. They have been the cause
of much comment, favorable and other
wise, by the press and public. The cause
of her attitude is twofold-a sublime faith
in her son and an unusual degree of recep-
tiveness to the encouraging words of
friends.
The little mother has not met all these
friends. Her Introduction to many of
them has been by letters written by them
selves. Since the recent trial began she
has received nearly 200 letters of SYM
but goodIy number has come from the
far East.
The following is from a lady engaged in
slum work in this City:
Mrs. William N Durrdnt - DEAR MADAM:
AS a mother let me express to you my sincere
sympathy in your hour of trial.
can give a clear and intelligent reason for
my unwavering belief in your son s innocence,
and no rawlings of public opinion have shaken
II. trust your son may yet be able to estab-
lish that innocence and that the guilty crimi-
nails may be found.
Take heart OF grace, o bravest mother of our
timel whose loving courage has stools the
fiery trial of derislon and still stands to him,
bereft of all other consolation, the highest and
best Interpretation OF God and his love and
care.
OF his father little has been said, but am
sure that he trusts and believes in his boy and
that that boy relies upon his fathers conf
dence and aid.
am poor woman, and can give nothing
but loving sympathy; but if 1 had money
would go into every den OF vice and criminal
haunt IN this City, and as the men and women
congregate for the winter search secretly for
the foul murderers OF those two girls.
1would send agents to the other cities, where
in nests OF WlckednesS such foul deeds are
Matched.
am al present living on the border of the
ahnfIE ,,T.
up class of women if can but reach them,
and to help them to purify their surroundings
ana live happier and more useful lives. At
first it seems hopeless, but must try. The re-
suits are with the Master in whose name
work.
I commend you and yours to our Fathers
care, as have done nightly for months. Trust
and be vigilant. Be diligent. Be patient and
all must be well.
Another, from lady residing in Oak
land, is as follows:
Mrs. Durrant-DEAR MADAM: Allow me to ex-
press my deepest sympathy ior you and your
son, Tor firmly believe he is innocent.
II words could in any degree console you for
the terrible wrong l believe has been done
your family how gladly would l multiply
them, but am well aware that sympathy is OF
little avail to such overwhelming woe as is
yours. Still weep with you and for you as
we are told to ''weep with those that mourn -
Do not give up hope; God is good. Can he
let the innocent suffer for the guilty?
have never for q moment believed that
character
he has been proven to be, and possessed of
Christian forbearance he has proved him-
self to be since his arrest, could be the ma n
who committed those terrible crimes and
want you TO let him know that there are
thoughtful people who believe his word though
dozens dispute il. Nv husband agrees with me
in every particular, and we are both yours in
Christian sympathy.
Mrs. Durrant remarked yesterday that
she had been misquoted regarding her
view OF the social position of servant girls
in general and Minnie Williams in partic-
ular. "Some one asked me whether Theo
was engaged to Minnie Williams. 1 was
surprised at the question, and said En-
gagged? Certainly not and afterward, re-
calling the fact that Theo had never asked
that she be invited to any of the little par
ties at the house, l remarked: She was not
in his circle of acquaintances.' Now l did
not mean to imply by that that she was
his inferior; merely that she was not
one of his habitual associates. The
distortion of that remark has awakened
much harsh criticism that in no way de-
served, for l have many times said that if
my daughter should be required to earn
her livelihood in a way other than she is
fitting herself for, / would rather she
would go into family as help than do
almost anything else. Maud had SAID to