The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-04-19
he MURDERED TWO WOMEN.
Another Corpse Discovered in a san
Francisco Church.
sOHE SENSATIONAL TESTIMONY.
VI. H. 7. Durant, Medical student Is
Now In Custody Charged With
Committing Both Crimes.

". II, z. Durant, a Medical Student Is
Now In Custody Charged With
Committing Both Crimes.
SAN FRANCISCO. April Is. The Enan-
1el Baptist church On Bartlett street,
between Twenty-second and Twenty
third in this City, has been the scene Of
two Of the most atrocious murders ever
committed In the state. Saturday the
mutilated and murdered body Of Minnie
Williams was found in the library of
the edifce. Sunday the nude body Of
Blapee Lamont was found in the tower
Of the same church. The same hand,
the authorities believe, slew both girls,
and W. h. 7. Durant. the young man
suspected Of both crimes, is now in
custody,
Blanch Lamont and Minnie Williams
were members of the Emanuel Baptist
church and members of the Sunday
school class. The former was a student
at the normal school on Powell street
in this city; the latter was companion
in family in Alameda. across the bay
from the city. Both were q years old,
brunettes and pretty and modest girls.
Both had been the recipients of atten-
tons from young medical student
named W. II. 7. Durant, who is also
the librarian of the church and the Sec
rotary of the Young Peoples society of
the church.
On April 3 Miss Lamont disappeared.
Diligent search failed to reveal any
trace Of her whereabouts and her aunt,
Mrs. Noble, with whom she had been
living, was totally unable to throw any
light on the affair. Miss Lamont came
from Dillon, Mont, several months ago,
having been in San. Francisco for her
health and at the same time to attend
the normal school to perfect herself as a
teacher. The last person seen in her
company was W. q. T. Durant,a young
medical student, who, it seems, had
been on friendly terms with the missing
girl.
Found In the Library,
On Saturday night at IL o'clock the
mutilated body of Minnie Williams was
found in the library Of the church on
Bartlett street. The girl had been as
sauited and her remains were cut and
hacked, the girl having evidently died
from loss Of blood. On further examin-
alton it was found that she had been
gagged, the assailant tearing part of her
underelOthing and thrusting it down
her throat with a sharp stick, badly
lacerating the tongue. Two witnesses
state that they saw young man and a
young woman, the former answering
the description Of Durant and the latter
that Of Minnie Williams, enter the
church. Following this clue, the police
at once put the residence of Durant IN
der surveillance.
The detectives had about decided that
Durant had murdered Miss Williams,
when this theory was further strength
ened Sunday morning after making a
thorough search of the Emanuel church
the dead and outraged body of Miss La
mont was found concealed in the steeple.
The body was lying just inside of the
tower room, nude on the floor. Around
the neck there were a few streaks, the
marks Of fingers that had been pressed
deep into the tender flesh. The mouth
was open, showing the regular teeth.
The features were badly distorted, be-
ing drawn down at one corner and the
lips were swollen and blOodstained The
nose was the only feature that retained
its original shape, for the cheeks were
bloated. The girls light brown hair
was matted with dirt and hung loosely
about her shoulders. The body was in
the last stages Of decomposition.
The body was taken to the morgue,
where it was placed on slab By the
side of Minnie Williams. AS soon as
the news became known immense
crowds surrounded the church and had
to be kept back by the police. The chief
Of police sent for Rev. DR.. Gibson, pas
tor of the church, and the report became
current that he had been accused of the
crime and had been arrested. Then the
crowds surged to DR.. Gibson's house
and the excitement grew more intense.
1t soon had spread all over the city.
Extra papers were gotten out and thou
sands of people focked to the scene
from ali over the city. The rumors of
the arrest was later denied and it be.
came known that DR.. Gibson and the
sexton of the church had been merely
called to tell what they knew. At
o'clock came the news that Durant had
been arrested at Walnut Creek on the
road to Mount Diablo. He was caught
by Detective Anthony, who left in pur-
suit of him early Sunday morning.
The detective and his prisoner left on
the next train for San Francisco. An
other immense crowd had gathered at
the ferries to see the suspected MUIR
derer come in, but a detachment Of Do
lice was in waiting and they kept the
crowd back. DUraRt was hustled into a
patrol wagon aud whirled away to the
city prison where he was locked up. The
police are certain they have the right
man. They claim to have two wit
nesses who saw Dursnt and Miss Will
Jams in company last Friday night.
Has Mania For Murder.
The police, however, think that Du-
Rnt is another Jack the Ripper. with a
mania for murder. They state that it is
highly probable that Durant is response
bic for the killing of Eugene Ware. a
young drug clerk, VINO was found
stabbed TO death several months ago in
the store where he worked No tracs
was ever found Of the assassin and the
theory is thab Darant killed him 30
motive Tor this Tngrder was discovered
and the fendish cruelty Of it Ware was
stabbed in Is places leads to the belief
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