The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-09-28
A VERY WEAK DEFENSE
In the Trial of Theodore Durrant
I for Murder
LAWYERS HxTRAvAeANT CLAIMS
rhsy Are Not Borne ont by the Evidence
Thus Far brought out by tho Lawyers
for the Accused Young Sunday School
librarian.


for the Accused Young Sunday School
librarian.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept es.-If Theodore
Durrant has anything tangible upon which
20 base his donial of the charge that he
murdered Blanche Lamont and Minnie
Williams, his attorneys have failed to
give satisfactory evidence Of the fact.
After two days devoted to the testimony
Of Tho defense the trial was adjourned
yesterday until next Tuesday. In the
meantime. however, the defense has dis
closed enough 10 satisfy the prosecution
chat Durrants attorneys are gropfhg In
che dark, in the hope that something may
develop within the next few days to save
the prisoners life. The weakness of tho
defense is made more apparent at this
mime ON account of the extravagant asser-
lions that Durrapt's attorneys have uni.
formly made since the trial began.
When the prosecution was engaged In
putting In its case, and the situation
looked darkest for the young Sunday
school librarian, Attorney Duprey was 40
customed to snap his fingers and remark
that he had no fears for the future OF his
client.
"we will cloar him In three minutes"
said Duprey, "and the public will be Mt q
loss to understand how Durrant's name
wns ever connected with the case"
The sane line Of extravagant claims
WINS continued when Attorney Duprey
made his opening speech for the defense.
"Not only will the prisoner tell with his
ewn lips the simple story OF his life on the
day that Blanche Lamont was murdered, I"
said Duprey, 'but DIR. Cheney will tell
you that Durant was at Cooper Medicnl
college at the very hour when the murder
OF Blanche Lamont was said to have taken
place. Besides that we will prove to you
that Durrant never tried to pawn Miss
Lamont's ring at Oppenheim's store On
the contrary, we will bring forward the
young man who did try to pawn ring at
opponhcim's similar to the one worn by
Miss Lamont"
In view of these startling statements 10
was at first believed that the defense might
have strong case held in reserve, which
would put TO severe test the case OF the
prosecution. In one day, however, the case
VI the defense crumbled and fell Of its own
seight and today Durrant's allbi has not
Veg upon which to stand.
Dr. Cheney, who was expected to tell SO
nuch for the defense, was as strong wit
hess for the prosecution us has taken the
stand during the trial. Instead of fulfill
Ing Duprey's statement, and swearing
that Durraut attended lecture at Cooper
Medical college on April 3, he said he had
NO recollection of seeing the young med
feal Student there. The denial dumb
founded the defense.
II further proof were needed on the bs-
lief that the defense has little to offer in
refutation Of the case put forward by the
prosecution, 1t was furnished yesterday.
Instead of placing witnesses on the stand
30 testify to some material facts In con
nection with Durrant's alibi, two gas No
ters were called to testify with regard to
the burners In the gallery OF Emanuel
church. For two hours the crowd was
bored and the jury made tired by long
series Of questions and answers relative to
the minutest part Of the construction OF "a
Ens burner.
Not once during the entire session was
the name OF Blanche Lamont mentioned
nor was anything said to indicate that II
was not a suit tocollect plumbers bill
1nstead of q murder trial that was before
the court. The evident purpose Of the ex-
animation, however, was to show that the
repairing of burners would necessarily re.
suit In the escape of great deal of gus
This testimony will be used to substan-
siate Durrant's statement that he was
suffering from partial asphyxiation when
no came down from the church belfry
trembling and flushed, and met Organist
King in the auditorium.
A significant feature of the testimony Of
Che two gas filters was tho fact that each
testified that he made an examination Of
the burners in Emanuel church on Sept
81. The prosecution interprets this to
mean tho defense had nothing upon which
to bnse oase until the case OF the people
was nearly completed. Only when con.
fronted by the actual necessity of opening
its case it Is believed that the defense made
an attempt to secure witnesses to testify
with regard to gas burners.
The apparent hopelessnsss Of the case
however, produced no change in the de-
meanor Of Durrant, Day after day he sits
In the court room beside his father and
mother, and listens to the evidence against
him without sign of emotion This sto.
teism on the part of the prisoner Is only
surpassed by that Of his mother. Mrs.
Durrant seems to hayo no conception of the
gravity Of her sons situation. Attlred in
waving plumes and tailor made gown,
such a. lady might wear at matinee,
she laughs and chats with her friends
while the evidence that the prosecution be-
ueyes will hang her son Is being put in
against him. Tofrequenters of the court
room Mrs. Durrant's conduct is almost as
unfathomable as that of her son. Dur
rants father, however, looks eareworn and
gives evidence of the intense mental strain
through which he must be passing.
Indicted for q BuIIdips coiInDsn