The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-04-23
DURANT'S HEARING.
Tho Alleged Porpetrator OF tho San
Franolsco Murders
HAVING HIS FIRST EXAMINATION.
An Important Now Titncss Turns Up.
Ho Knew of Koy IN tho Accused
Mans Possession That Would I'm.
look, but not Lock tho Church Door.
4 Too willing witncss is Rcfuscd a
Hoarinc-rhe futerest Hoops Up.

SAS FRANCISCO. April "".-Thc pro.
liminary examination OF w. II. T. Du-
rant, charged with the murder Of Marian
Williams In Emanuel Baptist Church,
took place this morning.
The police nre confident as ever, and
Chiot Of Detectives Leos, who has ro.
turned to this city from vacation. after
an examination OF the church. hearing
reports Of his subordinates and counsel
with tho chief Of police. has expressed
himself as in readiness 10 proceed with
the case.
New Witnesses were found to-day in
tho persons OF three young ladies who
positively identified Durant as u man
who had spoken to them on tho night
of the murder near the church between
9 and 9:35 o'clock. He mistook them
for acquaintances and after recognizing
his error, apologized and turned away.
Ncs Williams wa, killed between eight
and nine o'clock that night A dispatch
from Napa. Gala, says that Allen
Church, who has been closely associ.
aied with some OF the Emanrel church
people, stated in an interview:
"As soon as I heard Miss Minnie
Williams was murdered. ! connected
Durant with the murder, as he had
been most intimate with her, and l
knew that he had a key that would un-
lock but would not lock the side door.
l have known Durant for five years and
have warned Minnie Williams against
going with him"
The important part OF this statement
liea in the declaration that Durants key
would unlock but not lock tho side door
OF the church. 1t will be remembered
that the murderer lef. the side door IN.
fastened in making his escape from the
scene Of his crime. Church will be
questioned by the police.
Before the court opened at II o'clock,
5000 people surrounded the hall and
filed the approaches.
The prisoner looked worn and con.
cerned, but showed no emotion. A
photographer exhibited several photos
OF the scene in tho church, and two en-.
larged pictures OF Marian Williams.
showing the wounds and the work Of
tho physicians, woro exhibited and at
tracted much attention. They exhibit
cd revolving sight.
When the name OF A. z. Williams,
tho father Of tho dead girl. was called, a
young woman rushed to the stand and
said that no ono should testify before
her. She gave the name OF Williamson.
and said that she would DO tho one TO
Judge Durant aud ordered him released.
The police tried to remove her, but she
would not lot them touch her, but left
the stand voluntarily after some words.
She handed m incoherent letter to the
clerk. She said she was sent by God to
Judge DuIant
The woman was subsequently identi-
fed as Laura Lucy Gould williamson,
OF ITO Leavenworth street. She declares
horseli to be an ''emissarv OF God"
Sho disappeared after being removed
from the court room. EtE
A. Z. Williams then took the stand
and identified the pocket book found in
Durants overcoat rs one he had given
his daughter.
Sergeant Burk testified ns to tho find.
ing OF the pocketbook. He said there
was bunch Of twelve keys in tho same
pocket and q single key OF the Yalo pat.
tern. The officer stated that one key
that wa, In the bunch when he found
the ring in the overcoat pocket was
missing. The case will be continued
tomorrow.
The two murders furnished topic
for four or five ministers to discourse on
yesterday to their congregations.
Durant maintains a cheerful demcan.
or. Ho still denies his guilt and says he
has suspicion as to who the guilty
party Is, but refuses to ciyo the name.