The herald., 1895-04-20
Verdict OF the COroner's Jury
in the Church Murder
SOME DAMAGING TESTIMONY
National Guard Comrades of the
Accused Talk
Story of Woman That Takes Suspicion
From Young Han Mother OF the
Accused Has Evidence

the alleged murderer OF Minnie Williams
and Blanche Lamont in the Emanuel
church, and the jury retired for deli bera-
ton about IL O'Clock this morning.
The usual crowd of curiosity seekers
was present when the inquest was re-
sumed. Durrant and his attorneys were
also present.
Elmer Wolf, the young man whose
statements have been questioned recently,
was recalled to the stand and offered to
produce witnesses to substantiate all he
had said previously regarding his move
ments on the night the Williams girl was
murdered, but the coroner declined the
offer. and both that official and the chief
of police said they We're satisfied with
the statements and did believe he was
connected with the crime.
Two of Durrant's comrades in the Ma
tional Guard company were examined
and said that on the afternoon of the
night that Minnie Williams was murdered
they saw Durrant lettering about the
ferry, at the foot of Market street, and
talked to him. They said Durrant told
them he did not expect TO be at the ar
mory that night and he asked them to
respond to his name at roll call.
DR.. Bartlett, who conducted the autop.
sy, testified that Minnie Williams died OF
asphyxiation as the result of having part
of her clothing forced down her throat by
the murderer, and that the knife wounds
found on various parts of her body were
inflicted after DEATH He also testified
that the girl had been criminally assault
ed, and that previous to the time OF the
tragedy she had led blameless life.
Several other witnesses were examined
on minor matters, and about IL O'Clock
the coroner announced he had no more
testimony to offer, though he called Dur
rant to the stand, and the latter left his
Il, ,co1f f<,r ina
ton, and then looked toward his attor
neys, who advised him not to speak. and
no further effort was made to question
him. The Jury did not occnpy an hour
in deliberation, and returned verdict
before noon, charging Durrant with the
case of her death only that was being in
vestigated. The case of the murder of
Blanche Lamont will be taken up later.
Durrant was not present when the jury
brought in their verdict at II 40. The
coroner's jury returned the following YER
dict:
1--WE, the jury summoned and sworn to
inquire into all the circumstances attend
ing the death of Minnie Williams, and by
whom the same was Produced and in
what manner and where and when the
same Minnie Williams came to her death.
do find that the name of the deceased was
Minnie Flora Williams her age q years;
nativity Canada; single; residence, Ala
media, Alameda county state of Cali
fornia; that she was found dead April 49,
1895, in the Emanuel Baptist church,
Bartlett street, between Twenty second
and Twenty third streets, city and county
of San Francisco, that she came to her
death from hemorrhage due to lacerated
wounds and asphy xia due to strangula-
ton.
And we further find from the evidence
that the murder was committed by one
NI.2.NI ~ro In ant ri Ia
with the crime.
In witness whereof, we, the jurors.
have to this inquisition set our hands
and seals on the day of the date thereof.
"Charles H. Dawson, foreman; A. H.
Frank, william Taylor, a, jonas n.
L. Green, HI. Shemanski."
When Durrant was shown the verdict
after his return to the city prison. his
face flushed a little for the first time since
the terrible crime for which he is accused,
but otherwise he showed no emotion and
refused to discuss the verdict.
Mrs. Gertrude Taber, step-slster of
Elmer Wolff, the young man who has
been SO frequently in the case within the
last few days. has come forward and
identified the purse which was found on
the San Bruno road by clam digger,
and which contained some papers, among
which was a business card of DR.. Vogel
on the back of which was written the
name of Miss Williams.
Miss Taber said that she missed the
papers some time ago while riding out to
the Taber ranch on the San Bruno road
and explains the presence of card with
Miss Williams name upon it by saying
that Miss Williams visited her some
weeks ago and wrote her address on one
of DR.. Vogel's cards.
Elmer VOLTS testimony at the inquest
was slightly mixed and some of Durrant's
friardS fhnnphf that ho knoW mn Of Io
crime than he wished to tell ard pointed
to the finding of the purse to sustain the
claim.
A peculiar coincidence was that the
purse should have been lost by one so
closely related TO Wolff and found at this
critical time.
Mrs. Durrant mother Of the accused,
says that she has evidence for the de-
Tense which will 60 to upset the bearing
Of the statement of witness Hill s. who
testified before the coroner's jury that he
had seen couple answering the descrip-
ton of Durrant and the dead girl stand
ing near the church about 8: 80 on the
night of the murder and who afterward
entered the church yard. Mrs. Durrant
says that young couple has come to her
Ssnd stated that they were the parties who
entered the church yard about the time
Hills claims to have seen couple pass
in the front gate.
This afternoon the police received in
formation from a laundry that a pair of
bloody trousers had been left for cleaning.
The police say that the trousers are too
big for Durrant but they will trace the
clew to find the owner.
ANACONDA, Mont, April IA
special to the Standard from Dillon,
Mont, says:
The remains of Miss Blanche Lamont
arrived here this morning from San Fran
cisco on the northbound passenger train.
Miss Maude Lamont, sister of the de-
ceased, accompanied the remains. The
casket was taken in charge by delega-
ton from the Masonic lodge, which con
veyed IL to the st. James Episcopal
church, where the funeral services We're
held at 10 80 a. m. Rev. d. s. Hooker,
the pastor Of the church, conducted the
services and Rev. W. Hayes of the Pres.
byterlan church delivered an eloquent
sermon. All the other ministers of the
city were present 1t seemed as if all the
people Of the town and surrounding
country were present to do honor to the
memory of the departed young lady. The
editice could hold but small portion
of the mourners. There were floral offer
ings in profusion. The most conspicuous
among them were those of the Dillon
Masonic lodge, company E, M. N. g.,
and beautiful wreath from the orchestra
OF the Emanuel Baptist church of San
Francisco. The remains were inferred
in Mountain View cemetery with the rites
Of the Episcopal church.
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