The herald., 1895-09-19
Additional Comment

SAN FRANCISCO.S Sept. lS.-The prose-
cution in the trial of Theodore Durrant
for the murd er Of Blanche Lamont is APP
preaching the close of its direct case and
will finish it early next week. The
opening statement of the defense is
awaited with much interest. 1t will BIS
the first intimation of what the defense
has t. prove.
IL has been said that an alb. for Dur
rant would be shown and further that
another man than Durrant vent into
Emanuel church when the prisoner is
said to have entered it. When the case
was resumed today Miss Edna Lucille
Turner was the first witness. She is a
member of Emanuel obdrch and knows
Durrant. She testified that on Apri! Sd
she was not with defendant in Emanuel
church.
Mrs. Leak yesterday testified that the
girl she saw walking into Emanuel
church with Durrsnt was either Blanche
Lamont o. Lucille Turner. With the
latter's denial that she was With the de-
PENDANT the testimony OF Mrs. Leak viz
tually amounts to a statement that
Duyrant was accompanied by Blanche
Lamont. Organist George King of Eman-
uel church was then put upon the stand
church at o'clock on the Afternoon OF
April Sd. or almost an hour after Dur
rant was said by Mrs. Leak to have
entered the church. In reply to ques.
tons by the district attorney, King said
that he had been an intimate friend nf
defendant for five years and that the In
timacy had been kept up since Durrant's
arrest. The witness admitted that since
April he had frequently called upon the
prisoner at the county jail and had Wis.,
ited Durrants parents at their home.
These statements were drawn from the
witness TO show the relations existing
between him and the prisoner and be-
cause reports were in general circulation
that the witness intended to so frame his
testimony that it would, if possible,
benefit the defense. King proved an I'M
willing witness for the prosecution, ap-
parently shielding Durrant whenever
possible. Any statement about the de-
PENDANT was dragged from him only by
the most careful and persistent question
ing on the part of the district attorney.
He admitted having discussed his testi-
mony both with the prisoner and with
Durrant's attorneys at their Offices. He
admitted that the defendant and his at
torneys probably advised him to modify
his testimony as given at the prelimi-
nary examination. This created ire
mendous sensation. but on cross-examl-
nation he said he had not been asked to
change his evidence. He told how he
bad come into Emanuel church to play
new piece on the organ, and after he had
been playing for few minutes Durrant
appeared, pale, disheyeled, breathless,
sick and without his hat or coat. Dur.
rant had said that while repairing some
gas pipes he had been overcome, and at
Durrant's request the witness went to a
drug store and purchased some bromo
settler, which Durrant drank. Then at
his request Durrant helped carry small
organ from one part of the church to
another. The prisoner appeared exhaus-
ted and was frequently obliged to stop
and rest. The witness stated he detected
no escaping gas and thought all the gas
Jets and pipes were in perfect order.
The cross-examination of King occu-
ried the rest of the day and the court adj
lourned with him still on the stand.
When King left the stand during recess,
he is said to have shaken hands with
Durrant and asked him if he felt nervous
while he was testifying. Durrant's reply
was net heard but the district attorney
heard Kings question, and when the
case is taken up again intends to ask him
what he meant by it. He will be sub
lected to as severe a cross examination
by the prosecution as by the defense. 1t
is said that the prosecution believes that
King Is trying to shield Durrant and has
not told all he knows. They will try to
force him to make further revelations.
The case went over till Friday. out of
consideration for the religious belief of
one OF the Jurors,