Connecticut western news., 1895-10-24
CRISIS FOR DURANT.
DEATH ALMOST SPARES THE PRlS-
 OVER IN THE FACE.

The Witnesses Produced Contradict Every
 Vital Point In the Evidence of the De-
 fense = The RsbuttaI Leaves Durant
 Scarcely Hope.
 SAN FRANCISCO, Dot. 23.-At the re- opening of court the defense in the trial of Theodore Durant announced that 1t had finished it's case, and the taking of testi- mony in rebuttal was at once begun by the prosecution.
 The testimony was the most important given in the trial, as it conflicted with sev- eral statements made by Durant on the stand.
 The testimony of Dr. Gilbert E. Gra- ham, for instance, is considered by many to sweep away Durant's entire defense.
 Graham, who is a medical student and an intimate friend of Durant told of a sensational interview that took place be- tween himself and the prisoner at the county jail on April 20. Dr. Graham was accompanied to the prison by J. s. nun- nigan, a newspaper man, who was asked by Durant to retire after he had been there few minutes. Graham said that after Dunnigan stepped aside Durant asked him if he would let him see his notes of Dr. Cheney's lecture in order that he might compare them with his own. Graham demurred at first after which he said Durant stated frankly to him that he had no notes of the lecture.
 He said Durant told him if he had the notes of the lecture he could easily estab- fish strong alibi for himself and urged him to leave the notes with Mrs. Durant in order that she might bring them to l Al n T lz refused the request and never afterward visited Durant at the prison.
 Durant Is Still CaIm.
 Dr. Graham's story was not shaken in any particular on cross examination.
 While he was testifying the jurors watched Durant closely, but he gave no sign to indicate that he considered the testimony of any importance. Dr. Graham will be recalled:tomorrow for further cross examination.
 The first witness called in rebuttal by the prosecution were the five trustees of Emanuel church.
 While Durant was on the stand he testi- fled that he was asked by the trustees to repair the sun burner at Emanuel church on April 1. The trustees denied that they had asked Durant to make repairs of any kind at the church during March or April.
 Witnesses were next called to disprove Durant's statement that on the afternoon of April 12 he was at the ferry for the pur- pose of searching for Blanche Lamont who, he said, mysterious stranger had told him would cross the bay that after noon. c. W. Dodge, medical student, said he saw Durant at the ferry, and the prisoner told him he was waiting for a number of members of the signal corps who were expected from Oakland. c. A. Dukes, a medical student who accompanied Dodge, corroborated his testimony.
 A. A. Hobe an old schoolmate of Du- rants, testified that he saw Durant at the ferry the same afternoon, in company with a young woman who answered the description of Minnie Williams.
 It Is known that Minnie Williams came over from her home in Alameda that aft ernoon, Npd the next day her body was found in Emanuel church. 1t Is the the ory of the prosecution that instead of be- ing at the ferry to look for Blanche La mont, Durant was there for the purpose of meeting Miss Williams and turing her to her death.
 E. A. Chaser, a student at the Medical college, testified that on the afternoon of April 10 Durant asked him to read aloud his notes of Dr. Cheney's lecture. Chaser said he read his notes to Durant, who de- voted three-quarters of an hour to writing in his notebook. The defense tried to show that it was customary for students to com pare notes, but Chaser said that Durant read nothing that purported to be his own notes.