Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-04-16


der of Blanche Lamont and Minnie
Williams in Emanuel Baptist Church.
Chief of Police Crowley claims to have
evidence enough now to convict him
beyond any doubt
Durant had been attentive to both
girls. Each girl regarded him as a
lover. They were both members OF
Emanuel Church and were friends
Both belonged to the same class In
Sunday school. The young man was
librarian of the church and assistant
superintendent of the Sunday school.
He was familiar with the house and
carried one of the keys to its private
door. In person he is a strong, well
made young man, of pleasing and
cheerful address and devoted to his
religious duties. He was the last per-
son seen in Blanche Lamont's company
on the day Of her. disappearance.
Other circumstances which bear
against him are these: He had the
key to the church, was seen conduct
ing Miss Williams into private door
of the church Friday evening, was
late arriving at the Vogel reception
and upon arriving there showed
nervous condition and disordered at
tire. There is a rumor that there
was blood on his hands. He asked to
be permitted to wash himself. On
leaving the party he passed the church
again and went within.
IN HIS OVERCOAT POCKET
the girls missing purse, or a part Of
it. is said to have been found. He
admits that he was in the church
with his friend, King, Friday after
neon. Miss Williams was to have
gone to DR.. VOgels Friday evening,
started for the house, met Durant, and
was never seen alive afterwards. The
sleeve of a mans white shirt, rolled
up in a wad, as though it had bee
stripped off the arm, was found. 1t
was soiled and had blood stains on it,
but they were old. An old rusty
hatchet that the sexton used for chop
ping wood, and which he had missed
for two weeks, was also found in the
belfry-. but it bore no signs of use.
The girl had died of strangulation.
The finding of the hatchet is cir
cumstance that will be followed up by
the detectives. Two weeks ago last
Saturday Durant and his friend, Geo.
King. used the axe in fixing a lock on
the library door of the church. Du-
rant did most of the work. The lock
was a frail affair, and DuranU was
cognizant of this fact. He knew that
the lock could be easily broken. He
also knew that the axe found in the
belfry was always kept on block in
basket
Another significant fact is that
Blanche Lamont, who was murdered
first and carried to the church belfry,
was strangled by a left handed man
who used the left hand in choking the
girl Durant is ambidextrOus, using
either hand with equal facility. He
can throw a ball, write and do many
other things
WITH THE LEFT HAND.
As to Durant's reputation as a pious
youth of correct habits, there is an
other side to the story. From the un-
dergraduates at the medical college
where Durant was also student, a
different opinion has been obtained.
They considered him hypocritical and
| deceitful, posing before his fellows as
a gallant and before his church friends
as a saint. He often bOasted to the
students of having received fayors
| from women. On one occasion Durant
told his friends in confidence of trips
which he said he made at intervals to
! Carson City in company with three
railroad employees. He told Of brutal
treatment to Indian women in which
he took part, and of indulgence in
gross sensuality.
Great Importance attaches to Du-
rants acts since the disappearance Of
| Blanche Lamont. His companions at
the medical college declare that he has
not attended a lecture since the day
| Blanche Lamont disappeared. When
his name was called by the instructors
in charge his friends would answer for
him. He has acted strangely since
the search for the Lamont girl COM
menced. haunting the newspaper offices
and giving reporters long and involved
| theories to account for her absence,
| always predicting
SHE WOULD SOON BE FOUND.
During last week at church gatherings
! and to groups of friends, he has talked
continually somewhat wildly of
| Blanche and speculated as to her
| whereabouts. His conduct surprised
his friends, who thought perhaps his
! love for Blanche had temporarily af-
| fected his reason.
The three rings belonging to Blanche
/ Lamont and sent to her aunt on Sat
urday, were wrapped in paper upon
! which were written the names of Geo.
r. King, organist of the church, and
! Prof. Shoenstein. who taught her mu-
sic. Experts declare this writing is
that of Durant, slightly disguised,
King was also a friend Of Blanche,
hut Schoenstein is an elderly man, and
is not suspected. The police think
Durrant tried to throw suspicion on
these two men that attention might not
| be directed to himself.
Rev. Geo. Gibson, pastor of the
church. is not under any suspicion.
| Tbe police are satisfied of his entire
! innocence.
Another young lady, also a member
of the same church, says Durant told
J her she had female complaint and
cave her medicine which benefited her
! Afterwards he advised her to allow
him to make -
A PERSONAL EXAMINATION.
Che Indignantly refused. Durant
continued to urge it, saying there was
a room in the church to which he had
. kew where the examination could be