The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-11

Following Clue 10 Blanche Lamont.
San Francisco Oct. 1o-The halo OF
truth that has surrounded Theodore Dur
Eants head on account OF the prominent
position he holds in Emanuel Baptist
church was dsDelled today Under the
fisid cross-examination Of District Attor-
ney Barnes DUTrant did more TO convict
himself Of the murder Of Blanche Lamont
than any Of the witnesses who have testi-
led against him have done. The young as
sisiant Sunday school superintendent even
went further than that. and proved TO the
satisfaction OF the most casual listener
that ne was deliberately perjuring himself
Several times he gave answers that were
directly IN conflict with well-eSta shed
facts, and then changed his replies when
he realized that he was on dangerous
ground Beside that. he gave an explana-
Ton or clue regarding Blanche Lannon'S
Disappearance said 10 have been received
~ him that was so palpably a falseh0od
that everybody N the court room laughed
loud. The sitting atmosphere OF the over
crowded court room came 10 Durrant's
rescue. and he was enabled 70 recover
from his confusion during short recess
that followed. When he again came 10 the
stand he had his ol4-time self-assurance
az his command, and remained calm dur
ing the most trying ordeais.
Without a trcmoF Durrant handled
Blanche Lamonts torn clothing which was
found hidden away IN the little crevlces Of
the belfry. and denied that he secreted
the garments. Even the grewsone model
bearing the waist and skirt worn by
blanche Lamont when she was murdered
did not affect him. although it stood with
In three feet Of where he was sitting But
the prosecution was nevertheless well sat
isled with the days work. for II had &C
comp1shed what had never been done be-
fore-Durrant for moment had lost his
wonderful self-possessiou. and had been
caught in a number of hare-faced un-
truths
The maze In which Durrant lost his hear
ings and disclosed the fact that he was per-
Juring himself was In telling about the
afternoon he spent at the ferries waiting
TO see II Blanche Lamont would not soon
appear. Two days before the body Of the
young woman was discovered DurTapt said
he obtained a clue 20 the effect that that
afternoon she would cross the bag 10 oak
land. District Attorney Barnes asked him
where he obtained the clue. Durrant sad
that as he was standing at the corner OF
Market and Montgomery streets n man
whom he had never seen before and has
never seen since approached him and asked
him IL his name was not Durrant The
prisoner replied in the affirmative. The
stranger then asked DuTrant II. in view
OF the fact that his name had been unpleas-
antly connected with taa disappearance OF
the girl. ne would mol like 20 End her Dur
rant replied that he would ho ovorjoycd
20 obtain even trace OF the missing girl.
Watch the ferries then, this afternoon"
said the stranger she will try TO cross
the bay. That is my advice" When ques-
toned by the district attorney DurrHnt
said that although he was greatly inter
csted in finding Miss Lamont. be did not
ask the stranger his name hls residence
IA ffs = sr
than that which was volunteered lie went
TO luncheon and from there To the ferries
where he remained until o'clock with
out having caught glimpse of the MISS
tng girl. While ne was waiting however.
he saw three medical students gnd an old
schoolmate. To oac OF the men he said
re was waiting 20 see If he could not ind
Miss Lamont TO two others he said that
he was waiting for several members OF
the gual corps who were coming over
from Oakland. The fourth man testified
that he saw Durrant accost schoolgirl
whose description answered that OF Min
ME Williams. who was murdered that
night and ride away toward lhc Mission
on a Howard street car When purunt
was asked IL he told two OF the students
fhat he was waiting for some members Of
tho signal CORPS ~ first he replied that he
d'8 not In @ moment he remembered that
on former occasion Lc admitted the con-
vcrsatton. and then he replied IN THO
affirmative.
District Attorney Barnes asked Darrant
whv he abandoned his search at . o'clock
10 make preparn lions to go 20 Mount Di-
ahlo en- "a pleasure tr4u, IL he Was SO
deeply inter tea Ga the disappearance Of
MISS Lamont Hurrant replied that he
had made preparations 10 go on tae "trip.
ana did not tl.~t lt was necessary 70 re-
rrain ct tss <etrIrs any longer AIr.
Barnes asked hin if ae told anybody else
~ tie cine ei.gn him hy the stranger.
So that thc- eoNii continue the search
U-rraat SAIL That Le had ha1 no oppor-
tun'tv % tell o1y q Miss Iamonta
f-ieu1s WNel qucsuorea closely Dur
rtat admitted that Ee attended meet
.-r ~ 51c Young Peoples Society TIC
-e~ln evening. whore he saw seycrai of
Ai.rs famouts intimate friends. Among
others VAS Thomas Noeel. wh0 Durraut
ha1 safa q moment before was more ia-
tcrts'et fu th- Disappearance or ihe
ve.ug woman than anyhody else except
Mrs %uh,e her aunt parrant oamift"3
tAat ha aa& private conversation with
Norci hst ara NOT tatnk 90 tell him about
the rlus r. Est obtained
Aftcr the short recess. during which
T4rrarf recovered his con.ecs1re. sur
prise vas sprung on him in tho nope that
3, rrtent dlsr0n~frt him. AFTER asking
parrant II he had ever made written
statement of hls Whereabouts OR f3c laN
Pianeae Lamont was murdered. . - r,-
cetNtag sn Affirmative rcpv. District Az
ta~uev Barnes asked che fol3ontnr QHes-
tIau- "Is ir rol Taot that vou sent =
written sta. mc0t of yo8r case 10 ycur
ATTORNEYS auf wrote ou thn envelope. To /
he ouened If Z sara convicted and t' tT re-
turned u I ate acquitted I'nt excitement
caused ty the question VAS intense ln
49,. hur, ~ .ei-as Isutreuts answer v ss
t.s. ana fra efrgorvaphar Was asket 20
r.t4 rna rrnfv. '-f never seat ar cntrloU"
e. rst attorneys bearing etafs -tH tt@ Ftf-