The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-26
Sensational Intfmafion by Attorney
Duprey Yesterday I'm Opening the
Case for the Defendant.
HIS CLIENT Is INNOCENT
THE LAWYER SAYS. AND HE CAN
PROVE 1T BY GOOD WITNESSES.
Outline Of Evidence to BE Introduced
Tbeodore's Conduct on April 3. ,

{. SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 25-The depart
ment of the Superior Court in which Theo-
dore Durrant Is on trial for the murder of
Blanche Lamont was a scene Of excitement
this morning. The announcement by the
district attorney that 1.-The people rest and
the subsequent statement of attorneys for
the defense that they would be ready to pro-
coed to-day drew to the City Hall a crowd
that could not secure admittance to a room
ten times the size of the apartment set
apart for the trial. The fact that the de-
Tense. in is opening statement, would reveal
for the first time the nature of evidence
relied on for acquittal served to arouse
public interest to a degree never before
seen in California at a trial of a man for
his life. The hot sultry day was intens-
fled in the crowded court ROOM Although
the occasion was of the gravest Importance
to Durrant, he was the most cool and inn
passive individual present.
The defense first called for further cross
examination of detective Gibson, Deputy
Coroner Hallett and Mrs. Leakly. The last
mentioned was questioned regarding her
eyesight, she maintaining that it is good
and that she never had any optical trouble
Gibson said that he had found Ratchet
in the belfry on the occasion of his second
examination. and the deputy coroner testi-
fled that when he first viewed the body of
Blanche Lamont in the belfry the mouth
of the dead girl was slightly open.
Attorney Duprey. for the defense. then
began his opening statement. His intima-
ton that the murder was committed not
by Durrant, but by Rev. George Gibson.
pastor Of Emanuel Church, when the at
torney made a significant allusion to the
resemblance to the preachers handwriting
on the letter inclosing Blanche Lamonts
rings, created a marked sensation. The
address of Duprey began with definition
of the duties OF jurors in capital cases. He
attacked the newspapers for the articles
written and published concerning Durrant
and warned the jury against improper de-
auctions from circumstantial evidence. Du-
prey then said The district attorney has
presented a strong case of circumstantial
evidence which at first would create
strong suspicion of the guilt of the defend
ant. We claim that beyond a strong sus-
picion the prosecution has failed to CO., We
contend that, with all the testimony intro
duced, the only issues TO be passed on have
not been arrested Where did Blanche La
mont forfeit her life? When did she meet
her death? Who caused her death? These
questions have not been answered. The
fourth question is the cause of death. A fifth
has not and cannot be answered. What
was the motive of the accused to take the
life of Blanche BaTn6nt2 Under the tes-
timony thus far we claim to ask the court
to instruct the jury without one word to
acquit. As duty to the defendant. his
parents and the community, my lips shall
be unsealed. You are entitled to and should
know where Durrants was and what he did
on April from the time he arose in the
morning until he went to bed at night.
OTHERS HAD VISITED THE CHURCH.
"The district attorney promised to snow
that Durrant was notswhere he should have
been on the afternoon of April 3, namely
at the lecture room of the Cooper Medical
College. Where ie that proof? No allusion
to it has been made The prosecution has
called between forty and fifty witnesses.
or that number. who have given material
evidence? Three elderly ladies. three young
ladies. a pawnbroker, Victoria hotel keep
err and police court shyster and his coll
league have furnished the substantial testi-
mony on which the prosecution relies. We
insist that the proper proof is wanting to
connect the defendant with the murder. I've
will show that other men had access to
Emanuel Church. Proof may point to 9TH
ers
LET me carry you along the ground upon
which we ask for a verdict FOR the defense.
First, you shall hear from the mother OF
Durrant how he was interested in church
work. and what he did for Emanuel Church.
We will tell you how he met Blanche La
mont. and of his associations with her. Mrs.
Durrant will tell how her son was dressed
when he left home on the morning of April
3. She will tell you what her son did that
evening The good repute and honorable
character of the defendant will be proven.
The attendance at the Cooper Medical Col
lege and the general demeanor will be
shown. On the morning of April 3 Durrant
left his home and walked towards the
house of George King. so that he might
have helper that evening to fix the gas
in the church. He accidentally met Blanche
Lamont, whom he told he was on the way
to Kings house, and asked her to accom-
pany him. She said that she did not have
time to accompany him before school, ana
school. He acquesced In mis-, and accom-
panied her as far as. Suffer and Octavia
Wsbsier tree the the medical College, on %
will show you these facts and what Dur
rant did from his arrival there until noon
nOur, Wnen ne walked 10 broduWay ana
to a bluff overlooking the bay. We will
show you his return to college at 1 80, and
what was done from then until 1880 o'clock.
Then he went to Dr. Cheney's lecture. and
we will produce his notes. different from
any other students, and show he is marked
present. DR.. Cheney will tell you that he
was present We will show YOU that after
this lecture he took the Sutton-street car to
Polk street, TO Mission to Ninth, out Mis-
sion and then TO the church, and alone did
he walk into the church
DURRANT IN THE CHURCH.
I'VE will show that he arrived at the
church at 4:55 o'clock, and not before;
that he entered by the door on the south
side; that he went into the library. took
a book and a card he wanted. He -e-
moved his coat. neatly folded it. and took
out his watch SO that it would not drop
out while he was fixing the gas jets. He
then went up to the ceiling by a ladder
and fixed the gas burners. We will snow
that when the gas filters turned on the
seventy gas jets much gas escaped.
Through lack of ventilation this gas re-
manned in the atmosphere near the cell
ing, and when Durrant went TO the Cali
ing he inhaled the gas, which made him
SICK. as testified by King. You are asked
to believe that this man accused of muir
der went directly down to secure Wit
ness 10 his crime We will show that Dur
rant was on the platform lying down, and,
when King returned, went down TO the
Kitchen tn take tho seItZer. We will show