The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-21
TRIAL ALMOST ENDED
THE EXAMINATION OF W.T.
NESSES AGAINST DURRANT
NEARLY COMPLETED.
ORGANIST : KINGS TESTIMONY

ORGANIST KINGS TESTIMONY
He Was Recalled and Questioned
Upon two Important Points in Refer
ence to his Presence In the Church at
the Time of he Murder--The Jani-
tors Evidence la Regard to the Keys
20 the Church--A Pawn Broker Iden-
titles Blanche Lamont's Ring.
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, Sept. 2O.-When
Geo. B. King, the organist of Emanuel
church, was on the witness stand in the
Durrant trial Wednesday, the prosecu-
ton, by an oversight, failed to examine
him on two material points.
When King was first interviewed in
reference to the murders by representa-
tives of the newspapers, he denied all
knowledge of anything which, in the re
motest way, might connect Durrant
with the commission of either crime.
His denial was made in a way which
left strong impression that the
young man was not telling the
truth. 1t was then that the sus-
piciOn arose that he knew more
than he cared to tell. This opinion
rapidly crystallized into an idea that he
knew something he did not dare to tell.
His father became frightened at this con-
ditiOn Of affairs, and the result was
young Kings important announcement
to the police that he was in the church
that afternoon and saw Darrant in a
strangely agitated state.
King was then seen by the interviewers
and to reporter from each Of the morn
ing newspapers declared voluntarily and
with emphasis that after Durrant had
gone to a small mirror in the church, he
also went there and on the shelf below
the mirror saw q clot of blood, as if
Durrant had wiped his finger there.
Shortly after young King made his
sworn statement to the chief of police
the father Of DUrrant, is said to have
called upon him, and begged him
to say that the man he saw in the
church in such a condition looked like
Theodore Durrant but was not really
the man who is now on trial for his life
King answered that he could not change
his testimony even to save his friend
King will be recallsd as a witness and
questioned upon these poinrs.
Durrant receives letters almost daily
from women in different parts of the
| country assuring him of their firm be-
lief in his innocence and wishing they
| could be with him to comfort him. In
| every instance thus far, the letter has
come from some one whom he has never
seen or heard of.
The prosecution in the case Of Dur
rant announced today that its witnesses
would be through with direct examina-
ton next Wednesday. The crowd at the
trial to day exceeded in size that of any
previous day since the case opened.
George King, the organist, was re-
called for further cross examination.
After few unimportant questions from
the opposing attorneys, King was ex-
cused, to the general surprise, it having
been expected that the prosecution would
interrogate closely upon the alleged va
ration in his statements concerning
Durrant, made at different times.
The former janitor at the church, tes
titled that on April 3, the day Blanche
Lamont disappeared, the gas fixtures
were in perfect order.
During the last few days of March,
the gas company had finished some work
in the church, and gas escaped from no
place thereafter, except a trace which
was hardly perceptible from loose key
in one chandelier.
Witness said that in the latter part of
March, Durrant and King had put in a
new lock on one of the doors, to which
they only had keys. They had stated
their object was to keep out of the Il
brary persons who had no business there.
The ex, janit0r testified that several times
he had found the doors in the church
unlocked. These doors opened into in
terror rooms or closets and he had at
tached no Importance to their being IN
| locked
Adolph Oppenheimer, pawnbroker,
testified that on the fourth and tenth of
April DErant came to his store and of
fered for sale ring with a small chip
diamond. The witness selected a
ring from those identified as be-
longing to Blanche Lamont, and
said that was the ring offered him by
Durrant. He had declined to purchase
it, and Durrant had taken it away with
him. The witness stated that since tes-
tifying at the preliminary examination
he had received two letters offering him
bribes to modify his testimony. One Of
the letters offered him $500 on condition
that he stated on the stand that he could
not positively identify Durrant, He was
not to see any onein connection with the
bribe until after ke had given his testi-
mony, when the money would be paid to
him. The second letter was of SINH
lar character. The witness said he had
turned both letters over to the police.
Officers OF the Southern Appointed.