The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-27
George r. King Tells What He
Knows About the Death of
Miss Williams.
THE PRISONER GROWS ANGRY
He Issues Orders to His Keepers,
and viii Lose His Privileges
in Consequence.

the spectators that when Elmer w Ollie
was called to the witness-stand yesterday
morning he wore a long dark blue over
coat similar to that worn by Durrant on
the fatal Friday night and which now
reposes among the gruesome articles which
have gone to constitute the peoples
exhibits. 1t became patent that the coin
cidenCe did not escape the lynX-ike eyes
of Deuprev and Dickinson, for as soon as
the witness was turned over to them by the
prosecution Mr.. Deuprey asked Wolfe to
remove his coat in order that a comparison
could be made between the two garments.
Wolfe objected at first. He avOwed that
he had no particular reason for desiring to
keep his coat on, but he displayeda certain
amount of nervousness which became
apparent as the counsel persisted IN the
effort to get the two coats side by side.
The witness, who had chewed gum or
some other plastic substance throughout
his examination, gave a number OF extra
trlturatiOns and as his jaws increased their
speed the sun and weather painted color
or his cheeks deepened.
He finally consented to oblge the de-
PENDANTS attorneys, and his coat ana that
of the accused were placed side by side.
Then the similarity in shape and color be-
came apparent, and to every observer the
thought must have occurred that at night
no difference would be noticeable between
the two coats. The same is also true with
regard to the SLOUGH hats.
The incident, though having no partlcu-
lar significance so far as the witness is con-
cerned, has q direct bearing on the general
Identification OF the defendant. The coat
and hat he is said 10 have worn on Friday
night April u are so common among
young men who make any pretenslon to
keeping in touch with the styles OF the
day that hundreds OF them might have
been noticed on any street in the City the
same night without exciting passing notice
or comment.
So far the counsel for the prosecution
has failed signallv in establishing cOnclu-
sively the identity Of the accused with that
of the man said TO have been seen by sew
eral witnesses on the fatal Friday night in
the vicinity of Emmanuel Church. Their
case up to the present writing is weak. AS
has been said none OF the witnesses called
for the purposes Of Identification have
been positive in their opinions or their
recollectiOns. They have differed one from
the other and not one has been able to say
that Durrant was the man, though he did
wear a long-tailed coat. They had all seen
the coat, but none have been able to say
he or she saw his face. Then, too, they
have been much in doubt as to his build,
his height and his voice.
1t viii also be remembered that much of
materially from the stories told by the
same witnesses to the newspaper repre-
sentatives and at the inquest. For par
ticular example it is understood that DR..
Nogel said when DuTrant arrived at his
house the latter was much excited and had
blood on his hands. On the stand DR..
Vogel said Durrant was overheated and
that his hair was disheveled, but not a
word passed his lips under oath concern
ing his excitement and the problematic
Od-stains. He also testified under cross
examination that DuTant acted perfectly
natural while at the church gathering that
night. This latter statement was cor
roborated by all the other witnesses who
were at the house the same evening.
Elmer A Wolfe was the first witness to
take the stand.
"What is your occupation? asked Mr..
Barnes.
81 am an accountant"
"Where is your place of business2"
Il am not employed Just al present"
''WheTe IS your resldence?"
"At $50 Twenty-third street."
do you know Theodore Durrant?''
Eyes, sir"
do you know DR.. YogeI?"
Eyes, sir
"Did you attend the Young Peoples
meeting at DR.. Vogels on Friday evening,
a pril 1872"
4 did; yes. sir"
''Whom did you go WITH"
Miss Miriam Lord
''Did you see Mr.. Durrant there that
night?"
ayes sir"
"Was he there when you got there2"
mo, sir; he got there after the business
meeting, at about half-past 9 o'clock"
"A0hat time did you leave DR.. Vogels
that night?"
About half-past H."
"Did YOU leave there alone2"
''No, sir; there were Miss Fales, Miss
Lord, Miss Stevens and Dr. Yogel."
did you see Durrant after you left the
house?"
from the house. He went with US as far as
Twenty-third and Capp streets and then
left for home"
Did he say anything when he left your"
"He said something about going to
Mount Diablo the next day, and that he
must get up early"
Where did you go after you left Miss
Lord at her house,"
II went up Twenty-third street to our
place Of residence and changed my clothes,
and then went to my brothers stable, at
the corner Of Twenty fifth street and Orange
aley, to get my horse. When got there
| remembered that I had left my horse at
the company's stable, and there l went
SuDseq ueDuy. ,
eDid you see any one standing near the
Emmanuel Baptist Church when you
passed there on your way homer"
es, sir; as / neared the corner OF Bart
lett and Twenty-fourth streets saw man
standing near the corner"
Did you recognize him as DurrantY
NO sir"
How was the man dressed?"
He wore q long dark oyercoat and |
slouch hat"
Had you been in attendance at the !
Young Peoples meeting before?"
Eyes, sir"
"Did you know Minnie Williams in her
lifetime?"
NO, sir'
Dissemination then followed.
How far is your place of residence in
town from the Emmanuel Baptist |
church," asked Deuprey.
About block, perhaps"
Witness then described his movements
on the afternoon of Friday, April II. prior
70 the Young Peoples gathering at Dr.
EogeIs s, including his visit to a barber
shop on Valencia street and a stroll about
Town with his brother He ate supper at
the Creamerle between and O'clock and
then went to look for a book which he de-
sired TO get Tor his sister. He did not sue