Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-26
HE Is PLEASED.
THE DURRANT DEFENCE.
Opening Statement OF Counsel
Prisoner to Take stand.


SAN FRANCISCO. CAL. September p.
Attorney Dupree. Of counsel for the de-
fence in the Durrant case. made his open
ing statement this morning.
He said that he would show that on
the morning Of April 81 Durrant left his
home for that Of George King. for the
purpose Of making arrangements Tor the
latter to help him fix the gas apparatus
in Emmanuel church In the afternoon
He met Blanche Lamont at Twenty-flrst
and Mission streets. She was waiting
Tor a car TO take her TO the High School'
and invited him 20 take ride with her'
He left her at the High School. and cop
tinued on his way TO Cooper Medicai Col-
lege. where he remained until about 500
O'Clock or later 1t would be shown by
the college records and otherwise that
Durrant had attended the lecture, which
would take him up 10 about O'CLOCK
that he left the college about $3.50. TOOK
"A car. and reached Emmanuel church at
five minutes TO 3 o'clock.
Witnesses would be introduced TO prove
this, and that when he reached the churcn
he went into the library-room. left MS
coat and hat there, and then went up
stairs to fix the sunburners, where ne
was overcome by gas. Everything tha'
occurred in the church subsequently as
stated by King, would be admitted. IL
would be shown that Durrant saw King
home from church. and then proceeded
10 his own home. where ne ate his supper
and after a short time retired.
The defence VIII further show that the
accused wore an entirely black suit on
that day. and this Will disprove the tes-
timony Of Mrs. Vogel, who swore he
wore light pair of trousers.
Mrs. Leaks testimony will also be
proved TO be valueless, as her sight Is
defective.
AS to Witness Oppenhem. 1t would be
shown that he was visited by young
man who wore blue overcoat. such as
Oppenheim described. and offered rings
for sale similar to those Of the murdered
girl. but that the pawnbroker was entirely
mistaken as 10 his visitor being the de-
PENDANT.
In the course Of his statement Mr..
Dupree announced that Durrant would
take the stand.
NO SENSATION.
rhe outline OF the defence contained
no sensation. and nothing new except the
one point that some woman will be in
PRODUCED who will say she saw defendant
enter Emmanuel church alone on the
afternoon of the murder. When Dur
rant did leave the college he took the
street-cars for Emmanuel church and APP
ptcached Bartlett street, on which the
church is situated. from southerly d.
rection, which is opposite TO that from
which the witnesses have testified that
they saw him approach IL. He was seen
to go TO the church alone by ii woman.
and entered IL at 4:55, which is half an
hour later than the time when Mrs.
Leake says she saw him enter II.
Durrant told two persons that evening
that he had been overcome by gas. and
he was apparently Ill when he reached
home. He did not again go out of the
house that night, except to escort his
mother TO car. The defence will claim
that the writing on the package contain
ing the rings was that of Rev. J. +.
Gibson, of Emmanuei church, and not
that OF Durrant
AS to the offering Of the rings for sale
10 the pawnbroker. the defence contends
wore an overcoat, and that Durrant did
not wear an overcoat In the daytime be-
tween the 81 and the 10th Of April.
STRONG POINTS.
This. the open announcement that the
handwriting on the package of rings seEt
10 Mrs. Noble would be traced TO Rev.
Mr.. Gibson, and the introduction Of a
woman who will testify that she saw
Durrant enter the church alone on thu
afternoon Of the murder are strong points
In the defence.
rhat OF his alleged presence at the
lecture at the time he was said TO be