The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-25
The Church Murderer Brushed
Against Study Entrance.
A STAIN FROM HIS CLOTHING.
The Pastor TestifieS 10 Seeing Dur
rant in the Church Alone.
New Lock Was Put on the Library.
4
and Gibson Got No Key. He Does
Not Know Why-Continuaticn ofthe
Examination, the Prisoner a. Stolid
AS Ever.

san Francisco. April sA-A new discov-
cry IN the Durranf case haR been mad
When the body Of Minnie Williams was
found ia Emanuel church. in searching
Tor traces Of The murderer the police ana
reporters found dark stain on the door
oi Rev. Dr. Glhson's private study, 10
which he only, SO far as known. had =
Key. The police dec8ded that the stain
was merely varnish. and paid no further
attention 70 IL. Today. however. an EN-
aminer reported shaved of A portion Of
TIE supposed yarnish stain. and micro
scopic examination showed that II WAS
blood instead 0f Varnish 1he mark on the
door looked as II il had been caused by
flirting vet clothing against II. and was
2 bout eighteen inches above the floor.
The supposition is that the murderer IN
going into the study or attempting 10
enter it. brushed his bloody clothes
agaisBt the door and LEFT the stain.
During the examination OF Rev. DR..
Gibson today n was asked II he had ever
seen Durrant In the church alone. and
he replied in the affirmative. stating that
he had seen him la the library fixing the
books. He was asked who put the new
lock on the library door, the lock 10
which Gibson claims he had no key, and
he said he could not tell. Then he was
asked il ne knew why the lock had heen
put on the door. lie answered; II have
an opinion"
At this juncture Judge Conlan asked In
surprise. DO YOU mean 10 say. doctor.
that. being pastor OF this church ard a
lock IS put on the door Of your church
and YOU have no key 10 that lock, that
YOU % not know Why. when or where
fore IL was done?"
Gibson answered: Well, I have my
opinion. but / never tnquired.'
Judge Conl2n But do you mean that as
pastor OF the church YOU do not think
such proceedings queer: you 10 not think
it strange you should not be allowed to
have a key?
Gsibson-I do not think Il strange. II
may be strange TO you. because ! have
not been allowed 10 give my opinion.
Yes. IL appears very strange. said
Judge Conlau as he ordered the cNamina-
tion to proceed. Rev. Mr.. Gibson vas
cross-examined in tine afternoon and VIII
he on the stand again IN the morning.
Or. Gibson was on the witness stand
from the middle OF the morning session
until adjournment Of the court IN the ev-
ening and they are not through with him
vel The district ATTORNEYS questions 10
the minister did not detain him long. but
the cross-exa minatlOu seemed iutefmitt-
bile. Dr. Gibson did not enjoy himself.
The lawyers were aUsiere with him' ana
the judge was sarcastic.
Gen Dickinson took the preacher over
the whole course of his life. from ms
birth i'm Edinburgh 30 ihe day Of tho as
,.ovarv Of Minnie Williams bloody body
in his church. and every question seemed
10 yoH an inslnuatioR. The minister an
swered promptly. but was disposed 10 be
excruciatingly exact In his answers. lie
ndcete1 a great dead. rubbed his brow,
rubbed his hands. and ran his fingers
through mis- hair. Win all the quest
ing ne managed TO avoid losing either MS
temper or The trend of his story
Fvory body enjoys the parsons discom~
hture. The district attorney, 10 be sure.
dld nut In one objection 10 cave him from
annoyance bat Judge Conlan swept u
aside and dl1 some prodding of the pas
tor himself. Whenever he turned to me
court for relief he found be was lean
ing on "A support beside which a broken
reed would be = sturdy brace. His honor
was ironical with the preacher. and his
tone conveyed a cruel smile that cured
the parson Of appealing 10 the court
The length Of the cross eXamina ton
and the manner OF h indicate that Dur
rants lawyers propose TO throw tho
preacher forward rs the center Of thci-
theory Of the murders-for OF course.
when they contend that Durrant did not
commit the crimes. they must supply n
rossihIe substitute. And Rev. John George
Gibson understands just what they are
about.
II is hard 70 perceive Just how the de-
fonva VIII connect tho preacher with the
murder for ne was a the party Of Eman-
rIel church young People al nr. Nogel 3
house that night from 720 o'clock, until
about n. while Durrant. who should have
Ncen there 10 act as secretary, did not
ar.,car until after $50