The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-30
THE DAY IN COURT,
Deuprey Carried In From a Sick
bed to Plead for Durrant.
Dickinson Concludes


Attorney Eugene n. Deuprey, pale and
wan of face, shrunken and weak of frame,
was carried into court yesterday to play
his part in the last act of the trial of Theo-
dore Durrant for one of the most fiendish,
most pitiful crimes of the century.
We'll he played his part, sitting there in
his cushioned chair, pillows all about him,
face to face with the jurors, calling to his
purpose all his skill in forensic speaking,
all his force of pathos and dramatic art
Women wept and men were serious. In
his peroration his own voice grew thick,
his lips trembled and there was moisture
in his eyes. Mr.. Deuprey played well his
part. New all that can be done for Theo-
dore Durrant has been done. He has had
the testimony OF many witnesses, the calm,
dellberative, analytic argument of Mr..
Dickinson, the imprisoned, almost theat-
rical, appeal of Mr.. Deuprey. Now there
remains only the closing argument of Mr..
Barnes for the State, the instructions of
the court-then the verdict.
Yesterday belonged to the defense land
the mob outside and inside the courtroom.
Mr.. Dickinson resumed his argument in
the morning. There should have been a
more exhaustive search of the belfry made
at the time the body was discovered, he
began. Then the real culprit might have
been discovered-not hidden in the belfry,
but by the further evidences and clews
that might have been then unearthed.
Mr.. Dickinson was warmed Up to his
subject rather more than on Friday. He
had even some euphonious phrases to de-
liver now and then. He spoke of the wit
ness Phillips as "the man of peculiar mien
and peculiar manner"
He reverted, almost POLITICALLY, to Miss
Cunningham, as "the snake coiIed I'D in
the sunshine of sympathy Turing her VIC
tim to his DEATH" though if Durrant be
innocent it is difficult to see how this mild
faced little woman under the big hat could
harm him.
Oppenheim was "a very swift and a
very willing Witness" and chain was mo
stronger than its weakest link" Mr..
Dickinson was ingenious, too The wit
ness Phillips had meant to convey the
impression that his Victoria Hotel was
unquestionably of good repute because
no women were allowed on the premises.
This seemed convincing at the time, for
the statement was uncontradicted. But
hear this clever lawyers version-"that
keeper of a hotel where no ladies were ad-
mittedl"
Then he went to the struggle in the bel
fry, arguing that one man alone could not
have killed the girl and showing whv.
Mrs. Noble hid her face in her handker-
chief and Maud Lamont, in the far corner
of the room. wept unabashed. Even the
lady in olive green who sits beside Mrs.
n anl110 NOT Uifpacc ba r,apta1
ture unmoved.
And so the morning session wore on. It
was not long one, and when Mr.. Dickin-
son had finished Mr.. Barnes bespoke an
early noon adjournment, promising that
Mr.. Deuprey would positively appear in
the afternoon.
The latter's speech was brief, lasting not
quite an hour and half, and to the au-
| dience, st least, it was effective and enter
tanning. He spoke in a clear, strong voice
save when the pathos of the words de-
manded the lower pitch. Sometimes his
words were measured and solemn, again
they rose to the heights of dramatic
defamation, now they pleaded, som times
they argued. Mr.. Deuprey would have
made a good actor.
He did not make all the points made by
Mr.. Dickinson, but he scored one against
Pastor Gibson that his colleague bad
either neglected or purposeiy withheld.
You saw the manner in which he
equlvocated when on the stand. Lord
God! What witness would he have made
i'll his own behalfi"
1t was of Pastor Gibson that the lawyer
spoke, having previously pointed out that
the reverend gentleman might very easily