The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-04-30

San Francisco. April 29.-For the first
time since the charge of numbering
Miss Marian Williams in the Emanuel
Baptist church of this city was FORM
ally made against w. H. T. Durrant,
the prisoner has consented to talk. He
spoke first of the Lamont case. saying:
Poor Blanchei 1 am accused Of
strangling her and then remaining un-
moved at the details of the most hor-
rible crime in history. No one will
ever know the sorrow 1 feel and no
one could begin to comprehend my
thoughts even if I were to tell all the
anguish her terrible fate has caused
me. 1 could not have murdered that
girl. 1 liked her too well, not better
than anyone else in the world. but l
respected and admired her. and we
were good friends"
Doesn't Like the Papers.
Judging by newspaper communica-
tions. am looked upon as a cold
blooded. abolical monster. l am
painted as a devil in human shape, and
very little is said in favor of the pos
sibility of any other person having
killed those two girls; but when my
trial is over the world will know that
am innocent. My COHpOSOlG anu
Self-control since my arrest are held
against me. but no person will ever
know the terrible ordeal l am under
going. 1t is said that I use opiates to
induce sleep. That is lie. l am able
to sleep we'll. because my conscience is
clear of all crime. / am not of nerv-
Gus temperament, and have always
been able to keep cool"
He accuses the police OF working
solely from the premise that he was
guilty of the crimes and ignoring all
other clews.
Because of Durrant's placid de-
meanor under fearful accusations, his
sound sleep and regular eating at d
season so trying to nerves, Durrant
makes a study of intense interest to
the psychologist. At times his flip
pancy seems strangely out Of harmony
with his present position.
Another Serious Charge.
A sensational rumor has obtained
currency in connection with the pris-
oner, and if the facts should prove the
rumor true the police will have a
strong link in a. chain Of circumstan-
tial evidence that so far is not very
strong, in the Williams case, at least
This rumor is to the effect that an
Oakland official has communicated to
Chief of Police Crowley of this city a
statement to the effect that an Oak
land official told him that some time
ago he had been called upon to at
tend the 15-year-old daughter of a
resident of San Francisco. The girl
had been assaulted and she alleged
that her assailant was Durrant: that
he had lured her to the belfry of
Emanuel church and had there accom-
plished his nefarious purpose. For
professional reasons, it is believed, this
physician has refused to make the
matter public.
Chief Crowley, when seen last night,
refused to either affirm or deny the
story 1t is reasonably certain, how
ever, that detectives are at work on
this clew.
For the Murder of Lamont.
Durrant was arraigned today in the
police court on &, charge of murder for
the killing of Blanche Lamont. The
defendant conducted himself with his
usual stoicism, and after the formal
proceedings, had a long consultation
with his attorneys. The coroner's in
quest in the Lamont case which COM
menced this. evening, will be continued
every night unit, concluded. so as not
to interfere with the preliminary ex-
animation of Durrant for the Will
1iamS murder 10, be resumed tOmOr-