Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-04-25
DURANT DECLARED GUILTY.
Accused of One of the Mysterious
Murders in San Francisco.

Investigation by the Coroner's Jury
Circumstances That Go TO Shuw He
Killed Miss Williams
SAN FEANCisCu. CAL, April 19.-The
coroner's jury which has been inyesti-
eating the cause Of the death of Miss
Minnie Williams, one OF the two young
ladies found dead in Emanuel Baptist
Church in this city last Sunday, rem
dered verdict to-day declaring W. ii.
Theodore Durant, the young medical
student under arrest, guilty of the muir
der Of Miss Williams. The case OF Miss
Blanche Lamont, the other young lady,
will he taken MP ny the coroner later.
The usual crowd of curiosity seekers
were present when the inquiry was re-
sulned this morning Durant and his
attorneys were also present.
One of the witnesses was Elmer
Wolfe, in intimate friend OF Durant.
Wolfe was in tue neighborhood of
Emanuel Church on the night Miss
Williams was murdered and claims TO
have seen Durant within block OF
that editice Us he went home. Some Of
Wolfe's statements seemed contradic-
tory and he was recalled to the stand.
He offered to produce witnesses to sub.
stantiate all that he had previously said
in regard to his movements on the night
Minnie Williams was murdered, but the
coroner declined the offer, and both that
| official and the chief of police said they
were satisfied with Wolfe's statement
and did not believe lie was connected
with the crime.
Two of Durant's comrades iu the
I Naht I'd w mil n
said that on the afternoon of the night
| Minnie Williams was murdered they
saw Durant lettering about the ferry at
the foot of Market street and talked to
him. They snid Durant told them he
did not expect TO be ~ the armory that
Eight and he asked them to respond to
his name at roll-call.
DR.. Bartlett, who conducted the
autopsy, testified that Minnie Williams
died of asphyxiation as a result of hav-
ing part of her clothing forced down
her throat by the murderer, and that
the knife wounds found on various
parts of her body were inflicted after
her death. He also testified that the
girl had been outraged and that previous
to the time of the tragedy she had led q
blameless life
Several other witnesses were examined
on minor matters, and about II O'Clock
the coroner announced that he had nc
more testimony TO offer. He then called
Durant to the stand, and the prisoner
left his scat as If to present himself fol
examination. He turned toward his at
torneys, who advised him not to speak
and no further effort was made to ques
ton him.
The jury did not occupy an hour it
celebrating, and returned verdic
charging Durant with the murder o.
Minnie Williams.
That section of the city whert
Emanuel Church is located was origi
nally the Mission Dolores, founded by
the Friars hundred years ago, and L
this day generally designated as "tht
mission" Popular sentiment of The
mission favors the razing OF the edifice
This feeling extends even to those VIII
are not financially interested in tn
property, but have an interest in TIL
moral atmosphere of the neighborhood
The church has always been under
cloud. The stain of human bloot
marks its history from one pastor, VIII
killed a newspaper proprietor and VIII
blew out his brains, and thence to th
awful tragedy that Is now before tn
people. Everywhere is heard the ex
preston, "Burn the place down." TIL
feeling is that the church should neve
again be opened as place of worship
AS q result of these threatening ex
pressions the insurance companies hav
cancelled their policies, and the polio
have been ON guard there since th
tragedy.
II is reported that Durant and hi
lawyers are preparing a statement, ou
lining the defence, which will he a
endeavOr to prove an alibi.