Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-10-29
THE DuRRANr CASE.
Continued nom 1rsi passi

but when they were asked 10 implicate
Gibson they weakened aud gave hint
to the police which spoilsd the whole
) plan.
A letter dated October "a. and signed
! George Reynolds, Is 90 follows:
"TonIght will seek rest for all
worldly cares IN these waters near the
CTfi house. write this so you need
have no inquest OF Identification. I
was some months ago To be witness
ln the Durraut trial for the murder of
Minnie Williams. send you a state
ment prepared for me 10 learn with
five other men named Smythe, Dugan,
stewart, Taylor and Harrington. ]
object to take part In this matter be-
cause Of the part Of the plan TO inn
pllcate Preacher Gibson. l assisted Il.
NJ. Trayer, Durrant's friend, 10 fixing
up the plan. Smythe. Dugan, and
Stewart were TO be Witnesses in the
Lamont case, and Taylor, Harrington
aud were 10 help him out IN the
Williams case. l tried to get state
ments OF the other five 10 enclose with
this, but they would not give them up.
SmS the was to cay that Blanche La
mont was at his house, near H6ywards
until Friday, April 9th, when she left
for home. The strap with Blanche
Lamonps name I marked myself with
her name. / cut off the end of the
strap and sent 1t to the Chief Crowley
three month ago with other matter.
Dlckinson's explanation about the
strap is clever bat very improbable. !
am not surprised Deuprey is SICK. 1
should think Dickinson would be sick,
too. Dugan and Stewart were TO say
they had been to DR.. Anthony's funeral
In Oakland on Friday, April 9Th, and
when returning saw Miss Lamont ON
the ferry.boat, Dugan knowing her
well. The plan was also to produce a
bloody handkerchief with the initial
Co." meaning Gibson, upon 1t.
lettered five other handkerchiefs, and
Thayer sent them by messenger to
Gibson, with a card written by Smythe
saying, "From four little infant.class
girls." The bloody handkerchief was
to be offered as having been found tin
the lot back OF the church on sunday,
April II, but It never was delivered
because we declined to take part In
that plot to impllcate Gibson. This
Is all have got to say. Let Durrant
ell the rest" (Signed.l
GEORGE REYNOLDS"
Accompanying the letter was
lengthy statement, comprising the
bogus testimony which
Reynolds was to learn before going on q
he witness stand. The statement was ]
,ype.wrlttsn and backed in legal form. ]
The statement was not written by the 1
writer of the letter, because In the !
ype-written statement several cor. /
ectlons had been made with a pen in
handwriting, which differed from that i
n Reynolds letter, Coroner Hawkins I
aid: "I haYe turned this letter over u
o the police for investigation. 1t looks
Ike hoax, but It is possible that Dur.
ant or some one connected with the
efense may have prepared this story
3 Reynolds says. The statement
5hlch accompanied the letter shows
areful work, and was no doubt pre-.
ared by some one who had made a
lose study Of the case. II Durrant
ould prove what is stated In the
ocument he would go forth free '
lan." Z
The substance OF Reynolds type.
ritten statement is that he had 7
nown Durrant for 10 years. aud that o
q had met him on the evening of 6
pril l2, the night Minnie Williams a,
as murdered. The statement says he :
let him on Howard street, where they al
liked some time. In a friendly scuffie NJ
urrant was unintentloaally thrown
} the ground. Durrant said he was a,
'rry he had got dirt on his clothes, as D, D,
. had got TO go to party where there d
ould be ladies present. Durrant then ci
n for DIR. VogePs house, and witness, a,
oking at the clock, 70 ted that II was m
:s5. ps