The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-10-11
STILL ON THE STAND
DuRRANT SUBJECTED TO A
RIGID CROSS EXAMINATION
YESTER
he WAS At FIRST CONFUSED

hE WAS AT FIRST CUNf fUSEu
And Changed, His Replies Several
Times But He Soon Regained His
Usual Calm and Was Perfectly Cool
and Deliberate During the Most Try
Ing OrdeaIs-- Denied That He Ever
Sent His Attorneys a Letter to be
Opened If He Was Convicted.
SAN FRANCISCO, Gal, October TO-
Under the rigid cross examination of
District Attorney Barnes to-day, Theo-
dore Durrant made a number of an
swers that are regarded as decidedly in
eliminating, inasmuch as they appear to
be in direct conflict with we'll established
facts and then changed his replies when
he realized that he was on danger
GUS grounds. He gave an ex-
planation of clew regarding
Blanche Lamont'5 disappearance,
said to have been received by him, that
was so palpaby falsehood that every
body in court laughed aloud. The stiff
ling atmosphere of the overcrowded
court room came to Durrant's rescue
and he was enabled to recover from his
confusion during the short recess that
followed When he again came to the
stand he remained calm during the most
trying ordeals. The prosecution was,
nevertheless, well satisfied with the days
work.
Two days before the body of the
young woman was discovered Durrant
said, as he was standing at the corner
of Market and Montgomery streets,
a stranger approached him and asked
if his name was not Ourrant. The
stranger then asked Durrant if, in view
of the fact that his name bad
been unpleasantly connected with the
disappearance Of the girl, he would
not like to find her. Durrant replied
that he would be overjoyed even to OBJ
tain trace of the missing girl. "Watch
the ferries then" the stranger said
'she will try to cross the bay. That is
my advice" He did not ask the stranger
ditional information.
He went to lunch and from there to
the ferry where he remained until 5
o'clock not having caught a glimpse of
the missing girl. While he wss waiting,
however, he saw three medical students
and an old schoolmate. One of these
men has already testified that he saw
Durrant accost a school girl whose des-
cription answered that of Minnie viii
liams who was murdered that night and
ride away toward the Mission on Howard
street car.
Mr.. Barnes asked him if he told any
body else of the clue given him by the
stranger, so they could continue the
search. Durrant said he had no oppor-
tunity to tell any of Miss Lamont's
friends. When questioned closely Dur
rant admitted that he attended a meet
ing of the Young Peoples Society the
same evening, where he saw several of
Miss Lamont intimate friends. Among
Others was Thomas Vogel, whom Dur
rant had said moment before was more
interested in the disappearance of the
young woman than anybody else except
Mrs. Noble, her aunt Durrant admit
ted that he had private conversation
with Vogel, but did not think to tell
him about the clue he had obtained.
After short recess, during which
Durrant recovered his composure, a sur
prise was sprung on him in the hope that
it might disconcert him. After asking
Durrant If he bad ever made a written
statement Of bis whereabouts on the day
Blanche Lamont was murdered and re-
ceiving an affirmative reply, District At
torney Barnes, asked the following ques-
tiou: ''Is it not a fact that you sent
written statement Of your case TO your
attorney and wrote on the envelope 'tO
be opened if am convicted and to be re-
turned if / am acquitted. )"
The excitement caused by this question
was intense In the hum of voices Dur
rants answer was lost and the stenOgra
pher was asked to read the reply. 81
never sent an envelope to my attorneys
barring such an inscription" said he.
DnrraLt was questioned at length re
garding the communication and the sig
nificant inscription on the envelope, but
he deEied that he ever sent such a docu-
ment.
Durrant was next shown the various
garments worn by Blanche Lamont and
asked if he haG secreted them in the
beIfry where they were found. He idcn-
tilted the clothing as the ones worn by
Miss Lamont on the day of her death,
but said he did not hide them in the
church.
Durrant's strong nerves were tested
by a number of questions relative to the
last time he saw Miss Lament, but he
stuck to his former statements Gu that
point.
EFFECT OF DURRANT'S TRIAL.
IL Caused Final Separation of Hus-