Evening journal., 1895-09-28
LOOKS BAD FOR DURANT
His Much Talked OF Defense
Seems to Be Very Weak.
PRISONER APPEARS UNCONCERNED

Realize How Little Chance There Is OF
Her Son Escaping the Galiows-His Ta
ther FeoIs II, Though.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 2s.-If Theodor,
Durant has anything tangible upon which
TO base his denial of the charge that he
murdered Blanche Lamont and Minnie
Williams, his attorneys have failed to give
satisfactory evidence Of tho fact.
After two days devoted to the testimony
OF the dofonse the trial was adjourned un
I'll next Tuesday. In the meantime, how
ever the defonse has disclosed enough e
satisfy the prosecution that Durant's at
torneys are cropping in the dark in the
hope that something may develop within
the next few days to save the prisoners
life
The weakness Of the defense is made
more apparent at this time on account OF
the oxtravagant assertions that Durant's
attorneys have uniformly made since the
trial began.
When the prosecution was engaged IN
putting in its case and the situation look
ed darkest for the young Sunday school
superintendent, Attorney Duprey was ac'
NNNN0intu w snap Ills Aikiln anu
that he had no fears for the future of his
client.
We will clear him in three minutes
said Duprey, 'and the public will be at
loss TO understand how Durant's name
was evor connected with the case. d."
The same limo Of extravagant claims
was continued whom Attorney Duproy
made his opening speech for the defense,
"Not only will the prisoner tell with his
own lips the simple story of his life ou
the day that Blanche Lamont was mur.
derod, said Duprcy, "but DIR. Cheney
will tell you that Durant was at Cooper
Medical college at the very hour whom the
murder of Blanche Lamont Is said to have
taken place. Besides that, we will prove
70 you that Durant never tried 20 pawn
Miss Lamont's ring at Oppenheims store.
On tho contrary, we will bring forward
the young man who did try to pawn
ring at Oppenheim's similar TO the one
worn by Miss Lamont
Tho AlIbi Knocked out
In view Of these startling statements II
was FIRST believed that the defense might
have strong case held in reserve which
would put to a severe test the case of the
prosecution. In one day, however, the
case of the defense crumbled Of its own
weight, and today Durant's alibi has not
leg upon which to stand. DIR. Cheney,
who was expected Co tell so much for the
defonsc was as strong a witness for the
prosecution as has taken the stand during
the trial. Instead OF fulfilling Duprey's
statement and swearing that Durant at
tended lecture at Cooper Medical college
on April 3 he said he had no recollection
of seeing the young medical student there.
The denial dumfounded the defense.
II further proof were needed ON the be-
lief that the defense has little to offer In
refutation OF the case put forward by the
prosecution, it was furnished Friday In
stead Of placing witnesses on the stand TO
testify TO some material facts in oonneo-
tion with Durant's alibi two gashtters
were called TO testify with regard to the
sunburners I'm the gallery Of Emanuel
church For two hours the crowd was
bored and the jury made tired by long
series OF questions and answers relative
20 tho minutcst part of the construction
of a sunburner. Not once during the en-
tiro session was the namo of Blanche La
mont mentioned, nor was anything said
TO indicate that it was not suit to collect
n plumbers bill that was before the court
instead Of a murder trial.
The evident purpose Of the examination,
however, was 20 show that the repairing
of sunburnors would necessarily result I'm
the escape of a great deal of gas. This
testimony will be used 60 substantiate Du-
rants statement that he was suffering
from partial asphyxiation when he came
down from the church bolfry, trembling
and flushed, and met Organist King in
the auditorium.
A significant feature Of the testimony
of the two gasiitters was the fact that each
testified that he made an examination of
the sunburnors in Emanuel church ON
Sept. 81. The prosecution interprots this
60 mean the defense had nothing upon
which to base n case until the case OF the
people was nearly completed. Only when
confronted by the actual necessity of open
ing its case IL is believed that the defense
made an attempt TO secure witnesses TO
testify with regard TO sunburners.
The apparent hopolessness Of his case,
however, produced no change i'm the do
meanor of Durant Day after day he sits
i'm the courtroom beside his father and
mother and listens 60 the evidence against
him without a sign OF emotion. This stoi-
oism ON the part of the prisoner is only
surpassed by that OF his mother. Mrs.
Durant seems 90 have no conception OF
the gravity of her sons situation. Attired
I'm waving plumes and tailor made
gown. such as a lady might wear at a
matinee, she laughs and chats with her
| friends while the evidence that the prose
cution believes will hang her son is being
put in against him.
To frcquenters Of the courtroom Mrs.
| Durant's conduct is almost as unfathom-
able as that OF her son. Durant's fathcr,
however, looks careworn and gives evil
dence of the intense mental strain through
/ which he must be passing.
II
Tranic In Human Bodies.
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 2s.-Maggie Dalton,