The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-09-28

SAN FRANCISCO. Sept. 2z-If Theo-
dore Durrant has anything tangible upon
which to base his denial of the charge
that he murdered Blanche Lamont and
Minnie Williams, his attorneys have
tailed to give satisfactory evidence of
the fact.
After two days devoted to the testi-
mony of the defense, the trial was adj
lourned at noon today until next Tues
day.
In the meantime, however, the defense
had disclosed enough to satisfy the prose-
cution that Durrants attorneys are
creeping in the dark in the hope that
something may develop within the next
lew days to save the prisoners life.
Weakness of the Defense.
The weakness of the defense is made
more apparent at this time on account
" me eXtraVagant assertions that Dur
aant attorneys have uniformly made
since the trial began. When the prose-
cutlon was engaged in putting in its ca
ana the situation looked darkest for the
young SUNDAY school superintendent, At
MS fingers and remark that ne had no
1earS Tor the future of his client
We Will clear him in three minutes"
SAD Deuprey, and the public will be at
a loss to understand how Durrant's
name was even connected with the case"
The same line of extravagant claims
was, was co on when Attorney Deuprey
mage age ms opening speech for the defense
Not only viii the prisoner tell you
with his own lips the simple story of
his life on the day Blanche Lamont was
murdered, SAID Deuprey, "but Dr. Che
Cooper Medical College at the very hour
when the murder of Blanche Lamont is
said to have taken place. Besides that
we will prove to you that Durrant never
1fr5O OF
Oppenhe-ms store. On the contrary we
viii bring forward the young man who
dld try TO pawn ring at Oppenheim's.
similar to the one worn by Miss Lamont"
In One Day.
In view of these startling statements
might have a 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 crum-
Durrant's alibi has not a leh upon which
to stand. DR. Cheney, who was expected
to tell so much for the Defense was
pS stfG9g T bds tak for the the
stand during the trial. Instead of full
filling Deuprey's statement and swearing
that Durrant attended a lecture at
Cooper Medical College on April 9, he
said ne had no recollection of seeing the
young medical student there The denial
dumbfounded the defense.
If further proof We're needed OF the be-
lief that the defense has little to offer
in refutation of the case put forward by
the prosecution, it was furnished today.
Instead of placing witnesses on the stand
nection with Durrants alleged alibi, two
gas filters were called to testify with
regard to the sun burners in the gallery
Of Emanuel church. For two hours the
tired by a long series of questions and
answers relative to the minutest part
of the construction of sun burners.
Looks Like Suit.
Not once during the entire session was
the name of Blanche Lamont mentioned,
nor was anything said to Indicate that
it was not a suit to collect a plumbers
bill instead of a murder trial that was
before the court. The evident purpose Of
the examination, however, was TO show
that the repairing of the sun burners
would necessarily result in the escape of
a great deal of gas. This testimony will
be used to substantiate Durrant's. state
ment that he was suffering from partial
asphyx:ation when he came down from
the church belfry, trembling and flushed,
and met OrganiSt King in the auditor
ium.
A significant feature of the testimony
of the two gas filters was the fact that
each testified that he made an eXamina-
ton of the sun burners iii Emanuel
church on September "a The prosecu-
ton interprets this to mean the defense
until the case of the people was nearly
complete. Only when confronted by the
actual necessity of opening its case, is
it believed that the defense made an at
tempt to secure witnesses to testify with
regard to the condition of the sun burn
erS.
Produced No Change.
The apparent hopelessness of his case,
however, produced no change in the de-
meanor OF Durrant. Day after. day. he
sits in the court room beside his father
and mother and listens to the evidence
against him without a sign of emotion.
The sto:c:sm of the prisoner is only sur
passed by that Of his mother. Mrs. Dur
rant seems to have no conception of the
gravity of her sons position. Attired in
waving plqmes and taiIor,mad De. gown f;a~d
she laughs and chats with her friends,
while the evidence that the. prosecution
believes will hang her son is being put
in against him. To frequenters of the
court room. Mrs. Durrants conduct is
almost as unfathomable as that of her
SON. Durrant,s father however, looks
mental strain through which he must
be passing.