davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17

ing about half past O'Clock, showed
signs of having passed a restless night.
His hideous nightmare made him haggard
and wan. He quickly dressed himself and
sat on his bench reading magazine which
his mother had left with him the previous
night.
About o'clock he was disturbed in his
reading by people staring at him and ask
ing him how he felt aud other trivial
questions. Half an hour afterward Cap
tain Douglass and Detective Gibson
called upon him and notified him that it
was time for him to go to the Morgue to
be present at the inquest.
When he returned from the Police
Court after being arraigned he started in
forward for brief interview he looked up
resentfully and replied that he declined to
speak to any one on the advice of his at
torneys.
There was regular stream of callers at
the prison, but the doorkeeper was firm in
his refusal to open the door unless they
had business in the prison. Two old
ladies who have regularly visited the
prison whenever murderer was locked
up made desperate efforts to get admit
lance, and went away in a very angry
mood when they signally failed.
Early in the evening his father called to
see him. They remained in earnest con-
versation for about half an hour. Some of
his fellow-students also called to see him
and he chatted pleasantly with them.
About half-past o'clock his mother.
gentle little woman, called with George f.
Maine, friend. She was permitted to enter
the cell, but Maine had to stand outside.
Mother and son greeted each other affec-
tionately. She remained with him till
after 10 O'Clock, and when she stepped into
the light it was seen that her eyes were red
with weeping. Durrant kept in the back
part of the cell. He sat down on the bench
and covered his face with his hands.
Durrant was asked last night if he cared
to make any further statement in explana-
ton of several points at variance with
what he said on Sunday night. He replied
yet been able to fully talk over matters
with his attorney. 1t was possible that in
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17

given fair chance for his life and not
condemned beforehand by the public. The
detectives are not working on any other
clews, but are bending all their energies
against Theo. When they arrested him
they kept him for an hour in the City
Prison before they would admit his attor-
ney. They took him before those girls
yesterday alone hoping he would say
something. To-day they took him to the
Morgue without any right at all. They
have got to have victim for those crimes,
but instead of following up every possible
clew they are working against my boy and
against him alone.
- "MRs. W. a. DURRANT,"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17
DURRANT TALKS.
He Declares That Morgan's
Story Was False-Did Not
Know Ware.

Durrant spent quiet afternoon yester-
day. He received a large number of
friends, who are members of the signal
corps or students at Cooper Medical Col
lege. They all shook him by the hand
warmly and assured him of their belief of
his innocence.
This was very comforting to Durrant
after his trial at the Coroners inquest. He
got into better spirits and by the middle
of the afternoon was more composed than
he has been at any time since his arrest
His bearing toward visitors and members
of the press was gentlemanly. He showed
no signs whatever of breaking down. He
refused to speak on the details of the
crimes with which he is charged, but made
a few statements.
He said: 1.-The story that was friendly
with Eugene Ware is fake. Inever knew
him, don't think l ever saw him, and
never heard of him till the news of his
murder was published. | don't think he
ever belonged to the signal corps.
1.-THE statement made by Morgan at the
Coroners inquest that / attempted to as
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17
A MOTHERS PRAYER.
Mrs. Durrant Appeals to the
Public to Suspend Its
Judgment.

Mrs. Durrant made the following state
ment and appeal last night:
'To the public: want to appeal to you
through the columns of this paper to with
hold your decision as to the guilt or inno-
cence of my boy till you have the sworn
testimony of both sides with which to
Judge The newspaper reports have been
somewhat inaccurate, and certain of them
appear to have espoused the side of the
prosecution.
az realize that there is considerable evil
dence which appears to point to Theo, but
it is wholly circumstantial He was
familiar with the interior of the church
so were many Others He had key to
the church. So had many more. Why do
they not arrest them all and make them
show where they were at the times of the
murders? 1t seems to me that would be
the fair thing to do. And besides the lock
on the door is a common, cheap lock which
almost anybody could open.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17
HE KEPT CLOSE VIGIL
Durrant'S Patience Was Re-
Warded and He Met Miss
Williams.

As the visit of Durrant on that fateful
Friday afternoon to the ferry depot, pre-
sumably to meet Miss Williams, will have
a strong bearing upon the case, everything
that can be learned of his movements
there is of special interest.
Durrant waited at the ferries until the
arrival of the AS P. NJ. boat with the Ala
media passengers. Miss Minnie Williams.
the murdered girl, left Versailles on the
five minutes past four train, and would
therefore have been due in San Francisco
on the ferry steamer. AS the passengers
were coming off the boat Durrant was ac-
costed by Mrs. S. G. Wilmans, nee Par
fridge, of Newmans, but formerly of 727
Shotwell street. Durrant and his sister
and Mrs. Wilmans were classmates at the
Cogswell College.
The latter therefore stopped few mo-
ments to ask after Miss Durrant The
young man said his sister was in Berlin
pursuing her musical studies and was do
ing remarkably well. Mrs. Williams was
in no hurry as her boat did not leave until
5P. NJ, but Durrant seemed anxious and
kept careful watch on every one who
came out of the ferry gates. She finally
babe him good-by and entered the wait
ing-room, leaving Durrant still keeping up
a vigilant watch.
In regard to Durrant's peculiarities, Karl
G. Partridge of the railway mail service
tells an interesting story. A week or so
ago the two young men were downtown
together. In a public thoroughfare
couple of girls accosted Durrant in a ia
miliar way and asked him if he was not
"going to treat" Durrant acquiesced and
took them through rear entrance into the
back parlor of saloon. The girls drank
beer and Durrant Queen Charlotte.
After the men and women parted COM
pany Durrant expressed his surprise at the
fact of the two girls drinking beer with
such apparent relish.
A little later he grew confidential, and
told Partridge in so many words that he
had succeeded in becoming quite intimate
with girl whom he had long had great
desire to be friendly with. The girl in
question is supposed to have been Blanche
Lamont.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17

"The body of Blanche Lamont was car
ried up into the belfry, and Thee is not
strong enough to have done that. She was
well-made girl, and she was choked to
death. Theodore is not large and strong
enough to have killed her that way.
Besides, the person who carried that
bleeding body up those stairs must have
got blood on his clothes. Theo wore on
the afternoon of April double-breasted
sack suit of blue cheviot-his ordinary
every day clothes. 1t is here in the house.
The detectives came here and searched
over his clothing for three days. They
found nothing wrong, however, and took
nothing away with them except that
purse from his overcoat pocket. They took
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17
DETECTIVES VIEWS.
Morse, StiIWelI, MCFarlane and
Lucas Discuss the Evidence
in Hand.

Those who are in charge of the several
detective agencies IN this city, though not
working on the church tragedies, have
kept themselves advised Of the facts as
they developed.
Harry n. Morse OF Morses Patrol, speak
ing of the terrible crimes, said
l have, of course not had anything to do
with thse cases. and l only know what
have read in the papers. To me it looks
like very strong case against the young
man Durrant, but so far it is purely cir
cumstantial Still, I have an intuitive
feeling that he is not guilty. Why have
that feeling I cannot explain, and can only
say that the evidence looks very strong
against him. have that feeling that he is
not the man. Circumstantial evidence is
always looked upon as very strong evil
dence, but it is not always the safest
f. W. McFarlane, who has an office on
Montgomery street, said: 1.-THE testimony
that is being adduced against the prisoner
Durrant appears to connect him very
closely with the two murders, the most
horrible ever known; vet it is only circum-
stantial, and | should want it corroborated
before l would believe the young man
guilty. Some how or other [ am not fully
satisfied that he is the guilty man, and [
have an idea from what l have read that
there is some one else in the crime; but as
have not had anything to do with the
case am not in a position to express an
opinion"
C. J. Stilwell of the Stilwell agency
said: ''This is a very singular case, and
from what have read come to the conclu-
sion that it looks black for Durrant, but am
not su Efficiently conversant with the facts to
form a theory. From the published ac-
coun ts there appears to be a great many
circumstances that point to Durrant as the
perpetrator of both murders. There is one
thing, however, that L believe and that is
that he has been lying in regard to the
finding of the purse that belonged to the
Williams girl. l am of the opinion that
he obtained the purse from the girl at some
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17

he was taken out again and escorted by
Captain Douglass and squad of police
men to Judge Conlan's court. There were
few people in the corridor, as court had
been adjourned at y o'clock and all in
quirers were told that Durrant was not to
appear. The court began to fill and before
the proceedings were over every seat was
occupied.
Durrant had completely regained his
composure. He was as cool and uncon-
cerned as if he had merely been one OF the
spectators. He sat between mis- counsel,
General Dickinson, and Captain Douglass;
Detective Gibson was Immediately behind
him and half dozen policemen were be-
hind Gibson.
The case was called and the Judge or
dered Durrant to stand up. He did so
promptly and after glancing furtively from
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17
SAYS 1T is FALSE.
The Janitor Did Not Tell Dur
rant to Repair the Gas
Fixtures.

F. A. Sademan, the janitor of the
church, contradicts the statement of Dur
rant in regard to the gas fixtures being
out of order. They had been out of order,
but had been repaired long before the day
on which Blanche Lamont disappeared.
Durrant in statement made Monday
evening said the janitor had told him that
the gas jets did not burn well and that he
would like Durrant to fix them. Durrant
in his statement said that on Wednesday.
two weeks ago to-day, he went directly
from Cooper Medical College to the
church. He went into the loft above the
church and fixed the gas jets so that they
would burn properly. So as TO save him
self the trouble of running up and down
from the loft he turned on the gas before
he went into the loft. When he reached
the loft he leaned down over the gas jets
while fixing them, and could not avoid in
haling some gas. This, he claims, is what
made him SO sick when he left the loft and
met George King in the church.
Janitor Sademan was strong in his belief
that Durrant was not in the loft fixing the
gas jets on the day Blanche Lamont dis
appeared. He said: "One week ago Satur-
day some men put new style of burners
on the gas fixtures. They were in the loft
at the time. The old gas jets were re-
moved, but they were in good condition.
We never had any trouble with them.
The new ones were put in only because
they were of new patent. l did speak to
Durrant about the gas-lighting appa-
ratus, but that took place over a
month ago L feel sure. About this
time the battery used in supplying
the current which lights the gas in the
three rings of jets in the ceiling ran out
and l asked Durrant to attend to it, as he
is an electrician. The connection with
one of the rings of Jets gets out of order at
times. spoke to Durrant about it. He
may have gone into the loft to fix the
wires at that time, but not TWO weeks ago,
as there has been no trouble in lighting
the gas for month or so. 1 suppose
Durrant cleverly thought of the incident
and made it up as an excuse for his condi-
ton and the fact of his being up in the
building"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17

first time Monday night His groans rang
out through the prison. The incident
was passed over as curious, but not unac-
countable, and nothing more was thought
of it.
The cries broke out again last night, and
Smith, rushing to Durrant's cell, saw him
writhing in the clutches of terrible night
mare. While he was silent the struggle
continued, but when the spell was broken
shrieks the paroxysm subsidized, and in a
few seconds all was over. SIS Durrant liv-
ing over again his struggle in the EN-
manuel Baptist Church, or is it only the
result of Indigestion? is the question that
is troubling the prison officials.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17
DURRANTS CALLERS.
They Will Be Fewer in Future,
as He Resents Being
Stared At.

Durrant bitterly resents being gazed at
and spoken to by men actuated simply by
the morbid desire to see man charged
with two atroclous murders. In future no
one will be permitted 10 speak to him until
his name and business are mentioned to
him by the prison-keeper and he acquiesces
in the request for an interview.
The prison officials are pleased that he
has made this request, because they are
taking every precaution against any one
passing him anything in the shape of
poison or other article which he might. in
his desperation, use to end his life. His
mother brought small mirror with her
last night for his use while dressing in the
mornings, but Captain Stone gently but
firmly declined to allow him to have it.
Durrant, when he awoke yesterday morn
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17

the coat and hat, too, but that was SO he
could put them on when those girls went
to identify him.
"In the Williams case, too, the murderer
must have got blood upon his clothes.
Theo that night wore the same suit he is
is now wearing in person, and there is not
the slightest spot of blood on them. If
there had been, you can be sure the de-
tectives would have found it long ago.
"Theo had a key to the library where
the Williams girl was murdered. The con-
dition of the door and the broken lock show
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17
liams in the Emmanuel Baptist Church,

liams in the Emmanuel Baptist Church,
has an evil conscience.
AS the hour of midnight approaches he
writhes and struggles in his sleep, and
finally breaks out into heart-rending
shrieks that bring the police officer on
watch hurrying to his place of confinement
to ascertain what is the matter. The con-
vulsions only last about o minute, and
then the look OF agony and horror fades
out of the prisoners face, he turns over on
his side, and in few seconds is again
sleeping as peacefully as a child.
Durrant had his strange seizure for the
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17
ONE MORE WITNESS.
Attorney A. Friedlander Saw
Durrant Last Friday
Evening.

A. Friedlander, attorney-at-law, called
at police headquarters yesterday. He OBJ
tanned a permit to see Durrant and saw
him last evening, whereupon he called at
the Chiefs office and made the following
statement:
81 saw young man last Friday evening
on the corner of Twenty-third and Bartlett
streets between and S:15 o'clock. He
was alone at the corner. l have identified
the prisoner, Durrant, this evening as the
same party saw that night, only he had
an overcoat on at that time.''
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17
HIS SLEEP TROUBLED
Durrant Suffering From An
other Apparently Horri-
BILE Nightmare.

If there is any truth in the theory that
the impressions of a mans evil deeds are
indelible and keep flashing on and off his
mental vision both when sleeping and
waking then w. H. Theodore Durrant, the
man accused of numbering Minnie Will
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17

ical Student Hall is positive that Durrant
"cut'' the lectures, as the latter's seat is
near his and there was no possibility of
his being present at the time when the
three Normal School girls allege they saw
him at Clay and Powell streets.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17

a day or two he might make another state
ment,
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17

Continued on Ninth Page.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-10-19

not choose. Unlilse the man who hnA
worked for one portion of his life in
order that he may loaf for the rest OF
his life, they have neither of them
worked at all, and the means of loaf.
ing have come to them without any
effort on their part. There is, however,
n calculation and certain amount OF
brain power demonstrated in the park
loafer's existence which Is wanting in
his colleague.
But II you want to see and feel and
know the most prevalent social nuis-
ance here, you must meet with the de-
partment clerk who continually talks
to you of the public business, and
would impress upon you the fact that
he owns the government of the United
States. He doesn't make you angry,
for he is not really harmful, but you
treat him with charitable pity. Dur
ing the heat of the summer, when
everybody takes vacation, he tells
you that he cant get away" and in
Inmates pretty strongly that it is inn
possible for the department he is in to
get on when he is absent from his desk.
He has actually fooled himself into
this belief, but he does not succeed in
deceiving anyone else. 1t is all right
for him to work over-hours, to go to
the department on Sunday in order to
keep the government constantly under
his wing; but 1t Is q nuisance to have
him talk about it all the time How
ever, the poor fellow knows nothing
else to talk about His most precious
possession is an empty pate.
Do you know that man or woman
may reside in Maine, California, Texas,
or other remote points, and yet become
one of the nuisances of Washington9
No class of people can be more pesti-
lential than the monomaniacs who
write for autographs. They thus an
noy and bother the public men who
live in Washington, and not only in
sist upon having the great mans sigma,
ture, but often demand his photograph
as well. 1t must be a decided nuisance
for the great man to pay for the photo
graphs If, indeed, he does so and they
ere not present from the photograph
er. But the greatest local nuisances of
all are the people who are eternally
boasting of the distinguished people
they know. The man who does this is
not usually an old resident of Wash
ington, because old residents gradual
ly get used to constant contact with
public characters. OF the latter it can
rot be said precisely that familiarity
breeds contempt for them, although it
is true that, as no man is hero to his
valet-de-chamber, so 1t is unusual to
find people who maintain feeling of
reverence and awe for man they see
constantly, and who is, in private rela-
tions of life, no better than ordinary
people But old Washingtonians don't
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-10-19
InvIdlona ComparInons.

On one occasion lawyer was plead
ing case and was making regular
red-fre-and-slow-cu speech, which
stirred the jury to it's profoundest
depths. In the course of his peroration
he said:
"'And, gentlemen of the jury, as
stated at this bar to-day in behalf of a
prisoner, whose health Is such that at
any moment he may be called before a
greater judge than the Judge of this
court, l.
1.-THE judge on the bench raped
sharply on the desk, and the lawyer
stopped suddenly and looked at him
questioningly.
1.-The gentleman said the court,
with dignity, will please contine him
self to the case before the jury and not
permit himself to indulge in invidious
comparisons
ut almost took the attorneys breath
away, but he managed to pull himself
together and finish in pretty fair
shape Washington Star.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-10-19
SOCIAL NU1SANCES.
Washington Has More of Them
Than Any Other City.
Every Stratum of Society Has It's own
Peculiar Nuisance-They Make Life
Veritabio Burden to sensi-
bic People.
special WASHINGTON f,nttnt.

In building villages, towns and cities,
men surrender many rights for the
common good and general welfare; but
women acquire rights and attain higher
rank than are conceded to the matron
of the farm or to the household drudge
of the miner, or hunter, or trapper.
Men are, even until this date, savages
and barbarians by instinct; and nearly
all of them are Ishmaelites, with their
hands raised against all other men.
Women, however, are adaptable crea-
lures, who, in the mining regions or in
the farm, naturally sink to the level Of
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-10-19
NIGHT ROBE sACHET.

cotton, perfumed with violet sachet
powder, and lined with blue and pink
changeable silk, with design of blue
forget-me-nots, held together with
pink ribbon embroidered in the upper
side in silk floss. The edges are finished
with a heavy silken cord of blue and
pink, and the sachet is tied together
with blue and pink Dresden ribbon.
These fragrant envelopes are lovely
when embroidered with the ribbon
work which has already been described
in these columns.-N. Y. Tribune.