The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-04-26

cau fFdnclec0, April IL. The
Emanuel Baptist church, at Bartlett
street, between Twenty-second and
Twcnty.third. in this city. has been
the scene Of two Of the most atrociOus
murders ever committed In the state.
Yesterday the mutilated body Of Min.
ME Williams was found in the library
OF the edifice. To-day the nude body
OF Blanche Lamont was found in the
tower Of the same church. The same
hand, the authorities believe, slew
both girls, and w. H. T. Durant, the
young man suspected of both crimes,
is now in custody.
Blanche Lamont and Minnie Will
iamss were members Of the Emanuel
church, and members of the Sunday
school clnsa. The former was a
student In the normal school, on Pow
ell stree. in this city; the latter was
q companion in q family In Alameda,
across the bay from the city. They
were both twenty-one years old, bru-
nettes and pretty and modest girls.
Both had been the recipients of atten.
tions from a young medical student
named w. H. r. Durant, who is alaO
the librarian of the church and the
secretary Of the Young Peoples So
ciety Of the church. On April 3 Miss
Lamont disappeared. Diiigent search
failed to reveal any trace of her
whereabouts, and her aunt, Mrs. No
ble. with whom she had been living,
was totally unable to throw any light
upon the affair. Miss Lamont came
from Dillon. Mont. several months
ago. having been In San Francisco for
her health and at the same time to
attend the normal school to perfect
herself as a teacher. The last person
seen In her company was w. HI. r.
.Durant, who, 1t seems, had been on
friendly terms with the missing girl.
Yesterday about 11:1O p. m. the multi
ated body of Minnie Williams was
found in the library of the church.
The girl had been assaulted and her
remains were cut and hacked, the girl
having evidently died from loss OF
blood. On further examination it was
found she had been gagged, the as
sailant tearing part of her under
clothing and thrusting 1t down her
throat with sharp stick, badly lacer-
attng the tongue.
Miss Lamont's Body Found.
Late last night the detectives had
about decided Durant had murdered
Miss Williams. and this theory was
further strengthened this morning af-
ter making q thorough search of the
Emanuel church. The dead and out
ragged body of Miss Lamont was found
concealed In the steeple. Death had
been caused by strangulation. The
body was lying just inside the door
Of the tower room nude and on the
floor. Around the neck were marks
Of fingers that had been pressed deep
into the tender flesh. The mouth was
open showing the teeth, the features
were badly distorted, being drawn,
and the lips were swollen and blood
stained. The nose was the only feat
nre that retained Its original shape.
for the cheeks were bloated. The
girls hair was matted with dirt and
hung loosely about her shoulders. The
body was badly decomposed, the odor
emanating from the remains having
reached the nostrils of the detectives
before they opened the door. When
the officers reached the top Of tho
stairs they found the door leading to
the tower dome locked. They broke
struck a match and when the fgSXt fafX
fiared up they saw before them the
dead body of the girl for whom they
had been searching. The body was
taken to the morgue where 1t was
placed on a slab by the side Of Miss
Williams. Durant has been arrested.
In his possession was Miss Williams
purse. It is believed that he has
mania for numbering girls.