The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-23
DURRAHT MURDER TRIAL,
One of the States Witnesses
Was Drowned in the CoIima
Disaster.
What Durrant Wrote James Berry,
the Freight Clerk, About Blanche
Lamont.

One of the witnesses who would have
testified at the trial of w. III. Theodore
Durrant for the murder of Blanche Lamont
and Minnie Williams on behalf OF the pros
ecution was Thomas Berry, freight clerk OF
one of the drowned.
Berry's family attended Rev. J. G. Glib
sons church and he and they knew Dur
rant well. His sister, Liar, was mem Der
of the Christian Endeavor Society and was
at the meeting in DR.. Vogel's house on the
memorable Friday night when Minnie
Williams was outraged and murdered in
the church. After the meeting Durrant
walked with her and two other young
ladies from DR.. Vogel's house as far as
Twenty fourth and Howard streets.
1t is thought that he would have been an
important witness at the trial, for he was
very intimate with Durrant and knew a
good deal of his past life and present hab-
its. Before he sailed in the Colima he
made lengthy statement of all his knowl-
edge of the crime and the man accused of
it TO Captain Lees.
He told Captain Lees that Durrant was
in the habit of corresponding with him
and at a way port between Acapulco and
Panama he received two letters from Dur
rant, left by passing steamer, in which
Lamont after Berry had sailed on that trip
but since he had seen her last she had dis
appeared.
fWhat a sorrowful thing it is the let
ter continued. "She has gone adrift and
is now in n house of i'll fame"
This was surprising news. to Berry, and
inexpressibly shocked him, as he knew the
girl well. When the steamer reached
Mazatlan newspapers were awaiting him
there containing the full details of the
murder of Minnie Williams, the finding of
Blanche Lamont's body in the tower and
the arrest OF Durrant- When he reached
home he spoke of what Durrant had said
about Blanche Lamont, and he was in
duced to communicate it to the police
authorities.
Those who believe in fate are just now
considering the rather startling chain of
misfortune that has come upon the young
people of the Emmanuel Baptist Church.
First In this chain is the horrible crime
whereby the two innocent girls, Blanche
Lamont and Minnie Williams, were the
victims and Theodore Durrant an accused
murderer.
Following this was the unpleasant noto-
riety that came to the Rev. J. G. Gibson,
the pastor of the church and the unenvia-
bic position he now holds in the commu-
nifty.
Another young man of the congregation
was recently badly wounded by rife shot
in the leg and had narrow escape from
death. Thomas e. Berry is the last victim
to date.
Berry entered the service of the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company about four years
ago and through his ambition, perseverance
and good conduct he worked his way up to
a position of trust, seldom occupied by
one of his years. At home he was kind and
affectionate to his parents and ABOARD ship
he was general favorlte. His geniality,
humor and affability made him welcome
guest at all social gatherings, and his I'M
timely death will long be mourned by his
many young friends, who used to look for
ward with pleasure to his return from
southern coast trips.