The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-04-20
TOBE TRIED FOR MURDER
Student Durant Charged with Kill
sa.a. ing Minnie Williams.
TIE ACCUSED RETAINS SILENT.
by Advice OF His Attorneys He Gives No
Evidence at the Coroner's 1nquest--rito
Murder Of Miss Blanche Lamont to be
Taken Up Later.

Murder of Misa Blanche Lamont to be
Taken Up Later.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 20.-Ths usual
crowd Of curiosity seekers was present
I when the inquiry into the murder OF Miss
Minnie Williams was resumed yesterday.
Durant and his attorneys were also pres
ent. Elmer Wolfe, the young man whose
statements have been questioned recently,
was recalled to tho stand and offered to
produce witnesses to substantiate all he
had previously said in regard to his move
ments on tho night Minnie Williams was
murdered, but tho coroner declined tho Of
fer. and both that official and the chief of
police said they were satisfied with Wolfe's
statements and did not believe he was
connected with the crime.
DIR. Bartlett, who conducted the autopsy,
!. testified that Minnie Williams died OF. as
pbyxiation rs result of having part of
her clothing forced down her throat by
the murderer, and that the knife wounds
found on various parts of her body were
inflicted after her death. He also testified
that the girl had been outraged, and that
previous to the time of the tragedy she
had led blameless life. Several other
witnesses were examined on minor mat
ters, and the coroner then called Durant
TO the stand. Tho latter left his scat as II
to present himself for examination, but
his attorneys advised him not to speak,
and no further effort was made to question
him.
The Jury did not occupy an hour In de-
lfberating and returned verdict charR-
ing Durant with the murder OF Minnie
Williams Ii was tho case OF her death
only that was being Investigated. The
case of the murder of Blanche Lamont
will be taken up later.
Miss Gertrude Taber, stcpsister o.
Elmer Wolfe the young man whose nam'
had been frequently mentionedin in the cas'
within the past few days, has come for
ward and identified the pocketbook which
was found on the San Bruno road by
.'. clam digger, aud which contained SOM
papers, among which was business care
OF DR. Vogel, ON the back Of which wa
written the name OF Miss Williams.
Miss Tnber says that she missed tn
pocketbook some time ago while out rid
Ing near the Tabef ranch, on the Sal
Bruno road, and explained the presence q
a card with Miss Williams name on it b
saying that Miss Williams visited he
some weeks ago and wrote her address o
one Of DIR. Vogel's cards Durants friend
say it Ia peculiar coincidence that th
pocketbook should have been lost by on
so closely related to wolfe ana iound
this critical time
Mrs. Durant, mother OF the acusset
asys that she has evidence for the defcns
which will go to upset the bearing of th
statement of Witness HILL who testifie
before tho coroners jury to the fact thu
he had seen couple answering the d
serlption of Durant and the dead 81
standing near the church about $3.50 q
khe night of the tragedy, and who afte
wards entered the churohyard. Mrs. Du
ant says that young couple had come
ber and stated that they entered u
churchyard about the time Hill claims
have seen couple pass into the fro
gate.
Today the police received informati'
from a laundry that n pair of bloody trou
srs had been left for cleaning. The poll
say that tbe trousers are too big for ID
rnnt'ANs that they will trace the clew
End the owner.