The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-08-17
BAD FOR DURRANT
A New Witness Against the
Noted San Francisco
Murderer.
SAW HIM ENTER THE CHURCH
And With Him Was Miss
Blanche Lamont-A Strong
ChAn.

of evidence against Theodore Durrant
has been discovered. A woman who
lives across the staeet from Emmanuel
church has reported to the police that
she saw Durrant and Blanche Lamont
enter the church at 4:3O on April 8,
the day of the girls disappearance.
The woman's name is Mrs. Leake and
she lives at 124 Bartlett street. She
is so years old and has Been member
of the church number of years. She
knew both Durrant and Miss Lamont
intimately and therefore cannot be
mistaken with regard to the identity
Of either. She says she has remained
silent since the discovery OF the bodies
OF the two girls, because she did not
wish to undergo the annoyance OF be-
ing witness III the case and did not
| consent to divulge her information un.
| til she became convinced that 1t was a
duty she owed to the state.
Watched Long for Them.
On April Mrs. Leake sat at the win
dow of her residence nearly all after
noon looking for her daughter, whom
she expected to arrive from San Mateo
At o'c.oc1 she saw couple coming
up the street whom she instantly
recognized as Durrant and Blanche
Lamont. Miss Lamont wore a short
school girls dress and carried pack
age of school books. The dress and
the school books were after wards found
secreted in the church. When the
couple reached the church gate they
stopped for a1noment. Durrant opened
the case and they passed through.
Mrs Leake saw the girl pass through
the gateway and said to herself What
an imprudent thing for her to do. "
Mrs. Leake knew nothing detrimental
to Durrant. She had always considered
him such an exemplary young man, y
but, notwithstanding that fact, she
thought it exceedingly imprudent tor
the girl to go into the church with him
alone. She imagined, however, that
they had some errand in the church
and expected in few minutes that
they would come out. She watched
carefully, but the gate did not open.
There is only one entrance to Emman.
uel church during the week, and that
is by the side gate and rear door. Mrs.
Leake knew the young people would
have to pass through the gate and she
wanted to see them in the street again
before she left the window. She
waited q long time, but household du.
ties finally called her to another part
of her fat and she was obliged to give
up the vigil.
| Completes tho Chain.
Mrs. Leake's testimony completes
the chain of evidence against Durrant
Three school girls saw Durrant anG
Blanche Lamont riding on a Powell
street car at $3.50 on the day that Miss
Lamont disappeared. Attorney Quin
Ian saw the couple few blocks tron
the church few minutes before 4
Now comes Mrs. Leake, who says she
saw Durrant and Miss Lamont enter
the church a few minutes later. George
KING has already testified that he en-
tered the church about 5 o'clock ant
saw Durrant coming out down from
the attic. Durrant's hair was dishev
eled, his face red and he was pantin:
for breath and was in state of ute
physical and nervous collapse. He ex
planned that he had been repairin,
electric wires in the organ loft and ha'
been overcome by gas An exper
electrician afterwards examined tn
wires and testified that no repairs O
the nature Durrant claimed to hay
made had been made within six months
Passed Pennies for Dimes.