The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-20
DURANT TO BE TRIED
MEDICAL STUDENT CHARGED WITH
KILLING MINNIE WILLIAMS.
Verdict Of the C0roner's Jury in the
Case of One of the Girls Murdered
I'm a San Francisco Church.

SAN FRANCISCO, April 1s.-The cor
oner's jury has formally charged Theodore
Durant with the murder of Minnie Will
liams, who, with Blanche Lamont, was
murdered in Emanuel Baptist Chult j., This
city,
The usual crowd of curiosity seekers was
present when the inquiry was resumed this
morning. Durant and his attorneys were
also present. Elmer Wolfe, the young
whose statements have been questioned re-
Gently, was recalled to the stand and Of
fered to produce witnesses to substantiate
all he had previously said in regard to his
movements on the night Minnie Williams
was murdered, but the coroner declined the
offer. Both that official and the chief of
police said they were satisfied with Wolfe's
statement and did not believe he was con-
nected with the crime. Two of Durant's
comrades in the National Guard company
were examined and said that on the after
noon of the night that Minnie Williams
was murdered they saw Durant lettering
about the ferry at the foot Of Market
street and talked to him. They said Dur
ant told them he did not expect to be at the
armory that night and he asked them to
respond to his name at roll call.
DR.. Bartlett, who conducted the autopsy,
testified that Minnie Williams died of
asphyxiation as a result of having part of
her clothing forced down her throat by the
murderer, and that the knife wounds found
various parts of her body were inflicted
after her death. He also testified that the
girl had been outraged, and that t1evlous
to the time of the tragedy she had led a
blameess life Several other witnesses
were examined on minor matters, and
about IL O'Clock the coroner announced that
he had no more testimony to offer, though
he called Durant to the stand and the lat
ter left his seat as If to present himself
for examination, and then looked toward
his attorneys who advised him not 10
speak, and no further effort was made to
question HIM.
The jury did not occupy an hour in delib-
GRAFTON and returned a verdict before noon
charging Durant with the murder of Min
ME Williams. 1t was the case of her death
only. that was being investigated. The case
of the murder of Blanche Lamont will be
taken up next Durant not present
when the Jury brought in its verdict, which
I'VE the jury summoned and sworn to in
quire. into the facts attending the death of
was produced, and in what manner and
where and when the said Minnie Williams
20 her Was Mnne Fora her
single; residence. Alameda, Alameda eoun.
ty, State of California; that she was found
Church, Bartlett street. between twenty
county of San Francisco: that she came to
her death from hemorrhage due to lacerated
ton We further find from evidence that
the murder was committed by one Theodore
Durant and we charge him with the crime"
When Durant was shown the verdict after
flushed for the first time since the terrible
MIss TABER's PoCKETBOoK.
Miss Gertrude Taber, stepsister of Ell
mer Wolfe, the young man whose name has
been frequently mentioned in the case with
in the past few days. has come forward
and identified the pocketbook which was
found on the San Bruno road by clam
digger and which contained some papers,
among which was a business card of Dr.
Vogel, on the back of which was written
the name of Miss Williams. Miss Taber
says that she missed the pocketbook some
time ago while out riding near the Taber
ranch on the San Bruno road, and explains
the presence of card with Miss Williams's
name on 1t by saying that Miss Williams
visited her some weeks ago and wrote her
address on one of Dr. vogers cards. Elmer
Wolfe's testimony at the inquest was slight
ly mixed and some of Durant's friends
wished to tell, and pointed to the finding of
the pocketbook to substantiate their claim.
1t is a peculiar coincidence that the pocket
book should have been lost by one so close
ly related to Wolfe and found at this criti-
Mrs. Durant. mother of the accused, says
that she has evidence for the defense which
will go to upset the statement of witness
Hill, who testified before the coroners
Jury that he had a couple answering
the description of Durant and the dead girl
standing near the church about $50 ON the
night OF the murder, and who afterwards
entered the churchyard Mrs. Durant says
that the young couple had come to her
and stated that they entered the church.
yard about the time Hill claims to have
seen a couple pass into the front gate.
nation from q laundry that pair of
bloody trousers had been left for cleaning
x,ffs. eaxr hat a fle fro1 tr.
big for Durant, but that they Will trace
the clew to find the owner. The excitement
that followed the discovery of the MUIR
dered body OF Miss Williams in the library
OF the church on Saturday last. and the
finding of the mutilated. nude and decom-
posing remains OF Blanche Lamont in the
belfry OF the church on Sunday morning
lust as the Easter bells were calling the