The San Francisco call., 1895-10-10
THE TWENTY-THIRD DAY.
Courtroom Becomes Witness
In His Own Behalf

IN Ills OWn bGnSHs
Theodore Durrant was witness in his
own behalf yesterday. He was the sole
witness OF the day, and his cross-examina-
ton had not been fairly commenced be-
fore the adjournment for the day was
taken.
He came to the stand a trihe pale-the
pallor of long confinement in the jail-but
very quietly and very much self-possessed.
There was no bravado in his manner, nor
was there nervousness nor hesitancy in
the way he gave his testimony.
Yet he answered the questions very de-
iberately, and not once during the long
day did he make the mistake-so common
to all witnesses-of volunteering more in
formation than called for by the question.
On the contrary, he required to be led,
step by step, almost sentence by sentence,
to each point that Attorney Dickinson
wished to elucidate. And once or twice
he repeated the entire sentence before an
swering it.
All of which would seem to show that
Durrant is a careful and methodical young
man, who means to make no mistakes on
the witness-stand. 1t was apparent, too
that Mr.. Dickinson had planned his line
of questions most carefully-and he asked
them in as deliberate a manner as the
witness answered them. All of which was
noticeable to the stenographers, but it
made what is considered as the star per-
formance of the great trial rather heavy
proceeding.
There will be more vim and life to the
proceedings to-day, no doubt, for Mr..
Barnes is on his mettle. In his brief cross
examination yesterday afternoon he
showed that he meant to make the most of
his opportunities. And these are few
enough, for Mr.. Dickinson thought twice
before he put each question, and evidently
went at his task with the end in view of
leaving no open chinks for the cross-ex-
aminers.
The rule is strict that witness may be
cross-examined only upon those points
touched by the main examination, and in
obiecting at the very start to Mr.. Barnes
first question, as to the birthplace of Dur
rant, Mr.. Deuprey gave notice that he
would permit his client to answer no ques-
ton not warranted by the rules.
And Durrant will help his counsel in this
respect. Though Mr.. Barnes fire the ques-
tions ever so rapidly, Mr.. Durrant takes
his own good time in answering them. He
does not appear to hesitate in order to
coin his answers, as it might be, but he is,
above all things, calm and deliberate-the
most impassive person in the courtroom
Mr.. Dickinson began by asking Durrant
what his duties at the church were. Then
he went Immediately to the events of
April 3. Durrants story of the occurrences
OF that day is in no essential respect dif-
ferent to whati it has been from the start.
And in drawing it out MIR. Dickinson was
wise enough to conine his questions to the
facts of April 8 that have been proven, and
are admitted by the defense, and to those
occurrences of which Theodore Durrant
himself alone can have any knowledge
There is no living witness can contradict
Durrant's testimony as to what occurred
when he was in the upper part of the
church with the dead or the living body of
Blanche Lamont.
But Mr.. Barnes says he will show by
medical testimony that the inhalation of
illuminating gas does not make one pale,
but rather flushed, as one becomes when
suffocating. However, that is question
for the future. To-day the cross-examina-
ton will be continued. 1t may last all
day. 1t probably will. But if it lasts for
sweek Durrant will leave the stand with
the same calm demeanor that he ex-
hibited yesterday, and he will probably
answer Mr.. Barnes fiercest questions with
no more show of feeling than he evinced
yesterday when he said simply, "No, sir
in about the same tone that he might have
declined cup of team answer to Mr..
Dickinson's closing question: "Did you
have anything to do, directly or indirectly.
with any violence inflicted on Miss
Blanche Lamontr'
There may be couple or three short
witnesses for the defense to follow Dur
rant, but it is safe to say that when Dur
rant leaves the stand the defense will be
practically closed.