Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1895-08-24
Was Seen Entering Emanuel
Church With Miss Lamont.
BY ONE WHO KNEW THEM BOTH
New and Important Witness supplies the
Last Link in the Chain Of
Evidence.

San Francisco, Aug. ia local pa
per says the last link in the chain of
evidence against Theodore Durrant has
been discovered. A woman who lives
across the street from Emanuel church
has reported to the police that she saw
Durrant and Blanche Lamont enter
the church at 4:10 on April 8, the day
Of Miss Lamont's disappearance. The
woman's' name is Mrs. Leake, and she
lives at 124 Bartlett street. She is so
years of age, and has been member
of the church a number Of years. She
knew both Durrant and Miss Lamont
intimately, and therefore cannot be
mistaken with regard to their Identity.
She says she has remained silent since
the discovery Of the bodies OF the TWO
girls because she did not wish TO un-
dergo the annoyance of being wit
ness in the case, and did not consent TO
diVuIge her information to the police
until she became convinced it was a
duty she owed the state.
On April Mrs. Leake sat at the
window of her residence nearly all
the afternoon looking for her daughter,
whom she expected to arrive from San
Mateo. AT 4 o'clock she saw couple
coming up the street, one Of whom she
instantly recognized as Durrant, but at
first she was puzzled over the identity
of the girl AS the couple came near
er Mrs. Leake recognized the girl as
Blanche Lamont. Miss Lamont wore
MP Q 1TpCG and TTip1 a
package of school books. The dress
and school books were afterward
found secreted in the church When
the couple reached the church gate
they stopped for a moment. In a mo-
ment Durrant opened the gate and
they passed through. Mrs. Leake, from
her point of observation, was watching
them, and when the girl stepped
through the gateway she said to her
self: what an imprudent thing for her
to do" Mrs. Leake knew nothing det-
rimental to Durrant, She had always
considered him "such an exemplary
young man." but notwithstanding that
fact she thought it exceedingly impru-
dent for the girl to go into the church
with him alone. She feared some one
might have seen them and might make
unpleasant remarks. She imagined
they had some errand in the church,
and expected in a few minutes that
they would come out. She watched
carefully, but the gate did not open.
There is only entrance to the Emanuel
church during the week. and that is
by the side gate and the rear door.
Mrs. Leake knew the young people
would have to pass through the gate
and she wanted to see them on the
street again before she left the win
dow. She waited a long time, but the
household duties finally called her
away to another part of the fat and
she was obliged to give up the vigil.
Mrs. Leake's evidence completes the
chain of evidence against Durrant.
Three school girls saw Durrant and
Blanche Lamont riding on the Powell
street car at $3.50 o'clock on the after
noon of the day that Miss Lamont dis
appeared. Attorney Martin Quinlan
saw the couple few blocks from the
church a few minutes before 4 o'clock.
Now comes Mrs. Leake who says she
saw Durrant and Miss Lamont enter
the church a few minutes later
Mrs Leake's standing in the church,
of which she has long been a member,
is excellent, and her testimony is con-
sidered unimpeachable. The attorneys
for the defense were somewhat disturb
ed in court today over the publication
Of Mrs. Leake's narrative. The pris-
oner also showed signs of uneasiness,
Cor the first time since his arrest. The
defendants attorneys declined to dis
cuss Mrs. Leake's story, but admit it's
seriousness. Out Of $50 veniremen sum-