The San Francisco call., 1895-11-05
A CHANGE OF VENUE.
The Prosecution VIII Interpose No
Objection to the Defend
ants Motion.

"The prosecution will interpose no OBJ
lection to change of venue" said Dis
trict Attorney Barnes last night.
"If it is found that fair and unbiased
jury cannot be secured in San Francisco
the prosecution will have no objection
whatever to offer to motion for change
of venue"
"Do you think it possible to get twelve
intelligent, unprejudiced men to try Dur
rant for the murder of Minnie Williams?"
was asked.
~ cannot answer that as it should be
answered. l know that as the case of the
century, men, women and children of the
whole United States have read and dis
cussed the trial, and the securing of jury
| to try the defendant for the murder of
Minnie Williams will be problematic and
| serious undertaking. But, as l said, the
prosecution will interpose no objection to
| motion for change of Venue.'
Mr.. Barnes was next asked If he re-
garded the Minnie Williams case against
Durrant as stronger than that of Blanche
| Lamont, on which the defendant was con-
| victed.
"At first did not think so. That is why
the Lamont case was tried first, but subse-
| quent developments have convinced me
| that the Williams case abounds in much
stronger proof of Durrant's guilt than the
one which led to his conviction. If you
stop to think you will recall that the pre-
liminary examination in the Williams
case occupied nearly two weeks, while the
Lamont case took US only three days.
Eyes, it is an unusual course to pursue.
When murderer accused of two crimes
of like character is convicted of murder in
the first degree on one charge it is not
customary to try the defendant on the
second charge.
"But in this case we have had to make
an exception on account of the appeal
which will be made and for other reasons.
Those other reasons may be explained
briefly The appeal for new trial NAV be
with the Supreme Court for months. In
the meantime witnesses may marry, wit
nesses may move away or die. Many O!
them are young women and likely to
marry and lose their identity. Therefore
} it is necessary to hasten the trial of the
Minnie Williams case.
$50 far as l am aware there are no new
witnesses for the Williams case. The
engineer Zenger will be very valuable t
the prosecution, as is generally under
stood. de saw Durrant and Minnie Viii
} llams near the church on the night of he
untlmely death. Hail, the carpenter whC
had private reasons for watching Duran
, and the young woman closely, followed
them until they entered the church
potlng that Durrant, whom he positlvel,
Identified, fumbled in his pocket and pro
duced therefrom a key which admitted
them to the dark interior of the SACRED
. edifce.
-, Il really cannot say what new evidenc,
the police have secured, though feel as
! sured that the evidence connecting Dur
rant with the killing of that poor littI
glrl on the night of Good Friday i
: even stronger than that which influenced
the Jury in the Lamont case.
a I'VE will not be able to take up th
s Williams case until the first part o
, middle OF January. Though the Suprem
2 Court may have the appeal in the Lamon
case under consideration for months,
u have no doubt as to the final decision O
that august bo dy. If Judge Murphy ha
e erred 1t has been on the side of the de
e tense, the appealing side, and there i
! hardly possibility of reversal of th
lower courts decision denying ney
| trial-as it will in all probability"
Mr.. Barnes has been overwhelmed wit
q congratulations, and he said last nigh