The record-union., 1895-05-03

Special to the RECoRD-UNroN
MARYsvILLE, May 2.-Joe Pierre, an
aged and decrepit Frenchman, who con-
Quoted pawnshop frequently under the
espionage OF the authorities. was found
dead in his shop this morning, bound,
gagged and covered with blood.
1t is surmised that the murderers.
whose object was robbery, secreted them
selves in his quarters last night while
Pierre was known to be at Salvation
Army meeting. After vainly searching
for the old mans hidden treasure. they
tried to force the desired information
from their victim. beating him when he
refused to divulge the hiding place,
fracturing his skull in two places.
Despite his secure fastenings, the old
fellow evidently struggled hard and long.
His blood despatched all the furniture in
the room, which was in great disorder.
To-day a box OF gold and silver
watches and SlO0 in coin were found in
the rooms.
This afternoon the police arrested
electrician, and barber named Miller.
When arrested the latter tried to get his
pistol, but was prevented. Green's
mistress gave the clew TO the authorities.
Subsequently Green made full con-
fession, stating that he and Miller had
committed the murder, but had got
nothing.
Miller in his confession tried to throw
the actual commission of the crime upon
.z-1< hon ln. al
threats of lynching, but as they came
from irresponsible parties no attention
has been paid to them.
MURDER OF MINNIE WILLIAMS.
Durrant Held to Answer for the Crime
Bail Refused.
SAN FRANCISCO, May 2.-Theodore
Durrant will be placed on trial for his
life for the murder Of Minnie Williams.
He was held to answer on the charge in
the Superior Court to-day, and bail re-
fused. Police Judge Conlan, the COM
mitting magistrate, in rendering his de-
cision, briefly reviewed the case and the
evidence adduced against Durrant. In
conclusion, the Judge said:
"The people, l consider, have surely
case around one obiect-Durrant-a TO
cap the climax, the property of the dead
girl was found in his possession. The
chain is complete, and in my opinion,
nothing is wanting"
Subsequently Durrants preliminary
examination for the murder of Blanche
Lamont was taken up. The evidence SO
far given was u precise repetition OF that
at the inquest yesterday. and related to
ri
school on the day she WAS murdered, and
to his social intimacy with her.
Blanche's aunt, Mrs. Noble, was asked
by the defense to identity the dead girls
handwriting. She was cross-eXamined
for an hour on this point. The only writ
ing which has concerned the case hitherto
was that on the paper inclosing Blanche's )
rings, and bearing the names of George
b. King and Professor Schernstern.
The defense apparently wish to show
that Blanche herself wrote those names,
to establish their new theory that Blanche
has not been killed, and that the body
found in the steeple was that of some one
else.
When Conductor West took the stand
he was just as positive as ever that
Blanche Lamont and Durrant sat inside
his car, on the Powell-street line, on the
afternoon of April Sd. He knew the lady
because he had particularly noticed the
hat she wore, because of what he de-
scribed as its "bristles." These bristles
went to make up a somewhat draggied
red feather in the hat, which the witness
was finally induced to admit was a
feather, but as he said: "a funny sort OF
feather"
Eugene Deuprey. on cross-examina-
ton. led the witness up to an effective
climax. He asked him had he not been
present at the inquest before be was put
on the stand. West admitted with some
reluctance that he was there, bat could
not be induced to say positively that he
had seen Durrant there, although he had
identified him at the prison some days
before No, he was not sure that he had
seen Duraant at the inquest before be
took the stand.
Said Deuprey: "When you were asked
on the stand TO identify Durrant, you
looked all around the room, and at the
last turn you pointed at the defendant as
the man."
s'Well,n said the witness, sheepishly,
"I thought il was right to look around"
''Yes," said Deuprey, you wanted to
be dramatic" aud he added sarcastic
s'good-bye' as he dismissed the Witness
General Dickinson echoing the fare
well.
West was positive that Blanche La
mont and Durrant sat inside the car.
The dead girls schoolmates VINO left the
Normal School at the same time she did
were equally positive that the pair sat
outside on the dummy, and they agreed,
all three. They make good witnesses.
saying just enough, and are not easily
confused. Their identification OF Dur
rant is positive, and one OF them got on
the car with Miss Lamont when Durrant
met her on the corner of Clay and Powell
streets.
The oross-examination was largely di-
rected at the method of Identification fol-
lowed by the police, who brought down
the young ladies to the office with the
express intention of making the identifi-
cation. In the Office Durraut was brought
in between two detectives and was rec
ognized by the three young ladies. No
other man was shown them.
During the course OF the examination
of Mrs. Noble, the aunt OF Blanche La
mont, some unexplained initials wore
put in proof. They are inscribed on the
strap with which Miss Lamont fastened
ner school books. and they appear also on
the inside of the cover OF "a blank book
which she carried for the purpose of tax
ing notes. The letters are "R. S. MI
and Mrs. Noble was unable to say
whether they are the initials of anyone
of Blanche Lamonps friends, or to give
them any meaning.
1t is expected that the six remaining
witnesses for the prosecution Will be-
heard tomorrow and the examination
concluded.
SEVERED An ARTERY.
Attempted Suicide of a Witness For tho
state Ia the DnPrant Case.
SAN Francisco. May &c. 7. Hills,
one of the most important witnesses Tor
the State in connecting w. Fl. Theodore