The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-09-26

department OF the superior court, in
which Theodore Durrant Is on trial for
the murder OF Blanche Lamont, was a
scene OF excitement this morning. After
the defense had called, for further
cross-examination, Dstective Gibson,
Deputy Coroner Hillet and Mrs. Leake,
Attorney Eugene Duprey, for the de-
fense, began his opening statement.
His intimation that the murder was
committed, not by Durrant, but By Rev.
John George Gibson, pastor of Emanuel
Church, and significant allusion to
the resemblance of the pteacher's hand
writing with the lettering on the paper
found on Blanche LAmonts rings,
created a marked sensation.
His address began with the defini--
tions of the duties Of jurors in capital
cases. He attacked the newspapers for
the articles written and published con-
corning Durrant, and warned the Jury
about improper deductions from circum.
stantlal evidence. Duprey then said:
The district attorney has presented
strong case OF circumstantial evil
dence, but we claim that beyond a
strong suspicion the prosecution has
failed to go. We contend that with all
testimony introduced the only issues to
be passed on have not been answered.
Where did Blanche Lamont forfeit her
life? When did she meet her death?
Who caused her death? These CUES
tions have not been answered
"a fourth question is the cause of her
death. a fifth has not and cannot be
answered. What was the motive of the
accused to take tho life OF Blanche La
mont? Under the testimony thus far
we claim the right to ask the court at
this time to instruct the jury without
one word to acquit As a duty to the
defendant, his parents and the COM
munity his lips should be unsealed.
You are entitled to and should know
where Durrant was and what he did on
April 8, from the time he arose Iii the
morning until he went to bed at night.
The district attorney promised to
show that Durrant was not where he
should have been on the afternoon of
April 3, namely, at the lecture room of
the Cooper Medicsl College. Where Is
that proof? No allusion to it has been
made. The prosecution has called be-
tween fovty and Atty witnesses. OF
that number who have given material
evidence? Three elderly ladies, three
young ladies, o pawnbroker, Victoria
hotel keeper, and a police court shyster
and his colleague have furnished the
substantial testimony upon which the
prosecut ton relies. We Insist that the
proper proof is wanting to connect the
defendant with the murder.
1--WE will show that other men had &C
cess to Emanuel Church. Proof may
point to others Let me carry you
along the ground upon which we ask for
verdict for the defense. First. you
shall hear from the mother Of Durrant
how he was interested in church work
and what he did for Emanuel Church.
We will tell you how he met Blanche
Lamont and of his associations with her.
Mrs Durrsnt will tell how her son was
dressed when he left home on the morn
ing Of April 3. She will tell what her
son did that evening. The good repute
and honorable character of the defend.
ant will be proven. The attendance at
the Cooper Medical College and his goa.
eral demeanor will be shown.
ION the morning of April 8. Durrant
left his home and walked towards the
house OF George King, go that he might
have helper that evening 70 fix the gas
in the church. He accidentally met
Blanche Lamont. whom he told he was
on the way to Kings house, and asked
her to accompany him. She said that
she did not have time to accompany
him bsfore school, and requested Dur
rant to accompany her to school. He
went with her as far as Suffer street
and Ocsavis, where the defendant went
IA to Webster street TO the medical col
lege. We will show these facts and
what Durrant did from his arrival there
until noon hour, when he walked to
broadway and to bluff overio 1king the
pay we will show you his return to
college at 1870, and what was done from
then until $3.50.
Then, that he went TO DR.. Cheney's
lecture, and we will produce his notes,
different from any other Students, and
snow he Is marked present. DR. Cheney
Will tell you that he was present. We
Will snow that after this lecture he took
the Sutton street car to Polk, to Mission,
and then to the church, and alone did
ne Walk into the church. We will show
that ne arrived at the church at 4:45
and not before; that ne entered BY the
door on the south side; that he went
into the library, took book and a card
he wanted He removed his coat, neatly
folded 1t, and took out his watch, SO that
it would not drop out while he was fix
ing the gas jets He then wen. up to
the ceiling by a ladder and fixed the
gas burners.
1--WE will show that when the gas
d tiers turned on the seventytwo gas
jas much gas ESCAPED Through isck
Of ventilation this ga remained in the
atmosphere near the calling. When
Durrant went to the ceiliDv 0e inhaled
gas, which made him sick. An testified
by King You are asked 30 believe that
this man accused Of murder went
directly down 20 secure Z. ,.itness to his
crime We will snow that Durrant was