The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-15

Durrant's arrival in the city. Detective
Anthony alone guarded the prisoner from
Walnut Creek to the Oakland mole, but
from the moment the two stepped from
the train at the mole to the line the pris-
oner was hustled into hack at the ferry
and rushed off up Mission street, there
was a strong police guard protecting the
suspected young medical student from the
possible vengeance of lynching mob.
But the police precaution was unneces-
sary as far as 1vnching bees were con-
cerned. The crowds returning from across
the bay seemed to realize instantly and
almost instinctively that the young fellow
wearing blue military cape was the one
that was the central living figure in the
most sensational tragedy of the Pacific
Coast, and they said on all sides, '"That's
him" and They've got him." and pushed
ahead and stretched their necks for better
views, but there were no threats nor threat
ening movements.
The train bringing Durrant to prison got
to Sixteenth street, Oakland at few min
utes past 6 o'clock, and a CALL reporter
saluted Durrant in the smoking-car few
moments later.
Durrant's countenance did not convict
him on sight. His eyes appeared rather
cold and gray, but his appearance was that
of an ordinarily decent young fellow. One
would not pick him out for a murderer, nor
for an assistant superintendent of Sun
day-school.
II must decline to say anything about
the case just now" he said, Il will make
my first statement to Chief Crowley and
then the newspapers will know what |
have to say"
He said this with even less display of ex-
element than any innocent man in his
situation would be apt to display.
eyes, | know that there are some cir
cumstances that appear to be against me,
but they will be explained to Chief Crow
ley" he said again, and to several ques
tons he declined to make any definite
answer.
cts pretty hard DEAL" he observed,
"but wouldn't care so much about it if it
was not for my folks. My mother will be
ken-hearted."
AS the crowded train sped onward to the
mole direct question about the purse just
discovered in one of his pockets at home
was put to him. 1t appeared to be the first
time the purse had occurred to him in con-
nection with the case and he displayed
moment of excited interest. His reply
became pertinent in the light of subse-
quent statements.
"Well, since you speak of it, he said
quickly, "that may be matter of some
Importance. I hadn't thought about the
way without thinking much about it. In
fact, | didn't know whose purse it was"
"Do you mean that somebody put it in
your pocket?"
NO; but I'll explain it to Chief Crow
ley"
AT the mole Detectives Sylvia, Hanley,
Byron and Seymour had been waiting for
an hour and half and the officers rushed
the prisoner through the crowd ana onto
the boat through the gates used for teams
and trucks. On the boat he was hurri ed
to a little room off the cabin and there
kept from the crowd while several police
officers kept the throng from that region
of the boat.
As the boat reached the ferry slip on this
side of the bay he was hurried through the
crowd and under the rope to the front of
the boat, and six police officers made the
rope dead line. Hundreds looked with
excited interest at the little fellow in the
military cape at the bow, and every man,
woman and child on the boat asked ques-
tons and gave opinions about the murder
to those around. As the apron fell, the
squad of police officers and the nervous
little trumpeter made a rush from the boat,
while more police officers kept the rope up
and the crowd at bay. "Let us off, the
impatient crowd began to cry and when
the official barriers gave way there was
charge by the crowd.
On East street at the ferry gates was
hack and another squad of police in charge
of Captain Douglass. AS the prisoner was
hustled into the hack and rushed off to
Mission street thirty or forty of the crowd
followed on run through curiosity, but
Captain Douglass drew his revolver with
threatening shout and his squad repressed
the charge for the minute that elapsed
before the carriage whisked around the
corner of Mission street.
81 was not at all afraid of the crowd
until we got to the carriage" Durrant ex-
planned later, 'but / was a little skittish
for a minute on East street when the
crowd collected and the captain drew his
revolver"
In few minutes Durrant was under
going an examination in Chief Crowley's
Office at the City Hall.
SCENE AT TIFF FERRY