Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-11-07

San Francisco, Nov. 3.-After trial
lasting from July %. William Theo-
dore Durrant has been found guilty
Of the murder of Blanche Lamont, a
pretty young school girl. He viii
hang, but perhaps not for a year as
the case now goes to the supreme
court. Durrant's mother was pros
trated by the verdict. He will now be
placed on trial for the murder Of Min
ME Williams, whose body was found |
in the church where BIanches re-
mains We're discovered.
The crime of the century is what |
the Emmanuel Baptist church murders
are called in San Francisco, and Ger
| tainly the student of crime will find
it hard to find anything to equal in
horror this double tragedy. Here
two young, pretty and innocent
girls, Blanche Lamont and Minnie
| Williams, were murdered in the most
atrocious manner Within the very
wallis of the church of which they
were devoted members. And the man
guilty of those murders, William
Henry Theodore Durrant, was the
exemplary young man of the congTe-
Cation. He was assistant Superin
tendent Of the Sunday school, an
earnest member of the Christian En-
deavor society, and the trusted con-
fidant of the pastor. He was a bright
young man, vino acted as electrician
and HANDY man around the church,
and he was a studiOus young man,
preparing himself for the medical pro
fession by study at the Cooper medi-
cal school in San Francisco. He was
a member of the national guard and
in all outward ways a model Citizen,
Duwant is a small, fair haired, snub
nosed fellow of Insignificant appear
ance but considerable muscular
strength. He is remarkable for his
dapper appearance. Like Carlyle
Harris and Harry Haywood, he has
devoted mother.
On Saturday, April IS, the women
Of the congregation of Emmanuel
church, going there to decorate the
building for the great festival Of
easter found in the library of the
! SCluUOl UllC DOUH Ol MluDlc
Williams, a member of the church.
She had been stabbed and strangled
to death. The horror caused by this
discovery was in full force, when a
second one raised it to frenzy. On
easter Sunday searching party pen
etrated to the belfry of the church
and there found the dead and naked
body of Blanche Lamont. Minnie
Williams had been killed not earlier
than the previous Friday, but the
other had lain there two weeks, in
fact, as is universally believed, since
the disappearance of Blanche La
mont on April 3. Both had been out
ragged. In the library was found
Blanche Lamont's library card, and
this fact appears first to have Sug-
gested connection between the two
murders. Durran,t, the model young
man Of the church, was the last per-
son seen with Minnie Williams, ON
Friday night, April -. He was the
last person seen with Blanche La
MONT ON April 3. On the night of
the Sunday when the latter's body
was discovered in the belfry DurTant
was arrested while on duty with the
militia signal service corps.
In September, 1894, Blanche La
mont, a girl of some 20 years, came
from her home in Dillon, Mont, to
California ON account of her delicate
health. She lived in San Francisco
with her aunt and uncle, Mr.. and
Mrs G. G. Noble, and pursued her
studies for the profession Of a school
teacher. Her sister, Maud, lived with
her. She was a home keeping, studi-
GUS and religious girl. She never
went to places of entertainment, to
parties or to balls, except in company
with her uncle, her aunt or her sister.
She was member of the Emmanuel
church, and went there on Sundays
and attended the services, prayer
meetings and sociaIs held there. She
was also a diEgent member of the
Christian Endeayor society.
Durrant, tine assistant Sunday school
superintendent and handy man
! about the church, was unusually we'll
placed to make the acquaintance of
this religious girl He was in the
IdUII VI dCCtLl IllS LEI uEOu1 Tile
church to her home of being with
her when nobody else was. He had
been with her on the only occasion
they knew of when she had made Il
"trip of any distance without mem
Der Of her family, namely, on an eX-
cursion to Golden Gate park one af-
ternOon He knew her habits and her
ways; how she came and how she
went
/ Upon the morning of April Blanche
left her nome for the boys high
school, where she was pursuing a
! course of study. Durrant was with
her at that early time of the morning
on that trip. When her work was
done at the school she went to a nor
mai school where she had lessons to
take in cookery between > and 3
| O'clock in the afternoon. While she
was in the school house Dmrant APP
| peared again. At a few minutes be-
| fore 3 Blanche and a school friend
named Minnie Belle Edwards came
out. Durrant approached them. and
! Miss Edawpds passed on and entered |
! a car Durrant and Miss Lamont |
| shortly after were seen by Miss Ed |
| wards to take seats on the dummy Of |
the car on which she was riding Two |
| other young women. Miss Lanigan |