Connecticut western news., 1895-04-18

on Powell street in this city; the latter was a companion in family in Alameda, across the bay. They were both 19 years old, brunettes and pretty and modest girls. Both had been the recipients of at tentions from 8 young medical student named W. H. T. Durant, who is also the librarian of the church and the secretary of the Young Peoples society of the church.
 On April Miss Lamont disappeared. Diligent search failed to reveal any trace of her whereabouts, and her aunt, Mrs No ble, with whom she had been living, was totally unable to throw any light on the affair. Miss Lamont came from Dillon. Mon, several months ago, having been In San Francisco for her health and at the same time to attend the Normal school to perfect herself as teacher.
 Last Seen With Durant.
 The last person seen in her company was w. H. T. Durant, young medical student, who, 1t seems, had been on friend ly terms with the missing girl On Satur- day about II 10 O. m the mutilated body of Minnie Williams was found in the H. brary of the church. The girl had been assaulted. and her remains had been cut and hacked. the girl having evidently died from loss of blood.
 On further examination 1t was found she had been gagged, the assailant tearing part of her underclothing and thrusting 1t down her throat with a sharp stick, badly lacerating the tongue Two wit nesses state they saw young man and a young woman, the former answering the description of Durant and the latter that of Minnie Williams enter the church.
 Late Saturday night the detectives had about decided that Durant had murdered Miss Williams, and this theory was fur ther strengthened Sunday morning after making a thorough search of Emanuel church.
 The dead and outraged body of Miss Lamont was found concealed in the stee- pie. Death had been caused by strangu- lation The body was lying just inside the door of the tower room. nude and on the foor Around the neck were blue streaks -the marks of fingers that had been press ed deep into the tender flesh. The mouth was open. showing the regular teeth. The features were badly distorted, being drawn, and the lips were swollen and blood stain ed. The nose was the only feature that re- tained Its original shape, for the cheeks were bloated
 The girls hair was matted with dirt and hung loosely about her shoulders
 
 from the remains having reached the nos trils of the detectives before they opened the door.
 When the officers reached the top of the stairs, they found the door leading to the tower locked. They broke In the door. It was so dark they could not sec and one of the officers struck a match.
 As the light f1ared up they saw before them the dead body of the girl for whom they were searching. The body was taken to the morgue, where it was placed on 6 slab by the side of Miss Williams. Sketch of the Murderer. Durant is about 23 years of age and was born and raised in the neighborhood in which the murders occurred.
 Durant is a graduate of the Cogswell High school and has been studying medi- cine for year. He was a member of the Second brigade signal corps and was as- sistant superintendent of Emanuel church Sunday school He was always of quiet disposition, and his friends refuse to be- lieve, in spite of the evidence. that he com mitted the crimes attributed to him. The police, however, think Durant Is another Jack the Ripper with mania for murder. They state that it Is highly prob able that Durant Is responsible for the killing of Eugene Ward. young drug clerk, who was found stabbed to death sev- eral months ago in the store where he worked. No trace was ever found of the assassin, and tho theory is that Durant killed him. No motive for this murder was discovered, and the flendish cruelty of it-Ward being stabbed in IS places-leads to the belief that 1t was the work of an in- | sane person.
 Durant's parents are highly esteemed people of the district in which they live. His father is chief engineer of Bucking- ham, and he owns large shoe factory. and, while not rich, has been able to give his children a good education md start them In life