The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-10
THE CHAIN TIGHTENS.
MfNY FALSE RUMORS REGARDING
THE DURRANr TRIAL,
But all Fade Away when Traced to Their
sourcc-The Body In the Bcifry Laid
Out In the Dissecting Room style.

SAN FRANCISCO CAL, Sept. 9.-The
last few days have been prolific OF
rumors in connection with the Durrant
case. perhaps more so than at any time
since the bodies OF Minnie Williams and
Blanche Lamont were found In Emanuel
church and Durrant was arrested for
their murder.
All sorts OF stories emanating from the
most vague sources, have been circulated
and published. only TO be flatly contra
the source.
1t was said that Clarence Wolf would
testify to Durants having told him
OF his intention to betray Blanche La
mont. that Mayor Sutro was supplying
the funds TO conduct the defence, that
the defence would undertake IN the Min
ME Williams case to show that the girl
was not murdered on the night she
Is supposed TO have lost her life, but on
the following morning, and that she was
not in Durrants company that fatal
night. but In the company Of an aged
suitor.
These are only a few stories that have
been given publicity, and have been
ested. The latest OF these startling sto-
ries IL that wired from Los Angeles SAT-
urday. to the effect that Miss Ida NJ.
Clayton. a teacher In the Redding Prl-
mary School. is either the person, or
knows who Is the one that Duriant
is supposed TO have frightened I'm the
church by sudden appearance he made
before her one day.
Captain Lees took up the work per-
sonally yesterday OF investigating the
story. but up 10 last evening he had
failed to find the whereabouts of Miss
Clayton, who had gone out OF the city
over-Sunday. lie WAS compelled TO give
up the investigation. without having been
satisfied as TO the truth OF the report.
THE BLOCKS uNDKR THE HfAD or THE BODY.
John 4. Dare. prosecuting attorney in
Police Court No ,, will be one OF the
State witnesses Wednesday His son.
Starr Dare has already testified 10 finding
the wearing apparel of Blanche Lamont
slowed away In the rafters and under
the floor in the helfry.
But Starr Dare did not notice the two
blocks under the heal OF the body, as II
lay with its arms folded on the floor
SO far. only one of the peoples witnesses
Detective Gibson. has been able To testify
concerning these blocks. though several
other witnesses who saw the body In the
belfry before II was removed by Deputy
Coroners Amyth and Harlett, have been
examined.
Detective Gibson noticed these blocks
and went there a few days later and
secured them.
Now, these blocks, n properly Identified
and proved are of considerable inpor-
tance In the case. for they tend 10 show
that whoever II was that placed the body
OF the murdered girl where IT was found.
had knowledge of the customs In vogue
In the dissecting-room. The head rested
on these blocks just as the head OF
corpse in a dssecting-room would have
done. Durrant Is medical student
True, there Is nothing direct about the
evidence, but Il IL considered a good link
in the long chain of circumstantial evil
dence upon which the State expects TO
make out it's case against Durrant.
Attorney Dare saw these blocks under
the head of the body. lie was I'm the
belfr. before the body was removed. Ills
evidrnce is valued highly by the people.
Heretofore Dickinson. or counsel for 'he
defendant has questioned cach witness
who was in the Delfry about those blocks.
with the result that no one else beside
Detective Gibson seems to have noticed
them.
There is a good deal OF preliminary tcs-
timony yet To be adducei before the wit
nesscs who connected Durrant with the
case can be put upon the stand.