The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-22
NEARER THE GALLONS
y
J Important Evidence OBJ
tanned Against
Durrant
FROM SIX WITNESSES.
Saw Him Near the Church the
:. Night of the Williams
-. Murder.
IT WAS ABOUT 9 O'CLOCK
He Has Said That at That Time He
Was at Vogel's-His Examina-
ton To-Day.

DId0CD6
and Minnie Williams.
Durrant was identified by three young
ladies last evening, who saw him coming
from Emmanuel Baptist Church between
and 9:15 P. NJ. on the fatal Friday night
that Minnie Williams was killed.
Detective Cody learned in some way that
six young ladies had some valuable infor-
nation in regard to Durrant's whereabouts
on that night. He also learned that the
young ladies were reluctant to tell their
story, as they did not wish to be drawn
into the terrible case. Detective Cody
finally ascertained who they were and
their relatives told them that they should
give the police the Internationally
2 should throw aside their desire to avoid
publicity in order that the ends of justice
should be served.
The two Misses Sturges and Miss Fitz-
patrick, who live near the Emmanuel
Baptist Church, are the latest witnesses
whose evidence will tighten the web
around Durrant.
These ladies called on Chief of Police
Crowley about 7:30 o'clock last evening,
and told the following story.
Between and 10 O'Clock on the night
Minnie Williams was murdered, six young
ladies were walking down Bartlett street
toward Twenty-secOnd. DurraDt came up
behind the young ladies from the direction
Of the church, and evidently thought he
recognized one of them. He called out
Flora, Flora
They paid no attention to him. and he
called "Flora" again. He caught up with
them and seeing his mistake he walked on
past them, crossed Twenty-second street
and went down Bartlett in the direction of
TIwenty-tirst. The young ladies went
. down Twentv-second street. Three of the
young ladies recognized Durrant as he had
attended the Cogswell school at the same
time they did. One said TO the rest, "Why,
.Iprrant must be crazy" When the Misses
Sturges and Miss Fitzpatrick finished their
s*story Chief of Police Crowley sent for
-: Durrant. He was taken before the three
young ladies. who positively identified him
As the man they had seen.
Durrant's preliminary examination for
the murder of Miss Williams will take place
IN Judge Conlan's court this morning
The police still have charge of the EN-
manuel Baptist Church, though no steps
were taken. yesterday in the line of q
search. CAPTAIN Lees, VINO has returned
from Los Angeles, went out to the desc
Grated building yesterday afternoon, &C
companied by Sergeant Reynolds and De-
tectiye Seymour. The three prominent
members Of the Police Department spent
an hour going over the ground, and Cap
tain. Lees was shown all the places in
the church from belfry TO cellar that have
any connection with the murder case.
Captain Lees will now take charge of the
investigation and conduct 1t until its end.
: AT the same time the head OF the de-
tectiyes was making his first investigation,
d W. S. Jones, repre- sentative of Taber. the
photographer, was going through the
.. building taking pictures of the different
places that NAV be referred to in the trial.
Mr. Jones took flashlights of the belfry,
snapshots of the interior of the church and
long exposures Of the library in which the
body of Minnie Williams was found. All
these pictures were made at the request OF
General John II. Dickinson, one of the
attorneys for Durrant. who obtained per-
mission from the Police Department to
Secure the views.
Though a week has passed since the dis
covery of the double tragedy, it seems that
the morbid curiosity of the people has
abated but little. Hundreds gathered in
front of Emmanuel Baptist Church all day
Yesterday and CAPPED IN wonderment at the
large edifice Those in the crowd who
were the boldest applied for admission to
the church as they saw reporters police
men and officials of the church going in,
but the blue-coated guardian of the desc
Grated building firmly refused to allow any
one to enter but those having business
there. Nearly all of the applicants who
wanted to see the bloody sights were
women.
>; The theory that some strong proof could
be gained against the murderer by the
measurements of footprints in the belfry
:near the body Of Blanche Lamont has
been abandoned. When Detective Gibson
and Policeman Riehl found the body in the
belfry they Immediately went downstairs.
Among the first to ascend to the top land
ing in the belfry was John T. Dare, prose-
cutting attorney in Police Court 3. De-
i've fp6 %r 4O fIaI
place so as to understand the matter when
1t came before him. John T. Dare said:
There was no measurements Of footprints
made. don't think there was any chance OF
footprints being found In the belfry which
would be OF any use to the police. We certainly
saw none. All that saw was marks as if the
body had been dragged from the top of the
steps to the further corner of the belfry. There
was not enough dust TO show outlines of a foot
print well enough to furnish any clew.
Sergeant Reynolds said yesterday that
the police had not attempted TO gain any
clews from possible footprints in the bel
fry. He said:
No measurements Of footprints in the dust OF
the belfry were made, as none OF any distinct
ness were found. In fact from what is known
no good evidence could have been obtained In
this line. At the time the body was found no
footprints were discernible, and soon afterward
the belfry was full of tracks.
The police have acted strangely about
DR.. Gibson which was found in his study
week ago. Chief of Police Crowley claims
that there is nothing of importance in con-
nection with the shoe but the fact remains
that his men found the shoe week ago,
. brought it to Chief Crowley, who has
kept it for examination ever since. He will
not make known his reason for keeping
the old shoe, though he admits having it
In his possession. Chief Crowley said:
The shoe was brought to me several days
ago, but an examination of it has not resulted
in adding anything to the evidence we already
have against Durrant. 1t is plain, old shoe,
well worn, and seems to have no connection
with the awful crimes that were committed in
the church. The owner of the shoe is
the pastor. There is nothing whatever to con-
meet Mr.. Gibson with the murder.
Chief Crowley did not state, however,
why his men had selected this one partic-
ular shoe when they made their search,
nor did he state why he had kept the pas
tors little piece of property for a week. 1t
is believed that this is one of the pieces
of evidence which the police have that they
will not disclose.
Rev. DR.. Gibson could throw no light on
the mystery OF the shoe. He said:
am not surprised at the finding Of one OF