Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-05-02
uuRANT MAKES A STATEMENT.


Tho Mar Arnnsnd OF Miss Williams Muir
der Taik., for tire First Time since lIiis
Arrest. and pec,arAs His innocence.
SAS FgtSciseo. CAI.. April 2O.-For the
first time since the charge OF numbering
Miss Marian Williams in the Emanuel
Baptist Church Of this city was formally
made against ", II, 4, Durant, the pris-
oner has consented 10 talk. He spoke first
Of the Lamont case, saying:
Could NOT HAVE KILLED Her.
Poor Blanche. am accused of stran-
Cling her and then remaining unmoved at
the details OF the most horrible crime in
history. No one will ever know the sor-
row can, aud 10 one can begin to com
prchend my thoughts. even IL were to
Tell the anguish her terrible fate has caused
me. | could not have murdered the girl.
liked her too we'll. Not better than amy
one else IN the world, but i respected her
and admired her and we were good friends.
PLEA OF fSNocENcE.
Judging by newspaper communion
tons. l am looked upon rs a cold. bloOded,
diabOlical monster. | am painted as y
devil in human shape, and very little Is
snid in favor Of the possibility of any
ether person having killed those two girls,
But when my trial is over, the world will
know that am innocent. My composure
and self.cOntrol since my arrest are held
against me, but no person will ever know
the terrible ordeal am undergoing. 1t is
said that / use Opiates to induce sleep.
That is lie. l am able to sleep well be-
cause my conscience ~ clear Of al crime. |
am not of nervous temperament and
have always been able to keep cool"
He accuses the police of working solely
from the premise that he was guilty OF the
crime and ignoring all other clues.
AN INTERESTING STUDY.
Because of Durants placid demeanor
under fearful accusations, his sound sleep,
and regular eating at n season so trying to
nerves, he makes u study of interest to the
Psychologist. At times his tlippancy
seems strangely out OF harmony with his
present position. To-day the inquest in
the Lamont case will begin, aud tomorrow
the preliminary examination of Miss
Williams murder will be resumed.
SENSATIONAL RuMoR
A sensational rumor has obtained cur
rcncy in connection with tho prisoner,
and if the facts should prove the rumpr
true, the police will have strong link in Il
chain of circumstantial evidence, that so
tar'is not very strong III the Williams case
at least. a rumor is TO the effect that an
| Oakland official has communicated to
Chief OF Police Crowley of this city, a
statement TO the effect that an Oakland
physician told him that a fellow practi-
toner in San Francisco had informed him
that some time ago he had been called
upon to attend the l5.years.oid daughter of
"A resident of San Francisco. The girl had
been assaulted and she alleged that her
assailant was Durant; that lie had lured
| her to the oelfry Of Emanuel Church and
| had there accomplished his nelarious pur-
| pose. For professional reasons, 1t is
alleged, the physician refused to make the
matter public.
Chief Crowley when seen last night re-
| fused to either affirm or deny the story. II
is reasonably certain, however, that detec
tives are at work on this clue.