The herald., 1895-09-24
Durrant Offered Blanche La
mont's Ring for Sale
A CORROBORATING WITNESS
Saw the Accused Coming Out of the
Pawnshop
The Possibility of Proving an AIibi Seems to
Grow Less as the Witnesses
Give Testimony
Aysoclated Press Special Wire

Aysoclated Press Special Wire
SAN FRANCISCO. Sept. %. - The
tenth week of the trial of Theodore Dur
rant commenced today. The prosecu.
tion now has its case substantially before
the jury. Its main witnesses have been
heard and all that the DISTRICT attorney
will now try to do IS to substatiate the
evidence already given with corrobora-
tive testimony. Adolph Oppenheim the
broker who stated that Durrant had,
about the middle of last April, tried to
pawn ring with a Clipped diamond,
identified by Oppenheim as one belong.
ing to Blanche Lamont, was recalled for
further cross-exdnination. The witness
was questioned at length by the defense
regarding Durrant's visit to his shop, in
order to ascertain the possibility of mis-
take in identification. To test his m en-
ory he was questioned concerning other
persons who had visited his pawnshop
on the dav Durrant is charged with bav
ing tried to sell the ring. Oppenhcim
said only two other persons had called.
Both were strangers. yet he described
them minutely and reoounted the partic
uars of their visits as il they had oc-
cuiIea Yesterday. OPPehHeim was asked
regarding other specific days, answering
promptly. In the minds OF some specta-
tors in the court room he was too good
witness, remembering events on special
days months back with extraordinary
vividness. Counsel for the defense tried
to confuse Oppenheim by showing him
number of silver articles and inquiring
If he had ever seen them before. In
,n.ny cases tbe pawnbrote, re,,;od T.,
,.o .,s,.t;,,o IA 5aso.;Las o., 80 :"
'"o ''"u ue'o''D0u .'o peisun'
VINO had trled 10 sell or pawn them. The
defense evidently considered Oppenheim's
testimony of great Importance and tried
hard to break it down but w;,hort
.,.S,., . "''
o'arkeo success.
W. j. Phillips. cigar manufacturer. a
middle-aged man of good appearance and
Address testif;ed in n nosit;v. n.rror
tha+ ho had seo, Dnrrort co,,,;n o,,t -,
,. ,n"' =. ""' 'oo" ou' y!
Vppenneni store IN the early part OF
last April. He had no doubt of the
identity OF Du-rant He was attracted to
the man bv hi. pecuIiar anne.rance NAV
- 49,, r,
"ei' i't' ao''o"S anu '"e iao' 'na. ne was
coming out OF pawnshop. A sensa-
tional scene followed when the district
attorney requested the witness to step
down and ,rd;coto tho man ho ..w ,o,,i
-. 80 a.. ,h ,,.:,I,.
Ing ou' VI 'iir pa"hSuoP' IhiilpS rose,
walked from the stand TO within three
feet of the pri er and with pointed
finger and steady gaze said in positive
tones: THAT is the Young mah,' Dur
rant did not finch under the ordeal. He
returned gaze with gaze. and not muscle
of mis- i'm passive face twitched. Ue
neither betrayed guilt nor flashed back
the glance of injured innocence. The
business enterprises anu his family his.
tory, with the apparent intention Of dis
crediting his testimony, He said when
Durra is portrait was first published he
remarked that he had seen him some
place. When Oppenheim's picture was
published the scene at the pawnshon
flashed across his mind and ali the de-
tails came hack to him. Phillips said
he came into the court room a week ago
to see IL he could ld,ptify Durrant VIII ich
he did without q moments HESITATION.
The witness said he did not know On
although he had freq uently seen the
pawnbroker standing in the door Of his
shop as the witness went to his office
He had avoided speaking to Oppenheim
since Durant's arrest, as he wished to
preyent apy suspjcion of colIusion be.
tween them. Phillips said he had said
nothing to Durrant as the latter left the
stop, nor old the prisoner sneak. INF
Durrant made a peculiar motion with his
lps which he mad never seen n man
make before The witness had noticed
Durrant make the same llp movement
when he came to court week aCo tn looe
at him.
Leigh H.. Irvine, newspaper man.
said lie interviewed Duryant on the even,
ing of April 14,h in the citv prison.
Durrant's statement was made in the
presence OF Judge THOMPSON. who was
then Durrant's attorney. IL was as tn his
whereabouts on April 3D.. Durrant then
said he left home about 8 O'clock on that
morning ana met Blanch. Lamont at
Twenty-first and Mission. She inv,ted
him to accompany her to the college on
that day of the conversation about the
Newcomes took place. He went TO the
church at 2:30 and took off his coat and
hat and went IN stairs to fix the gas. lie
stated that be met King in the church
and left it with King. lie said nothing
Q nout having seen Miss Lamont in The
a. afternoon,
More women than men SIT ard listen
while Durrant is tried. Every phase and
Incident of The drama is kcei1ly watched
by then. When Mrs Durrant comes in
III n morn;ne and imnr,nts a n,otheriv
kiss on ner SONS lips the women on The