The herald., 1895-10-05
CONVICTION SEEMS CERTAIN
The Methods of Durrant's At.
torney's Cause Surprise
REBUTTAL TESTIMONY IN
Witnesses as to Defendants Previous
Good Character
Have Strengthened the Case Of
the Prosecution


Associated Press Special Wire
SAN FRANCISCO. Oct. At the
manner in which the attorneys for the
defense in the trial of Theodore Dur
rant are handling their case is any indi-
cation of the strength of their position,
the prosecution believes the dsvelopm ents
of today leave little doubt of the prison
srs conviction. To the surprise of every
body the defense this afternoon began the
calling of witnesses to show the previous
good character of the young Sunday
school superintendent. By the prosecu-
ton this step is interpreted to mean that
the defense has introduced all of the evil
dence that 1t has to refute the mass of
testimony piled mp by the people. If this
be- true, the verdict of the jury is fore
gone conclusion. Not only has the de-
tense failed to establish an alibi for Dur
rant, but it has actually strengthened the
case against the prisoner.
Miss Cunningham, the newspaper re-
porter who was threatened with impris-
onment yesterday because she would not
answer a question propounded TO her by
the defense, was called to the stand again
this morning to give her another oppor-
tunity to answer the question. She re-
fused to disclose the source of her infor
nation with regard to the nature of Mrs.
LEAKS testimony, but instead OF send
ing her to prison the court took the mat
ter under advisement until next Tuesday.
In a similar case the supreme court of
California sustained the position OF
newspaper reporter. and the court is
therefore in doubt with regard to its
power in the premises.
Rev. j. George Gibson. pastor OF
Emanuel church, was called by the de-
tense for the purpose or identifying spec
linens OF his hand writing. The witness
refused positively to identify any of the
specimens handed to him. He said the
writing looked like his own, but as the
documents hal not been in his posses
SOD for some time, if at all, he could not
positively identify the writing. Al the
request of Attorney Deuprey, Rev. Gibson
printed the name and address of Mrs.
@. G. Noble. Blanche Lamont's aunt.
He also wrote several specimens for the
district attorner ~hlch were introduced
in evidence. II " iting of Rev. GIBSON
will play an il. pc ant part in the future
proceedings, a. ..ttorney Deuprey an
nounced in his opening statement that
lie would prove that Mr. Gibson directed
he wrapper in which Blanche Lannon'S
rings were returned to Mrs. Noble.
While Rev. Gibson was writing the spe-
cine for the defense, he became very
excited and bobbed out of the clerks
chair in which he was sitting very fire.
qUentIy to ask questions of the court,
and to complain that the task asked of
bin was unfair. Mr.. Gibson was asked
to write the name and address of Mrs.
NJ OH nit h he lcra nd h in,
the word Noble" printed This re-
quest occssioned some trouble, as the
minister became confused and said he
was ''all at sea-
II see a paper here, if your honor
please he said, with these letters
printed. Do l understand that l am to
follow these?''
mo, SIR, said the Judge. lust print
seen the paper in your life."
II can't do that, replied the minister.
Cant you print?" inquired his honor.
Gibson said he could.
well. print those letters then, in your
erdirary way
The pastor did as he was bid. seated at
the clerks desk. All the people in the
court room craned their necks to see the
minister write, and Durrant himself
reeped between the shoulders of his at
torneys intently gazing upon the exhibit
trihe slow, but at length the writing was
b1ished and introduced in evidence by
the defense.
l.. L. Levings, a newspaper reporter,
was called by the defense for the purpose
o ascertaining if he wrote an article
hich was published On April 18th, in
shich Detective Gibson was quoted as
saying that he saw the prints of num-
Der eight or nine shoe in the belfry where
Blanche Lamont's body was found. The
witness said he could not say positively
whether or not he wrote the article, but
he was of the impression that he lid not.
The defense summoned ex-Congress.
man Henley and several other witnesses
20 show the bad reputation of Attorney
Quinlan. who testified that on the after
noon of April Sd he saw Durrant and
Blanche Lam ont walking toward Eman-
uel church. Fifteen witnesses were placed
on the stand to show the previous good
reputation of Durrant. The witnesses all
regarded Durrant as model young man;
not one had ever heard of his doing any,
thing wrong. The cross examination
was brief, as the prosecution expects to
have no difficulty in proving that Dur
rants immortality was notorious among
the lower classes with which he often
associated.
Summed UP briefly, the result of the