Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-04-16
A THIRD BODY FOUND.

The San francisco police yesterday
morning found an arm and other re,
mains of an adult female in the base
ment of the Emanuel Baptist Church
in that city. W. H. 7. Durant, the
young dental student, has been form
ally charged with the murder of
Blanche Lamont and Minnie Williams,
whose dead bodies were found Sunday
in Emanuel Baptist Church. He de-
MES his guilt. The chief OF police
claims to have evidence enough now to
convict him beyond any doubt. Du'
rant had been attentive to both girls.
Each girl regarded him as lover;
They were both members of Emanuel
Baptist Church and were friends. Both
belonged to the same class in Sunday
school. He was familiar with the
house and carried one of the few keys
to its private door. In person he is a
strong, well-made young man, of pleas
ing address, and was devoted to re-
ligious duties. He was the last person
seen in Blanche Lamont's company on
April 8, the day of her disappearance.
He was also the last person seer
with Miss Williams on Friday night.
Durant's companions at the medical
college declare that he has not attend
ed lecture since the day Blanche La
mont disappeared. When his name
was called by the instructors in charge
his friends would answer for him He
had acted strangely since the search for
the Lamont girl commenced, haunting
the newspaper Offices and giving re-
porters long and involved theories to
account for her absence, always pre-
dieting she would soon be found. Dur
ing last week at church gatherings and
to groups of friends he has talked con-
tiuually, and occasionally somewhat
wildly, of Blanche, and speculated as
to her whereabouts. His conduct sur
prised his friends, who thought perhaps
his love for Blanche had temporarily
affected his reason. The three rings
belonging to Blanche Lamont and sent
to her aunt on Saturday were wrapped
in paper upon which were the names OF
G.. r. King, organist of the church, and
Prof. Shoenstein, who taught her mu-
sic. Experts declare the writing IS
that of Durant slightly disguised. King was
also friend of Blanche. but Schoenstein IS
an elderly man and is not suspected The
police think Durant tried to throw suspicion
on these two men that attention might not
be directed to himself. Another young Lady,
also member of the same church. ssys Du-
rant told her she had female complaint and
gave her medicine which benefited her. AT
terward he advised her to allow him to make
personal examination. She Indignantly re-
fused. Durant continued to urge 1t, saying
there was room in the church to which he
had key, where the examination could be
secretly and safely made. 1t is surmlsed Du-
rant may have lured the murdered girls into
the church on similar pete1t. About =
o'clock yesterday morning the police heard
rumors of a threatened attack on the prison
to lynch Durant. Extra precautions were
taken and large guard POSTED at the en-
trance Of the prison, but no attack was made.
The relatives of the Misses Lamont and Will
ilams believe Durant killed them. From all
appearances Miss Lamont was not murdered
in the room where her body was found. The
body had been dragged to the belfrey stairs
and into the lower room. Her clothing was
found stuffed into various corners of the room.
About the time Sunday morning that Miss
Lamont's body was found the congregation of
Emanuel Church were on their wsy to at
tend the Easter service. When they arrived
and learned of the frightful crime they fed
horror stricken from the place. The church
was locked and guarded all day.