Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-04-24

prosecutor nor prosecutor. My duty is
to collect all the evidence for the prosecu-
ton that is possible to obtain and this
has been done. Yet all the clues fol-
lowed have run to one man-Durant. l
must give credence to the reports of my
officers. Neither they nor myself are
prejudiced in the case"
The police have quit looking for bloody
garments belonging to Durant and have
new theory which makes blood on his
clothes unnecessary. The theory is that
the girl was first strangled in the reading
room, from one corner sof which the dark
little library opens, and was dragged there
dead. There the cutting was done. In
this event the blood would be veinous
and it would have welled forth gently.
Chief Crowley is having the blood exam
ined with a view to determining the mat
ter.
Theory of Hypnotism Advanced.
There are many theories and rumors in
circulation and even the question of hyp-
notism has been brought into the affair
as accounting for the manner in which
the victims were lured into the church.
Important developments are looked for at
the inquest, which will be held this morn>
ing, having been postponed from WedneS>
day.
One of the witnesses who has already
testified before the coroner's jury is Elmer
Wolfe, an intimate friend of Durant.
Wolfe was in the neighborhood of
Emanuel church ON the night Miss Will
Jams was murdered and claims to have
seen Durant within a block of that edi>
flee as he went home. There are some
strange things in Wolfe's testimony which
do not dovetail with other facts brought
to light and the coroner will have the
young man explain all these apparent dis
crepancies if he can. That section of the
city where Emanuel church is located was
originally the Mission Dolores, founded
by Friars 100 years ago, and is to this
day generally designated as 1.-The Mis-
SlOn.
Threats to Burn the Church.
Popular sentiment Of the mission favors
razing the edifice. This feeling extends
even to those who are financially in
terested in the property, but have an in
terest in the moral atmosphere of the
neighborhood The church has always
blood marks its history. One pastor
killed a newspaper proprietor and after
ward blew out his brains and now comes
the aWful, tragedy that is before the
people. Everywhere is heard the ex-
preston: Burn the place down. The
feeling is that the church should never
again be opened as place of worship.
AS result of these threatening ex-
presslons, the insurance companies have
Cancelled their policies and the police
edy. 1t is reported that Durant and
his lawyers are preparing a starement
outlining the defense. which will be an
endeavor to prove an alibi.
Crowd at the Inquest.
The usual crowd of curiosity seekers
present when the inquest was resumed
this morning. Durant and his attor-
neys were also present Elmer Wolfe.
the young man whose statements have
been questioned recently. was recalled
to the stand and offered to produce wit
nesseS to substantiate all he had said
previously in regard to his movements
on the night Minnie Williams was muir
dered. The coroner declined the offer,
and both that official and the chief of
police said they were satisfied with
Wolfe's statements and did not believe
he was connected with the crime. Two
of Durant'S comrades in the National
Guard company were examined and
said that on the afternoon of the night
that Minnie Williams was murdered
they saw Durant lettering about the
ferry at the foot of Market street and
talked to him. They said Durant fold
them he did not expect to be at the ar
mory that night and asked them to re-
Spond for him at the roll call.
Result of the Autopsy.
DR.. Bartlett, who conducted the au-
topsy, testified that Minnie Williams died
of asphyXiation as a result of having part
of her clothing forced down her throat by
the murderer and that the knife wounds
found on various parts of her body were
inflicted after death. He also testified
that the girl had been outraged and that
previous to the time of the tragedy she
had led a blameless life. Several other
witnesses were examined on minor mat
tiers and then the coroner announced he
had no other testimony to offer, though
he called Durant to the stand and the
latter left his seat as if to present himself
for examination and then looked toward
his attorney, who advised him not to
n no f1r4h how o44c~ IL
question him. The jury did not occupy
an hour in deliberation and returned a
verdict charging Durant with the murder
of Marian Williams. 1t was the case of
her death only that was being investi-
gated. The case of murder of Blanche
lamont will be taken IN Later