The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-23

I any person to arrest Theodore Durrant, or ia
again hold him guilty of murder. /, Lucy
Laura Gould Williamson, through the spirit Of
God-given truth, do declare Theodore Durrant
to be found innocent through the judgment
OF God; and am henceforth responsible fol
his actions.
justice to the prisoner, Theodore Durrant. am
yours, LUCY LAURA GOULD WILLIAMSON
As the woman was being escorted from
the courtroom Chief Crowley came forward
to the press table and made the following
statement:
"About 10 o'clock this morning." said
the Chief, ''this woman came to my Office
and said that she had important evidence
to submit.
81 told her that if her evidence was for the
prosecution she could make q state
ment to me. She answered that it was for
the defense. Then | told her that she had
better see Dickinson or Deuprey, ATTORNEYS
for the defense. She expressed her inten-
ton of so doing and went on in rambling
way about being empowered by Jesus
Christ to try the prisoner Durrant by an
occult process of her own. She had done
this and found him innocent. This fact
she desired to communicate to the proper
authorities, hence her call at my Office.
The woman is probably insane, but | had
no idea that she would appear at the
hearing"
When the excitement incident to the
Williamson scene had spent itself order
was resumed and the hearing was con-
tinued.
A. E. Williams was then sworn
After the preliminary questions witness
was shown the photograph taken of his
murdered daughter after the autopsy.
"Do you recognize that face ?" was asked.
The witness was in doubt, and Mr..
Barnes started to describe the circum-
stances under which the photograph was
taken.
An objection was interposed by the de-
Tense, but the court allowed the question
accompanied by the explanation owing to
the peculiar character of the picture.
The witness then made a closer study of
the face, and affirmed positively that he
could identify it as that OF his dead daugh-
ter Minnie.
The pocket book was then offered in evil
dence, and was positively identified by the
witness as the one he had given his daugh-
ter shortly after Christmas last year.
The purse was marked peoples exhibit F.
"When did you last see your daughter2 ?"
was next asked.
"On Friday, the 9Th of April"
"You did not see her on Good Friday ?"
NO sir"
'Were you acquainted with Durrant be-
fore your daughters death?"
81 met him first about five years ago."
"Had you seen Durrant for two or three
months prior to the inquest?'
AZ had not"
Frank A. Young, baker, 1916 Park
street, Alameda, was next called. He had
known Minnie Williams three years prior
to her death. He was shown the celluloid
tablet found in Miss Williams purse con-
tanning an address, and asked if he had ever
seen it before
81 saw it on Thursday afternoon prior to
Good Friday"
Under what circumstances did you see
that tablet?"
II wrote the address on it at her request
on the Thursday afternoon in question"
He also identified the purse.
A recess was then taken until 2 P. NJ.
Sergeant William T. Burke was the first
witness called on the reconvening of court
at 2P. NJ.
'Did you visit the house where Theodore
Durrant resided ?" asked Attorney Barnes.
II did, sir; on the Sunday following the
murder"
did you take any garments from the
81 did, sir. 1 took an overcoat, and in
the pocket found bunch OF keys and
purse. The purse contained car-ticket,
etc."
Witness was shown the purse and identi-
fed the same. Likewise the car-ticket.
"At the time l took the coat" witness
continued, concerning the identity of the
car-ticket, ''the mother of the defendant
asked me to let her examine the pockets
of the coat
The defense objected to witness telling
anything about what Mrs. Durrant said.
and Sergeant Burke continued:
II examined the pockets OF the coat and,