The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-04-24
ADesecrated Church.

SAN FRANCISCO, April .14.-Another
horrible discovery was made this
morning in small room in the steeple
of Emanuel Baptist Church, where the
mutilated remains of young Minnie
Williams were found yesterday. The
church has been desecrated by second
murder, the victim being another
young girl, Blanche Lamont, who
had been missing since the third inst
she had been strangled to death, her
clothes had been torn from her person
and the body was almost nude when
discovered. Her shoes and stockings
were missing. The imprints of the
assassin's finger nails plainly visible
on the murdered girls throat but there
was no indication of fU,rthersviolence.
Shortly after the awful discovery was
made, DR.. George Gibson, pastor of
the church, was taken into custody by
the police. No charge was placed
against him, but he will be held until
the mystery IS fully cleared.
Miss Lamont was last seen alive IN
the company of Theodore. Durant, a
Young medical student and assistant
superintendent of the Sunday school,
connected with the dedled place of
worship. Durant, who is said to have
been engaged to be married to Miss
Lamont, is suspected of having taken
the life Of the Williams girl, who is
known to have been a warm friend of
Miss Lamont. They were members OF
the church which they frequently at
tended together and were afsa in the
same Sunday school class. Since>the
disappearance of Blanche, Miss Viii
liams often said that her companion
had met with foul play. This startling
statement reached the ears Of several
members Of the church and the girl
was asked for an explanation, but
she positively declined to reveal the
nature of her information and the mat
ter was dropped. The police are now
inclined to think that Durant, know
ing that Miss Williams was IN posses.
sion of sufficient evidence to prove his
guilt in connection with the disappear
ance of Miss Lamont, concluded to
decoy her irto the church and silence
her forever. The police argue, that
Durant ma heard the statement Of the
Williams Girl and momentarily feared
exposure. AS she continued to declare
that her. friend had been murdered
Durant concluded to kilLher. -
One of the most damaging witnesses
against the young medical student is
Chas. Hills, who resides across the
street from Emanuel Baptist Church.
Shortly after s, O'Clock Friday
night he saw a man and woman
standing near the street corner. They
chatted together for some time and
finally started. up the street toward
the church. When the church was.
reached the man caught the girl by
the arm and half dragged: her to- the
gate leading to the pastors study. >Af-'
ter a few minutes conversation, the
couple passed through the garden and
finally entered the church through
side door. Hills is positive that the
man opened the door with "a key and
was apparently thoroughly familiar
with the premises. .Suspecting that
something was wrong he waited out
side for few minutes, but hearing no
outcry, concluded that the couple were
members ofthe church and went to his
home. The description given of the
man who accompanied the girl tallies
with that Of Durant a. thorough
search is being made for Durant.
This afternoon Rev. J. George Gig
son made satisfactory explanation to
the chief of police as to his movements
since last Friday and was allowed to-
depart. He denied having tried to
keep the Williams murder quiet and
also denied having been intimate with
Durant, whom he Goes not think gull
ty. though he admits the circumstances
are very stro1 2 that way. Theodore
Durant was this 'ternoon arrested at
Walnut CreeI,, point on the Sacra-
Inaato river, ;h;rty-five miles from
this CITY.