The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-23
THE DuRRANT CASE CALLED.
His Attorneys Ask Change OF yenuc
and State Reasons.

and State Reasons.
San Francisco. July 2s-Hundreds Of
people surrounded the county Jail this
morning. eager 10 see William Henry
Theodore Durrant taken 20 the new city
hall to De tried for the murder Of Blanche
Lamont and Minnie williams in Emanuel
church last April. II was supposed that
Durranf would be kept in jail until near
the time fer commencing the trial The
waiting crowds were disappointed At s:S
Sheriff Whalen sent his private buggy 10
the county Jail. Durrant and Chief Jailer
Sattler entered this open buggy and start
ed alone for the city hall. No one saw
tlem start except the deputy jailers. Dur
rant was not handcuffed, and the pair at
tracted no attention as they drove quietly
through the streets. After Durranf had
passed into the court room, where he was
taken for safety, crowds began to gather
at the jail and all the streets IN the vicir-
ity were black with people until long after
the hour for opening court People early
filled the corridors leading TO the court
room OF Superior Judge Murphy, before
whom Durrant In TO be tried. A squad of
deputy sherips and detectives kept the
crowd on the move. Until the regular hour
for opening court, deputies guarded both
doors Of the court room and admitted none
but jurors. attorneys and newspaper men.
These occupied all the seats IN the room,
all the chairs being taken. Judge Murphy
peremptorily ordered that no others be ad-
mitted.
Durrant's father, who greatly resembles
his SON. and who appears to be about the
same age. was early at court TO meet his
son. The two sat in quiet conversation az
the room gradually filled up. When Dur
rant was arrested his mustache hid hls
mouth, and his long hair gave him the
appearance OF a student Now his closely
~ ha ixa I'M a
ance. and his clearly shaver lips reveal
The coarse sensuality OF his mouth. Three
months confinement in jail have made his
naturally colorless complexion even more
paid and pasty. He is fatter than when
arrested. and his eyes We're very bright as
he restiessly glanced around the room.
1t Is only by an effort that Durrant seems
able TO fix his attention on one subject,
but he frequently forces himself to con-
centrate eyes and mind.
The defendant was represented by At
torneys Deuprey, Dickinson and Tilomp-
son. District Attorney Barnes personally
appeared for the prosecution, accompa-
MED by Assistant District Attorney Pex-
otto. Captain OF Detectives Lees and all
the detectives under him were in or about
the court room When Judge Murphy
said: 1.-The case of w. II. T. Durrant,
murder" Barnes said: Ready for the
people" Attorney Dickinson, for the de-
PENDANT. then formally moved for a
change Of venue, stating that If II should
appear that 1t would be impossible to Sc
cure an unbiased jury. or should a state
of feeling be developed that would render
a fair trial improbable. he would reserve
the right TO renew the action which he
asked the judge now 10 pass upon. In
support of his action, Dickinson said he
would submit affidavits OF the defendant.
Charles G.. Garner and p. J. Perkins. The
Judge insisted that the affidavits should
be read, although counsel said the read
ing would occupy today and tomorrow. At
torney Deuprey then began 10 read Dur
rants affidavit, which stated that owing
10 the publications in the local press the
minds Of the public were Unframed against
the defendant. and the press and people
were violently prejudiced against him so
that he believed he could not have a fair
trial. In support of this statement, Deu-
prey began to read as part of the affidavit
excerpts from the three morning and three
evening papers published in San Francisco,
including practically everything that has
been written about the DJifTant murder.
The reading OF DurTant's affidavit occu-
pied the court until noon and adjourn
ment was taken until 2. Thereafter the
reading of the affidavit. with the newspa-
per clippings. occupied the time without
interruption during the balance of the af-
ternocn.