davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17

side to side he fixed his eyes upon the
Judge.
wv. H. Theodore Durrant," said the
Judge. "You have been arrested on
charge of felony You are entitled to
counsel to defend you, the processes of the
court for the obtaining of witnesses are at
your disposal and you are entitled TO time
to proceed to trial. Have you an attorney ~
II have" replied Durrant. General
Dickinson is my counsel"
Mr.. Clerk, arraign the defendant" said
the Judge.
Clerk Watson read the complaint to him.
1t was sworn to by Detective Anthony and
day of April 1.-The crime of felony to wit,
murder, was committed, to wit. by w. II.
Theod ore Durrant, who then and there did
willfully and unlawfully, feloniously and
with malice aforethought kill and murder
a certain human being, to wit, one Minnie
Williams, and this complainant upon oath
accuses the said w. II. Theodore Durrant
of having committed said crime"
Clerk Watson read the words containing
the charge slowly and deliberately, and
when he reached the word murder" he
looked Durrant straight in the eyes, ex-
pecting TO see tremor of some kind or a
catching at the throat, but he was disap-
pointed. Durrant bore it all with the ut
most GOODNESS and nerve.
wv nat IS your true manner asked CIerK
Watson, after finishing the reading of the
compla int
William Henry Theodore Durrant,"
calmly replied the prisoner.
Prosecuting Attorney Wakeman made a
motion to postpone further proceedings
till after the conclusion of the Coroner's
inquest.
General Dickinson protested against what
he termed the outrage upon his client in
dragging him to the Morgue without con-
sulting him about it. 81 would like to.
know by what authority he was taken to
the Morgue," he said 81 ask for delay, as
1 wish to consult with my client and have
time to prepare for trial. This young man
has been charged with one of the most
heinous crimes that have happened in Cal
ifornia. Popular sentiment against him
is very strong, and as he is entitled to
fair and impartial trial think it is only
right that the trial should be deferred until
the popular sentiment tones down."
Judge Conlan said he was opposed to
long adjournment. The prisoner would
have fair and impartial trial. He fixed
Monday next at IL A. NJ. for the prelimin
airy examination.
General Dickinson said he would reserve
his rights to ask for continuance at that
time. Court then adjourned and Durrant
was taken back to his cell in the prison.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17
DURRANT ARRAIGNED
He Listens to the Reading of
the Complaint Without
a TremOr.

An arrangement had been made to have
Durrant arraigned before Judge Conlan
Immediately after the inquest had adj
lourned for the day.
1t was about 80 o'clock when hack
drove up to the City Prison. The few peo-
pie around expected to see Durrant step
out OF the hack, but they were disap-
pointed. 1t was ruse of Captain Doug
lass, who ordered the hack containing the
prisoner to be driven round to the Larkin-
street entrance to the Central police sta
ton.
People on Larkin and McAllister streets
seeing a hack driven furiously up to the
City Prison and another hack driven as
furlously round to the Larkin-street en-
trance fancled that some dreadful tragedy
had taken place, the more so when about
dozen policemen came pouring ont of the
station and lined the entrance. They i'm
medlately ran in all directions to the City
PRISON and by the time Captain Douglass
rushed Durrant out of the hack, followed
by detectives and policemen, through the
nall TO the prison there was a fair-sized
crowd; The ruse had exactly the opposite
erect 70 what was intended.
Durrant had just got into his cell when
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17
DURRANT TALKS.
He Declares That Morgan's
Story Was FalSe-Did Not
Know Ware.

Durrant spent quiet afternoon yester-
day. He received large number of
friends, who are members of the signal
corps or students at Cooper Medical Col
lege. They all shook him by the hand
warmly and assured him of their belief of
his innocence.
This was very comforting to Durrant
after his trial at the Coroner's inquest. He
got into better spirits and by the middle
of the afternoon was more composed than
he has been at any time since his arrest.
His bearing toward visitors and members
of the press was gentlemanly. He showed
no signs whatever of breaking down. He
refused to speak on the details of the
crimes with which he is charged, but made
a few statements.
He said: 1.-THE story that was friendly
with Eugene Ware is fake. Inever knew
him, don't think 1 ever saw him, and
never heard of him till the news of his
murder was published. 1 don't think he
ever belonged to the signal corps.
1.-The statement made by Morgan at the
Coroner's inquest that attempted to as
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17

ing about half past O'Clock, showed
signs of having passed a restless night.
His hideous nightmare made him haggard
and wan. He quickly dressed himself and
sat on his bench reading a magazine which
his mother had left with him the previous
night.
About 9 O'Clock he was disturbed in his
reading by people staring at him and ask
ing him how he felt aud other trivial
questions. Half an hour afterward Cap
tain Douglass and Detective Gibson
called upon him and notified him that it
was time for him to go to the Morgue to
be present at the inquest.
When he returned from the Police
Court after being arraigned he started in
to read the magazine. When asked to step
forward for brief interview he looked up
resentfully and replied that he declined to
speak to any one On the advice of his at
torneys.
There was a regular stream of callers at
the prison, but the doorkeeper was firm in
his refusal to open the door unless they
had business in the prison. Two old
ladies who have regularly visited the
prison whenever a murderer was locked
up made desperate efforts to get admit
tance, and went away in very angry
mood when they signally failed.
Early in the evening his father called to
see him. They remained in earnest con-
versation for about half an hour. Some of
his fellow-students also called to see him
and he chatted pleasantly with them.
About half-past o'clock his mother. a
gentle little woman, called with George T.
Maine, friend. She was permitted to enter
the CELL but Maine had to stand outside.
Mother and son greeted each other affec-
tionately. She remained with him till
after 10 O'Clock, and when she stepped into
the light it was seen that her eyes were red
with weeping. Durrant kept in the back
part of the cell. He sat down on the bench
and covered his face with his hands
Durrant was asked last night if he cared
to make any further statement in explana-
what he said on Sunday night. He replied
that he did not care to do so, as he had not
yet been able to fully talk over matters
with his attorney. 1t was possible that in
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17
SAYS 1T IS FALSE.
The Janitor Did Not Tell Dur
rant to Repair the Gas
Fixtures.

F. A. Sademan, the janitor of the
church, contradicts the statement of Dur
rant in regard to the gas fixtures being
out of order. They had been out of order,
but had been repaired long before the day
on which Blanche Lamont disappeared.
Dufrant in statement made Monday
evening said the ianitor had told him that
the gas Jets did not burn well and that he
would like Durrant to fix them. Durrant
in his statement said that on Wednesday.
two weeks ago to-day, he went directly
from Cooper Medical College to the
church. He went into the loft above the
church and fixed the gas jets so that they
would burn properly. So as 10 save him
self the trouble of running up and down
from the loft he turned on the gas before
he went into the loft. When he reached
the loft he leaned down over the gas jets
while fixing them, and could not avoid in
haling some gas. This, he claims, is what
made him so sick when he left the loft and
met George King in the church.
Janitor Sademan was strong in his belief
that Durrant was not in the loft fixing the
gas jets on the day Blanche Lamont dis
appeared. He said: zone week ago Satur-
day some men put new style of burners
on the gas fixtures. They were in the loft
at the time. The old gas jets were re-
moved, but they were in good condition.
We never had any trouble with them.
The new ones were put in only because
they were of new patent. did speak to
Durrant about the gas-lighting appa-
ratus but that took place over a
month ago 1 feel sure. About this
time the battery used in supplying
the current which lights the gas in the
three rings of jets in the ceiling ran out
and l asked Durrant to attend to it, as he
is an electrician. The connection with
one of the rings of Jets gets out of order at
times. 1 spoke to Durrant about it. He
may have gone into the loft to fix the
wires at that time, but not TWO weeks ago,
as there has been no trouble in lighting
the gas for month or SO. | suppose
Durrant cleverly thought of the incident
and made it up as an excuse for his condi-
ton and the fact of his being up in the
buildinp"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17
HE KEPT CLOSE VIGIL.
Durrant'S Patience Was Re-
Warded and He Met Miss
Williams.

AS the visit of Durrant on that fateful
Friday afternoon to the ferry depot, pre-
sumably to meet Miss Williams, will have
strong bearing upon the case, everything
that can be learned of his movements
there is of special interest.
Durrant waited at the ferries until the
arrival of the 4 AS P. NJ. boat with the Ala
media passengers. Miss Minnie Williams,
the murdered girl, left Versailles on the
five minutes past four train and would
therefore have been due in San Francisco
on the ferry steamer. AS the passengers
were coming off the boat Durrant was ac-
costed by Mrs. S. G. Wilmans, nee Par
fridge, of Newmans, but formerly of 727
Shotwell street. Durrant and his sister
and Mrs. Wilmans were classmates at the
Cogswell College.
The latter therefore stopped few mo-
ments to ask after Miss Durrant The
young man said his sister was in Berlin
pursuing her musical studies and was do
ing remarkably well. Mrs. Williams was
in no hurry as her boat did not leave until
5 P. NJ, but Durrant seemed anxious and
kept a careful watch on every one who
came out of the ferry gates. She finally
babe him good-by and entered the wait
ing-room, leaving Durrant still keeping up
a vigilant watch.
In regard to Durrant's peculiarities Karl
G. Partridge of the railway mail service
tells an interesting story. A week or so
ago the two young men were downtown
together. In public thoroughfare a
couple of girls accosted Durrant in ia
miliar way and asked him if he was not
"going to treat" Durrant acquiesced and
took them through rear entrance into the
back parlor of saloon. The girls drank
beer and Durrant Queen Charlotte.
After the men and women parted COM
pany Durrant expressed his surprise at the
fact of the two girls drinking beer with
such apparent relish.
A little later he grew confidential, and
had succeeded in becoming quite intimate
with girl whom he had long had great
desire to be friendly with The girl in
question is supposed to have been Blanche
Lamont.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17
A MOTHERS PRAYER.
Mrs. Durrant Appeals to the
Public to Suspend Its
Judgment.

Mrs. Durrant made the following state.
ment and appeal last night:
''To the public: l want to appeal to you
through the columns of this paper to with
hold your decision as to the guilt or inno-
cence of my boy till you have the sworn
testimony of both sides with which to
Judge. The newspaper reports have been
somewhat inaccurate, and certain of them
appear to have espoused the side of the
prosecution.
81 realize that there is considerable evil
dence which appears to point to Theo, but
it is wholly circumstantial He was
familiar with the interior of the church
so were many others. He had key to
the church. So had many more. Why do
they not arrest them all and make them
show where they were at the times of the
murders? 1t seems to me that would be
the fair thing to do. And besides the lock
on the door is common, cheap lock which
almost anybody could open.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17

first time Monday night. His groans rang
out through the prison. The incident
was passed over as curious, but not unac-
countable, and nothing more was thought
of it.
The cries broke out again last night, and
Smith, rushing to Durrant's cell, saw him
writhing in the clutches of terrible night
mare While he was silent the struggle
continued, but when the spell was broken
shrieks the paroxysm subsidized, and in a
few seconds all was over. "Is Durrant liv-
ing over again his struggle in the En-
manuel Baptist Church, or is it only the
result of Indigestion? is the question that
is troubling the prison Officials
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17

"The body of Blanche Lamont was car
ried up into the belfry, and Theo is not
strong enough to have done that. She was
a wellmade girl, and she was choked to
death. Theodore is not large and strong
enough to have killed her that way.
"Besides, the person who carried that
bleeding body up those stairs must have
got blood on his clothes. Theo wore on
the afternoon of April 3 a double-breasted
sack suit of blue cheviot-his ordinary
every day clothes. 1t is here in the house
The detectives came here and searched
over his clothing for three days. They
found nothing wrong, however, and took
nothing away with them except that
purse from his overcoat pocket. They took
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17
DETECTIVES VIEWS.
Morse, StiIWelI, McFarlane and
Lucas Discuss the Evidence
in Hand.

Those who are in charge of the several
detective agencies in this city, though not
working on the church tragedies, have
kept themselves advised of the facts as
they developed.
Harry n. Morse of Morse's Patrol, speak
ing of the terrible crimes said:
l have, of course, not had anything to do
with thse cases, and l only know what
have read in the papers. To me it looks
like very strong case against the young
man Durrant, but so far it is purely cir
cumstantial Still, 1 have an intuitive
feeling that he is not guilty. Why have
that feeling I cannot explain, and can only
say that the evidence looks very strong
against him. / have that feeling that he is
not the man. Circumstantial evidence is
always looked upon as very strong evil
dence, but it is not always the safest
f. W. McFarlane. who has an office on
Montgomery street, said: 1.-THE testimony
that is being adduced against the prisoner
Durrant appears to connect him very
closely with the two murders, the most
horrible ever known; yet it is only circum-
stantial, and l should want it corroborated
before 1 would believe the young man
guilty. Some how or other am not fully
satisfied that he is the guilty man, and [
have an idea from what | have read that
there is some one else in the crime; but as
have not had anything to do with the
case | am not in position to express an
opinion.
C. J. Stilwell of the Stilwell agency
said: 'This is very singular case, and
from what I have read come to the conclu-
sion that it looks black for Durrant, but am
not sufficiently conversant with the facts to
form a theory. From the published ac-
coun is there appears to be a great many
circumstances that point to Durrant as the
perpetrator of both murders. There is one
thing, however, that 1 believe and that is
that he has been lying in regard to the
finding of the purse that belonged to the
Williams girl. 1 am of the opinion that
he obtained the purse from the girl at some
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17

the coat and hat, too, but that was SO he
could put them on when those girls went
to identify him.
''In the Williams case, too, the murderer
must have got blood upon his clothes.
Theo that night wore the same suit he is
is now wearing in person, and there is not
the slightest spot of blood on them. If
there had been, you can be sure the de-
tectives would have found it long ago.
"Theo had key to the library where
the Williams girl was murdered. The con-
dition of the door and the broken lock show
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17

he was taken out again and escorted by
Captain Douglass and squad of police
men to Judge Conlan's court. There were
few people in the corridor, as court had
been adjourned at u o'clock and all in
quirers were told that Durrant was not to
appear. The court began to fill and before
the proceedings were over every seat was
occupied
Durrant had completely regained his
composure. He was as cool and uncon-
cerned as if he had merely been one OF the
spectators. He sat between mis- counsel,
General Dickinson, and Captain Douglass;
Detective Gibson was immediately behind
him and half dozen policemen were be-
hind Gibson.
The case was called and the Judge or
dered Durrant to stand up. He did so
promptly and after glancing furtively from
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17

liams in the Emmanuel Baptist Church,
has an evil conscience.
AS the hour of midnight approaches he
writhes and struggles in his sleep, and
finally breaks out into heart-rending
shrieks that bring the police officer on
watch hurrying to his place of confinement
to ascertain what is the matter. The con-
WILSON'S only last about q minute, and
then the look of agony and horror fades
out of the prisoners face, he turns over on
his side, and in a few seconds is again
sleeping as peacefully as child.
Durrant had his strange seizure for the
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17
DURRANT'S CALLERS.
They Will Be Fewer in Future,
as He Resents Being
Stared At.

Durrant bitterly resents being gazed at
and spoken to by men actuated simply by
the morbid desire to see man charged
with two atrocious murders. In future no
one will be permitted 10 speak to him until
his name and business are mentioned to
him by the prison-keeper and he acquiesces
in the request for an interview.
The prison officials are pleased that he
has made this request, because they are
taking every precaution against any one
passing him anything in the shape of
poison or other article which he might. in
his desperation, use to end his life. His
mother brought small mirror with her
last night for his use while dressing in the
mornings, but Captain Stone gently but
firmly declined to allow him to havei
Durrant, when he awoke yesterday morn
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17
ONE MORE WITNESS.
Attorney A. Friedlander Saw
Durrant Last Friday
Evening.

A. Friedlander, attorney-at-law called
at police headquarters yesterday. He OBJ
tanned permit to see Durrant and saw
him last evening, whereupon he called at
the Chiefs office and made the following
statement:
81 saw young man last Friday evening
on the corner of Twenty-third and Bartlett
streets between and 8:15 o'clock. He
was alone at the corner. I have identified
the prisoner, Durrant, this evening as the
same party 1 saw that night, only he had
an overcoat on at that time"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17
HIS SLEEP TROUBLED
Durrant Suffering From An
other Apparently Horri-
BILE Nightmare.

If there is any truth in the theory that
the impressions of a mans evil deeds are
indelible and keep flashing on and off his
mental vision both when sleeping and
waking then w. II. Theodore Durrant, the
man accused of numbering Minnie Will
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17

a day or two he might make another state
ment.
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-04-11
WESTERN FARM NOTES.
(From Field and Farm,)

The retail price of beef has gone up
from to cents n pound in all the
Eastern markets. The shortage of sup
plies is charged with this advance.
Some of the alfalfa feeders in Lari-
mcr county say that their hay fed TO
sheep this winter has brought them
$40 ton. This price ought to satisfy
the man who receives 1t.
We are now producing seventy per
cent. of the wool consumed in this
country which is 3OO,0O0,0O pounds All
nually. During the last two years we
have been producing wool at a loss.
What then, have the other fellows been
doing?
A fine lot of beeves raised on the
Greer ranch in Elbcrt county went on
to Kansas City last week. They
weighed 1874 pounds and brought
S5.25 per hundred. or a total of So
05S.92 for the eighty-four head in the
bunch Another bunch of tifty-seven
head was sent to the same market
later.
Frank Doll of Eagle county has lost
Tcnbroeck thoroughbred stallion
which he purchased in Chicago last
fall He is now on the lookout Tor =
stallion to fill the place of the dead
horse. but said in Denver this week
that he would probably send Il number
of thoroughbred mares to Santa Clara
for the services of imp. Ute Chief.
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-04-11

racing at night, which will be contin-
lled throughout the summer months.
The plan and events will be announced
in the Field and Farm later.
Spring Is the time to clean out The
chicken house in which the fowls have
been kept over winter. Do the work
thoroughly. for as the weather grows
warm vermin will appear and latent
disease germs will manifest them
selves. When whitewashinG the int.
rior of the house add a wineElassful of
carbolic acid to each bucketful of
whitewash. Clean the floor and
sprinkle it with five per cent. mixture
of Calvert's carbolic acid. Treat all of
the roosts and nest boxes with kero-
senc.
In answer to a correspondent at Ala
mosa, COstilla county, we would say
that n new method of clearing the soil
in flower pots of worms is now finding
favor among florists. The recipe is as
follows: Put one-quarter of Il pound
of commercial ground mustard into Il
Iarge-sized watering can, fill up with
water and let it stand in soak for one
Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-04-11

hour Then add some hot water. stir
ring thoroughly, and apply the water
to the pot. The worms soon come to
the surface. and no harm results to
the plants.
]. c. Kain, the. newly appointed mem
Der of the state board of horticulture
from Otero county, has made success
in growing fruits when all his neigh
bors tried to discourage his work. He
first planted thirty apple trees and n
few Russian apricots when he came to
the country seven years ago He In
creased his planting from time to time
until he now has wellkept orchard
of twenty acres and is reaping the
fruits of long and patient toll. He has
plum trees that paid so each last sea-
son. He is yearly becoming more con-
vinced that Otero county is good dis
trict for the horticulturist and he IS
satisfied to remain there and pursue the
calling of hortculturist.
The largest Individual wheat grower
in Colorado this year. so far as heard
from up to date, is William o. Cyle.
of Liberty, Rio Grande county, in the
San Luis valley. He is putting in
l 800 acres to wheat and six seed drills
are running early and late to get the
seed in the ground in good season.
The wheat outlook in the San Luis val
ley this year is very encouraging. In
northern Colorado there is quite re-
vival this spring in wheat planting and
more acres are going to be put In than
have been devoted to grain for many
years past. Wheat is looking better In