The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-04
IS DARK FOR DURRANT
A STATEMENT OF THE CASE
AGAINST HIM BY THE Dis
TRICT ATTORNEY.
FOR MURDER or BLANCHE LAMONT

The Actual Trial Was Begun Yester-
day with District Attorney Barnes
Opening Address to the Jury as to
What the State Expects to Proves
Says that he Will Expect "A Verdict
of Murder in the First Degree~-A
Strong Cham of Evidence.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, Sept. 3.--The
murder of Blanche Lamont commenced
to day. District Attorney Barnes deliv-
cred the opening address to the jury. He
said:
"At this point in the trial, and
before proceeding with the evidence, it
becomes my duty, as representative of
the people, to make what is called the
opening statement of the case. The
opening statement should not be re-
garded by you in the light of testimony;
neither should it be regarded as an argu
ment upon the facts. 1t should not have
any weight with you, nor should you
consider it as initiating against the
prisoner. 1t is merely statement of
what the people expect to prove.
"We will show you that in the month
of September, 1894, Blanche Lamont, a
young girl about twenty years of age,
came to San Francisco from her home at
Dillon, Montana, and went to reside
with her aunt and uncle, Mr.. and Mrs.
@. G. Noble, and from the time of her
arrival here until April 5, she was en-
gagged in attending school. She was not
society girl in any sense of the word.
She was of quiet disposition, home
keeping and religious. We will show
that Blanche Lamont was acquainted
with the prisoner, Durrant; that he was
in the habit of accompanying her home
from church and prayer meetings; that
he was caller upon her at her aunt's
house; that upon the only occ asion upon
which she ever went any where with any
young man, as far as we are informed,
she visited the park one afternoon in
company with Durrant. We will give
you history Of her life, and her move
ments, as far as we are able, up to the
third of April, 1895, in order that you
may form a just appreciation of the
character End the habits of this un-
fortunate young girl. We will show
you her connection with the defend
ant, and we will show you the reason
why, when the murdered body Of Blanche
Lamont was found in the darkened
belfry of Emanuel Church and the ques
ton sprang from the lips of every resid
ent of this city and of this co ntry, who
is the murderer r--why it is the that
State answers that he who was respon-
sible for the slaughter of this young life
is William Henry Theodore Durrant;
Durrant, once the friend of Blanche
Lamont; Durrant, once in charge Of
the Sunday School Library; Durrant,
once Assistant Superintendent Of the
Emanuel Sunday School; Durrant, once
the electrician who knew the ins and outs
of the great building; Durrant, once the
handy man and Jack of all trades at
the church, and now Durrant, the pris-
oner, and on trial for his life. We shall
show Durrant's connection with the
crime and shall demonstrate by irrefuta-
BILE and unanswerable evidence that he
and he alone committed the murder.
''If we show you these facts, if we
show you that Durrant met this i'll fated
girl on the date of her death; that he ac
companleO uer TO Lne cnurcn; CnaL ne
was seen to enter the church with her;
that he was seen afterwards in the
church alone; that Blanche Lamont was
never seen again by human eyes, from
the the moment when she entered
the portals of Emanuel church with
the defendant; that in the church
was found her dead body; her
her clothes, her school books--showiLg
that she had never been home and that
she had gone straight from her school to
her death, if we show you as we conf
IDENTIFY expect that no one but the pri-
soner could have committed this out
rageous and horrible crime, we shall
look to you to render your verdict that
the prisoner at the bar is guilty OF muir
der in the first degree"