davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-12
MAUD LAMONT TAKES THE WITNESS STAND

over so that he could talk to Mr.. Deuprey.
Sometimes he leaned back and smiling
spoke to his mother or father or friend.
The cross-examination of Mrs. Noble
was commenced by Dickinson when court
convened in the morning. At its conclu-
sion there came the brief testimony of
John G. Daily.
He helped Starr Dare in searching the
belfry for the Clothes and was therefore
able to identify many of the articles.
1t was after he had departed that Maud
Lamont came to the stand. During the
remainder of the morning session she gave
her testimony in chief Much of it was
brought out in quite a dramatic way by
the skillful questioning of Mr.. Barnes.
The afternoon session was devoted to her
cross-examination, and court adjourned
for the day before it was entirely con-
Guided. There was break in it for time,
and Mr.. Barnes tried to introduce a tin
type photograph of Blanche.
Both Dickinson and Deuprey objected
and, as it turned out to be a reproduction
of a photograph taken three or four years
ago, Judge Murphy ruled that the original
photograph would be the best evidence.
The trial goes on this morning with
Maud Lamont still on the stand. She will
be succeeded by Shermount, the conductor
of the Powell-street car, who, it is ex-
pected, will testify to seeing Blanche and
the defendant together on his car on
April 3.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-12
TRUE GOVT.

Are you aware that govt is often mis-
taken for other diseases? 1t is fact.
And it usually arises not so much from
excuses in drinking or eating, but from
neglect of the simplest rules of diet. But
when you have an attack of true govt you
are destined to suffer as keenly as any
mortal on earth. The attack usually
comes on in the night, but you may stay
all of the present indications if you will
only follow the simple directions which
are laid down on each bottle of JOYS
Vegetable Sarsaparilla. In this purely
Californian and vegetable remedy you
have certain preventive and cure for
the malady which is said to have in store
for those who suffer from it worse pains
than the crack" of ancient times ever pro-
duced
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-12
FRANCISCO CALL, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER H.

her strap. Mrs. Noble did not know.
There was no name on this strap. VINO
would be likely to know about the name?
Mrs. Noble could not answer. Perhaps
Maud would know
This concluded the crosse Examination
and Mr.. Barnes asked some further ques-
lions. He wanted to know about the
Spencer spoken of by Mrs. Noble.
Mrs. Noble said that Mr.. Spencer was an
elderly man. over 80 wears, wore full
beard, had brown hair and was thick
set
did Durrant call on you on April 1o?"
asked Mr.. Barnes.
"No, sir.''
Gas matter of fact you do not knew whe ther
or not Mrs. Leake called?"
mo, sir; do not. Nearly every member OF
the church called. suppose she did,"
cat the time Blanche and Durrant returned
from the park did Blanche make statement
In presence of the defendant as to where they
had been and what they had been doing?"
Answer simply yes or no, please
Il can't remember. She told me something
about that time l can't remember whether it
was in Durrants hearing or not"
Dlck1nson-What month was this in which
they went to the park?
Wltness-I don't remember that. 1t must
have been between September and December.
She did not go with him after December.
Then came John G. Daily to the witness
stand. He was one of the men who searched
for the clothes in the belfry. He testified
that he stood on the platform in the belfry
on the Easter Sunday morning and received
the articles OF clothing that were handed
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-12
YOUR BLOOD.

In order to attain the full perfection Of
the enjoyment of perfect health, it is abso-
lutely essential that your blood should be
in perfect condition. And that is not the
case with one man out of ten. If we were
usually found with pure blood flowing
through our veins there would not be so
many cripples and deformed creatures on
earth. If you are out of sorts little bit
and you have "that tired feeling" or
case of weakness of the back, the certain
ties are that your blood wants purifying,
and for that purpose nothing can or ever
did compare to JOYS Vegetable Sarsapa-
rilla the great Californian home remedy.
One bottle is all the proof you want.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-12

sisters weight was lis pounds, because
Charlton had counted it off from the scale
beam to her.
Upon this showing General Dickinson
moved to strike out all the witness had
said. both Cd direct and cross-examina-
claimed that her testimony was incompe-
tent, and the court agreeing with him, the
evidence was expuHged from the records.
Barnes will have to prove Blanche La
mont's weight by the evidence of the man
who weighed her.
how long she had remained in the City
after Blanche Lamont's body was found,
and also what examination had been
made, if any, of the dead girls effects. He
elected the information that the detectives
had not searched Blanche Lamont's trunk
where she kept her letters, and that the
trunk was sent up to Montana when
Maud Lamont went home about three
DAVIS after Branches body was found in
the belfry. At home, the witness said,
her mother had taken Blanche's letters
out of the trunk and burned them, she
thought. If she had not done so, the wit
ness said the letters must still be there.
Then the District Attorney presented to
the witness a picture of her dead sister
and asked her if she could tell whose pic
ture 1t was. 1t was tintype taken from an
original photograph of Blanche Lamont
three or four years ago. Deuprey objected
to the picture He said it was picture Of
picture which had been taken when the
subject was in i'll health, and it was posi-
BILE that the subject had so changed in the
subsequent years as to make the picture
without value as testimony.
Barnes said he only wanted the witness
to tell whether Blanche Lamont, at the
time of her death, resembled the likeness
shown. The court refused to admit the
picture, and the defense had scored point,
for the picture was introduced to show
that Blanche Lamont was slim and light,
and inferentially that it was quite possible
for man of Durrant's strength to carry
her body up the belfry stairs.
Mr.. Barnes withdrew the picture, and
will present in its stead the original photo
graph. Then, Juror having important
business to look after, the court declared
an adjournment until 10 O'Clock this
morning.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-12

Barnes-I call your attention to these two
rings. Can you identify them?
Witness-Yes sir; they were Blanche's.
Barnes-After the Sd of April when did you
first see these rings?
Witness-fhey came to the house through
the mail.
Witness then identified the piece of news
paper in which the rings were wrapped and
the wrapper that came around the package
She said her aunt had opened the package
in her (witnesso presence.
Barnes-Did George King ever accompany
You and your sister home from church?
Witness-Yes, sir; but not often.
Barnes-Did you ever see Blanche and George
King together?
Witness-Yes, sir.
Barnes-I hand you this hat. Can you iden-
tify it?
Witness-Yes; that was the hat Blanche
wore when she left the house.
Barnes call your attention to this black
basque and skirt on the form. Do you recog-
niZe them?
The District Attorney brought out the
black-draped form again and placed it near
Maude Lamont.
Witness-Those are the garments Blanche
wore.
Barnes-And this book; do you recognize it2
Witness-Yes; Durrant brought it to the
house.
Barnes-When?
Witness-It was on Friday, April 5. He told
me Blanche had asked him for it, and that he
was on his way to the hospital, and, as he was
going past, he would leave it for her.
Barnes-Where did this conversation take
place?
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-12

the names of most of the people from the
church who called upon her after Blanche's
disappearance and after the body was
found She mentioned the names of as
many as she could recall Nearly every
body in the church called. Mr.. Dickin-
son wanted witness to name all the ladies
who called. She named a number of them,
but among these was not the name Mr..
Dickinson was longing to hear. Finally
he came out directly and asked:
'Do you know Mrs. Leake member of the
church,"
Eyes"
Chow long have you known herr"
az can't just remember that. Some time
Her granddaughter was in my class at Sunday
school,"
"Was she in the habit of calling at your
house and you at hers?'
81 called once to see her, after her grand
l think she came shortly after the body was
found. There were two old ladies called one
day. think one OF them was Mrs. Leake, but
l am not certain
chow long after the discovery of the body
was that?"
~ can't remember
"With whom did she CALI"
81 think it was Mrs. Ogden, but am not GER
tain that she called at ALL
"Please consider if this was not after the dis
appearance OF Blanche and before the discovery
of the body?'
al do not think so. 1t was not"
"Did you go to the church to attend the
prayer.meeting on the evening of the Sd of
April?'
''No, sir; went there to give Mr.. Gibson q
note"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-12
THE KIDNEYS.

There are more insidious attacks made
on the kidneys than on any of the other
glands of the human system. If you have
pain in the small of your back. if you
feel your groins troubling you, if your
thighs are apparently weak-it is high time
to be on the lookout for kidney trouble.
Joys Vegetable Sarsaparilla, though,
wards off these attacks in way that is
little short of miraculous, and you should
never be without it. Take it regularly and
make sure.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-12

"Did Maud return with them?"
"No, sir"
"You thought nothing of it at the timer"
Nothing"
what was the next time Durrant calledf"
at was with DR.. Vogel, after the disappear
ance of Blanche"
'was your husband present at the timer"
ayes, sir"
''Was the conversation held in the parlor?"
at was"
"Was the conversation concerning Blanche
addressed to Mr.. Noble?"
"Not particularly sou
The examination was very searching.
Attorney Dickinson went into every pos
sible point. In answer to some of the
questions Mrs. Noble said that when Dur
rant left the house that evening with DR..
Vogel he said that Blanche was such a
good girl she thought everybody else was
as good; he thought she might have been
carried off.
''Was there ANYTHING in his conduct that
night which attracted your attention." asked
Dickinson.
t'No, SIR
DOR in his language?''
"No, sir.''
Dickinson then led the witness to recall
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-12

all the church members to the house making
inquiries, and all that So l did not tell any
body. Ny husband did not return to dinner
that evening. l had not seen him before I
went to the church."
"Do you recollect Durrant using these words
that evening he called with Dr.. Vogel to Maud:
you must not feel so bad; you must cheer up;
every thing will turn out all right?'"
No, SIR he didn't say that. He told Maud
that if she ever wanted a friend to go to EN-
manuel Baptist Church.
Mr.. Dickinson then showed witness the
schoolbooks and the strap that was around
them and asked her whether she had ex-
amined them carefully enough to be able
to identify them.
Mrs. Noble said she had examined them
and could identify them.
Then followed long series of questions
about the strap, with the only end that
Mrs. Noble said she could identity it be-
cause there was a little piece of string on
1t that she had seen about two weeks before
Blanche disappeared. On that occasion
she borrowed Blanche's strap to use on a
package she took with her to the bank.
Mr. Dickinson then wanted to know
whether Blanche did not have her name on
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-12

Witness-At the door.
Barnes-Did you tell him your sister was
missing?
Witness-No, sir.
Barnes-Did he ask for Blanche?
Witness-Yes. sir. He asked if Blanche was
at home told him she had to leave for school
at half-past 8.
Barnes-What time was it then?
Witness-A quarter of 8.
Barnes-As matter of fact she had not been
home since the Sd?
Witness-No, sir.
Barnes-In the evening of the Sd of April did
you have conversation with your aunt con-
corning Blanche?
WitneSs-Yes, sir.
Barnes-Did you and Blanche occupy the
same room?
Witness-Yes, sir.
AT this point the noon recess was taken.
During the examination of Maud Lamont
Durrant showed his chair up close to that
of Deuprey and talked earnestly with
the lawyer for long while. Since the
trial began no testimony has interested
Durrant as much as that of the sister of
the girl for whose murder he is now on
trial
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-12

"And you sat down behind the defendant"
"No, sir; think he came in afterward and
took the seat in front OF NEE
''What was it he said to you"
"He asked me if Blanche was coming. l
said mo- He told me he had ridden on the car
with her that morning and had promised to
bring her book"
"What hour was this?"
Between half-past and s O'Clock, / think
as nearly as l can remember"
'Was there anything in his manner which
attracted your attentiong'
81 was so excited that did not notice him.
l remember that he wore an overcoat, but that
is all"
"Was he at all excited?"
81 don't know"
''But you were there and talked with him?'
Eyes, sir; but tell you / was so excited my
self that did not notice him."
Ibid you tell MIN about Blanche not having
returned homer"
"No, sir
''Was there any reason why you did not?"
eyes; when / started to go to church told
Maud would ask the people there if they had
seen Blanche. Maud asked me not to do this,
for it would only cause sensation and send
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-12
BLANCHE AND DURRANT.
Did Mrs. Leak Call Upon Mrs.
Noble After the Body
Was Found?
THE PRISONER INTERESTED
Maud Gives the Weight of Her
Sister, But the Evidence Is
Stricken Out.
THE DURRANT TRIAL IN A MINUTE-MAUD
TANFnNTrr A UITNECC

THE DURRANT TRIAL IN A MINUTE-MAUD
LAMONT A WITNESS.
The trial opened yesterday with Mrs. C. G.
Noble, the aunt of the murdered girl still on
the stand. Since the previous session she had
been able to fix the exact date upon which
Durrant and DR.. Vogel called at her house to
discuss the disappearance of her niece.
That date was Monday evening, April 8, five
days after Blanche's disappearance.
Then began the cross-exam1nation of Mrs.
Noble. Attorney Dickinson led her through
most exhaustive inquiry, but did not succeed
in changing her testimony of the day before in
any manner.
She was followed by John G. Daily, who
helped Starr Dare make his search of the belfry
for the garments of the murdered girl on Easter
Sunday shortly after the body was found. His
testimony corroborated that given by Dare.
Maud Lamont was the only other witness of
the day. Perhaps the most important point of
her acknowledging the weight of her sister
as rs pounds-was ordered stricken from the
record.
She identified the clothing of her sister, the
rings and the schoolbooks. She said her sister
was one year older than herself, and her age
was 20 years. Mr.. Barnes offered tintype of
Blanche for Identification by this Witness but
as it proved TO be only copy of another photo
graph the court ruled that the photograph
itself was the best evidence.
Maud Lamont's cross-examination consumed
the afternoon session. This morning the con-
ductor of the POwell-street car, Shermount,
will take the stand. He is expected to tell of
seeing Blanche and Durrant together on his
car on the morning of April 3.
NOTE TO THE READER.-H you wish only to
know what was actually accomplished in the
Durrant case yesterday the foregoing summary
will piva Won that in form bo1rauar
it is your desire to learn the particulars of this
interesting trial you will find subioined
clear, succinct, impartial account of all i'm
ipOrtant matters. Under no circumstances will
the offensive details be admitted. They are
not essential to an intelligent understanding
OF the progress of the case, and will be accorded
no place in these columns.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-12
THE MORNING. SESSION.
Testimony From Mrs. Noble-The
Entrance of Maud Lamont and
Her Evidence,


The days proceedings began with the
continuation of Mrs. Mobiles main exami-
nation by District Attorney Barnes. He
asked her whether she had been able to
refresh her memory concerning the date
upon which Durrant and DR.. Vogel had
called upon her relative to the disappear
ance of Blanche Lamont.
at was on Monday evening the 9Th of April
"Do you know about the weight of Blanche?'
"She told me ="
eve object to what she told" said Dickinson
sit is not proper to say what she told you,
Mrs. Noble" saiu the court.
"CrOss-examine," said the District Attorney.
al understand you have been acquainted
with this defendant about three years?" was
Dickinson's first question.
EYES, sir"
"Where did you first meet him?"
"At the church"
Glow frequently did you meet him."
"Once or twice week"
Didn't you introduce Blanche and Maud
Lamont to the defendant?"
81 don't think did"
care you Sure?"
'Well, may have"
SIS it not probable that you did?"
eyes, it is probable; but do not remember"
"The girls were acquainted with number of
young men at the church, were they not ?''
Eyes, sir
"Had Blanche many callers ?"
every few"
"But she had some %
81 don't think she had any from the church."
Ibid any body call ?''
f'Wel, there was a young man from Dillon
Mont, attending the Stanford University, who
called two or three times"
Cant you remember whether you intro
duced Blanche Lamont to Durrant ?"
'No; l cannot"
"But it was quite natural you should have
done so ?''
GsDurrant WAS active In the church 9n
eyes, sir.
"When you introduced Blanche and Maud
TO him did you not ask him to show them
some attention because of his position in the
church %
NO; remember nothing like that"
"Didn't you say, Theodore, now want you
to be attentive to these girls p"
mo; don't remember having said that
did you call him Theodore at that time %
II don't think so; may possibly have"
home or words like that?"
81 can't recall any such language"
Chow many times did Durrant call at your
house that you know of?'
Three times"
'sWhat was the occasion of the first time ?r
"When he returned home from the park
with Blanche one Sunday. He apologized to
me for having kept her out so long"
-''What time was it?"
"About O'Clock in the evening. He said it
was his fault keeping Blanche so late.'
''Were not George King and Maud Lamont
with them?'
mo, sir.'
"And didn't they all ask your permission to
go 10 the park?"
''No; they did not intend to go to the park
They started off from church and walked ahead
OF me little way. 1t was after church in the
morning"
''When was the second time Durrant called
at your house?"
"Once when he took Blanche and Maud to
concert at the church"
Did you see the defendant and Blanche
when they returned homer"
"No, sir"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-12
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
Dickinson's Rigid Cross-Examina-
ton Of Maud Lamont, the MUIR
dered Girls Sister

DlCkinSOn'S Rigid CrOSS-Examina-
ton Of Maud Lamont, the Muir
dered Girls Sister.
Maud Lamont was again called to the
stand when court opened in the afternoon,
and after few more questions on direct
examination, Attorney Dickinson sub
Jected the girl to long and exhaustive
cross-examination which consumed the re-
naming portion of the afternoon. The
cross-examination was mainly in relation
to the habits of Blanche Lamont. who
were her acquaintance and whom she
visited. and also as to her handwriting.
Resumlng his Characterization Barnes
took up the question of the weight of the
murdered girl.
when she was weighed?' began the District
Attorney.
Eyes, sir"
"How much did she weigh?'
zone moment" interrupted Deuprey.
when was it?" Barnes proceeded, changing
his question to anticipate the objection.
About in September last year"
GLOW much did she weigh then?"
81 object" said Dickinson.
"Why?' said the court.
Because it is incompetent, immaterial and
irrevelant."
objection overruled," said his Honor,
her sister then weighed us pounds.
Barnes then showed the clothing found
In the church to the witness, and she iden-
tilted the garments as belonging to her
dead sister.
"You say, Miss Maud, that when you saw
your sister weighed she weighed lis pounds?"
Eyes, sir"
81 object to that" said Deuprey, "because
the question has already been answered and I
move to strike out this answer"
The objection and motion to strike out
was overruled.
''Was your sister in the same condition when
you last saw her as when you saw her weighed?"
'sShe grew f1eshy after she came here"
"She grew feshier you say?" eagerly asked
Dlcklnson and Deuprey together
eyes, sir"
"How much heavier did she grow since
she came here?" asked Barnes, but un-
willing to be robbed of the advantage of
the previous statement, Dickinson objected
strenuously.
The question was allowed. however, and
the witness said her sister had grown five
or seven pounds heavier.
THAT'S all. CrOsS-examine, said Mr..
Barnes and General Dickinson proceeded
to follow up the evidence.
How long were you here befre you met the
DEFENDANT, was the first cross-question.
"Not very long,
where did you meet him? At the church."
Eyes, SIR"
Ibid you meet him frequentlyT
''With whom did you go to the church,"
with my uncle and my aunt"
..You used to go to the morning services"
Eyes, sir''
and stay, to sunday-school afterward?"
Yes, SIR"
Ibid you see Durrant often at the Sunday.
school?"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-12
RHEUMATISM.

The world has developed any number Of
so-called cures of this serious and trouble
some disease, but as they are all, or nearly
all, intended for local application, it is
easily seen that the people who invented
them are trying to give temporary relief
instead of permanent How differently
JOYS Vegetable Sarsaparilla goes about
it! 1t reaches the very root of the disease,
and destroys that, so that you can never
again be troubled. It never fails to help.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-12
ABOUT BUYING.

Are you accustomed to take lead for
silver, or copper for gold? No Then
why should you allow man who wants to
give you substitute for the genuine arti-
Gle hearing? You should tell him that
you do not intend to patronize him unless
he gives you EXACTLY what you want.
And EXACTLY what you want is JOYS
Vegetable Sarsaparilla.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-04-25

Chicago, April n An effort is be
ing made to draw into the cordage pool
half Il dozen or more western manu-
facturerS, who have been lighting the
trust for the past Two years. Three
months ago conference OF western
men was held in Chicago, but nothing
was done. Since Monday Cha rleS II.
Pearsons, of Boston, has been here in
conference with western men. Though
not willing to admit his connection
with the old cordage trust, Pearson
does not hesitate to say that the object
of his visit is to bring western manu-
facturers into harmony with the trade,
and get them to adhere to Il scale of
profit bearing prices during the COM
ing season.
Business in corlage and Irvine he
said has been subjected to sharp
competition. There has been no money
made during the past two seasons. If
things continue in the present unsat-
iSfactory manner there will be ruina
ton to some of the manufacturers.
There is not trust in the business at
present. 1t has been an open fight.
There will probably be an agreement
of manufacturers on Il fair basis !
cannot say there will be an absorption
of outside plants by what is termed
the trust. | have nothing to offer cN-
cent to present the conditions as they
exist to men as familiar with the sub
irct as mySclf"