The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-29
A PLOT no FREE DURRAST.


Witnesses Were to Prove an Aibi-one
OF Them Confesses-
San Francisco. Oct. "a strange story
OF an alleged plot IN connection with the
rial OF Theodore Durrant came 20 light
today through a letter addressed to the
coroner. The police claim they have
known OF the plot for some time, and that
knowledge that the plot had been dlscoF-
cred led Attorney Deuprey, for the de-
Tense, 20 abandon the plot and take 10 his
bed. leaving the closing management OF
the case 70 Attorney Dickinson, who. ft
r. alleged. did not know OF the plot Six
men are. according TO the story, in1plicat-
ed. as they were 20 swear TO false state
meats prepared for them. II is alleged, by
the defense. The police say the plan was
conceived entirely BY Durrant and car
ried out largely under his direction by the
aid OF one OF MS counsel The plan was
70 make such evidence would prove an
alibi for Durrant and at the same time
isnplicate Rev. j. George Gibson in the
murder OF both Blanche Lamont and Min
ME Nlisama. One IF these alleged wit
nesses. who sy his letter TO the coroner
confesses his part ia the plot. said he and
others we're ready 10 manufacture an al!bi,
but when they were asked to implicate
Gibson they weakened and gave hint 10
the police, whicl spoiled the whole plan.
The letter, dated October q and signed
George Reynolds. is as follows:
Tonight Will seek rest from all world
IL cares In these waters near the Cliff
house. ! write this 50 that you need
have no inquest or Identification. 1 was
some months ago 10 be a witness IN Dur
rants trial for the murder of Minnie
Williams. / send you a statement pre-
pared for me 10 learn with FIVE other men
named Snythe, Dugan. Stewart, Taylor
and Harrington. / objected TO taking part
In the matter because part OF the plan was
70 implleate Preacher Gibson. / assisted
+. NJ. Thayer, Durrants friend. in fixing
Up the plan. Smythe, Dugan and Stew
art were 10 be witnesses IN the Lamont
case, and Taylor, Harrington and / were
TO help him out in the Williams case. I
tried 10 get the statements OF the other
five 10 enclose with this. but they would
not give them up. Smythe was 10 say
Blanche Lamont was at his house near
Haywards until Friday. April 5. when she
LEFT for home. The strap with Blanche La
monts name 7 marked myself with her
name. cut OF an end OF the strap and
sent Il 10 Chief Crowley three months ago.
with other matter Dicknson's explana-
ton about the strap IS clever out very
improbable. ] am not surprised that Deu-
prey is sick. and should think Dickinson
would be sick too Dugan and Stewart
were 10 say they had been 10 DR.. An
thongs funeral In Oakland on Friday.
April ). and when returning saw Miss La
mont on the ferryboat, Dugan knowing
a bloody handkerchief with the initial
c. meaning Gibson. upon Il. / lettered
five other handkerchiefs, and Thayer sent
them by messenger to Gibson, with a
card written by Smythe. saying. From
Four little infant class girls The bloody
handkerchief was to be offered as having
been found in lot back OF the church on
Sunday April II. But IL never vas de-
livered because we declined TO take part
In a plot to implicate Gibson. This Is all
/ have got TO say Let Durrant say the
rest GEORGE REYNOLDS"
Accompanying the letter was a lengthy
statement comprising purp0rted bogus tes-
timony which Reynolds was to learn be-
fore going on the witness stand The
statement was written and backed IN
legal form. The. statement was rot writ
ten by the writer OF the letter. because
in the typewritteu statement several cor
rections had been made with pen In the
Reynolds letter
Coroner Hawkins said: "I have turned
this letter over to the police for investi-
CATION. II looks like hoax, but u Is pos
siole that Durrant or some one connect
ed with the defense may have prepared
this story as Reynolds says. The state
ment which accompanied the letter shows
careful work. and was no doubt prepared
by some one who had made the closest
study OF the case. II Durrant could prove
what Is stated in the document ne would
20 forth free man"
The substance OF Reynolds typewritten
statement was that he had known Dur
rant for ten years and that he had met
him on the evening OF April =, The night
Minnie Williams was murdered. The state
ment says he met him on Howard street,
where they talked some time. In
friendly scufffe purrant was unintention-
ally thrown 70 the ground. Durrant said
he was sorry he had got dirt on his
clothes. as he had 70 20 10 party where
there would be ladies present Durrant
then left for nr Nogefs house. and wit
ness. looking at the clock. noticed that it
was S.3S.
An Associated Press reporter traced Key
holds 20 the address given in his statement,
at the Central lodging house. Sl Market
street The place IL cheap lodg ng
house The tanitor says he members
Reynolds. but the latter has not been there
lately.
The trial Of Durrant viii he resumed
tomorrow morning. when Mr.. Dickinson
viii continue hts argument on behalf OF
Tho prisoner. Dickinson will speak for an
hour. and 10 followed by Attorney Deu-
nrey. who viii occupy the remainder or
he dav in making the closing argument
Tor the defense From the present outlook
District Attorney Barnes viii begin his
address wednesday morning. Barnes
speerh will consume n day and half ard
on Thursday afternoon, 70 Is believed. the
case viii be submitted 20 the jury.