The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-10-29
Not Dictated by Durrant but
Concerning Him
MANUFACTURED TESTIMONY
Is Said TO Have Been Carefully Pre-
pared
A Consplrstor Claims to Have Weakened and
Reveclei the Plot-The Case
Goes on Today


SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2S.-The trial
OF Theodore Durrant will be resumed to-
morrow morning, when General Dickin-
son will continue his argument on behalf
OF the prisoner. Dickinson will speak
for an hour and be followed oy Attorney
Deuprey, who will occupy the remainder
OF the day in making the closing argu-
ment for the defense. From the present
outlook District Attorney Barnes will be
gin his address Wednesday morning.
Barnes speech will consume day and a
half, and on Thursday afternoon, it is be-
lieved, the case will be subm TIED to the
jury.
A strange story OF an alleged plot in
connection with the trial of Theodore
Durrant camo to light today through a
letter addressed to the coroner. the po-
lice claim they have known of the plot
for some time, and that the knowledge tn at
the plot had been discovered led Attor-
ney Deuprey for the defense to abandon
the case and take to his bed, leaving the
closing management of the case to Gen
eral Dickinson, who. it is alleged, did not
know of the plot. Six men are, accord
ing to the story, imp llcatcd. as those who
were to swear to false statements pre-
pared for them, it is alleged. by the de-
Tense. The police say the plan was con-
ceived entirely by Durrant and carried
out largely under his direction, by the
aid OF one OF his counsel. The plan was
to make such evidence as would prove an
alibi for Durrant and at the same time
implicate Rev. j. George Gibson in the
murder OF both Blanche Lamont and
Minnie Williams. One of these alleged
witnesses, who, by his letter to the coro-
ner. confesses his part in the plot said
he ana others were ready to manufacture
an abb, but when they were asked to
i'm plicate Gibson they weakened and
gave the hint to the police, which spoiled
the whole plan.
The letter dated October 81, and signed
George Reynolds, is as follows:
Tonight l will seek rsst from all
worldly cares In these waters near the
Cliff House. | write this so you need
have no inquest or Identification. | was
some months ago to be a witness in the
Durrant trial for the murder of Minnie
Williams. | send you statement pre-
pared for me to learn, with five other
men, named Smythe. Dugan, Stewart,
Taylor and Harrington. l objected to
take pat in the matter because part of
son. | assisted f. M. Thayer, Durrant's
friend, in fixing up the plan. Smythe,
Dugan and Stewart were to be witnesses
in the Lamont case. and Taylor, Harring-
ton and | were to help him out in the
Williams case. l tried to get the state
ments of the other five. to enclose with
this, but they would not give them up.
Smythe was to say Blanche Lamont was
at his house, near Haywards, until Fri
day, April 5th, when she left for home.
The strap with Blanche Lamont's name
| marked myself with her name. l cut
off the end OF the strap and sent it to
Chief Crowley three months ago with
other matter. DicKinson's explanation
about the strap is clever, but very i'm
probable. | am not surprised Deuprey is
sick should think Dickinson would be
sick, too. Dugan and Stewart were to
say they had been to DR.. Anthony's fun
eral in Oakland on Friday. April 5th,
and when returning SAW Miss Lamont on
the ferry boat, Dugan knowing her well.
The plan was also to produce a bloody
hand kerchief with the initial C. mean
ing 81 bson, uron it. l lettered five other
handkerchieis and Thayer sent the by
messenger to GIBSON, with card writ
infant class girls. The bloody ltandker-
chief was to be offered as having been
found in a lot back of the church on
Sunday, April l4th, but it never was de-
livered, because we declined to take part
in the plot to implinate Gibson. This
is all have got to say; let Durrant tell
the rest
Accompanying the letter was lengthy
statement comprising the purrorted
bogus testimony which Reynolds was to
learn before going on the witness stand.
The statement was typewriter and backed
in legal form. The statement was not
written by the writer of the letter, be-
cause the typewriter statement con.
tanned several corrections, which were
made by pen in handwriting which diff
fered from that in Reynolds letGer Coro-
ner Hawkins said: 81 have turned this
letter over to the police for investigation.
1t looks like a hoax, but it is posi-
bic that Durrant or some one connected
with the defense has prepared this
story. as Reynolds says. The statement
which accompanied the letter shows care
full work, and no doubt was prepared by
some one who had made a close study Of
the case. 1t Durrant could prove what
is stated in the document he would go
forth free man."
The substance of Reynolds typewriter
statement was that he had known Dur
rant for ten years. that he had met him
on the evening of April II, the Eight |
Minnie Williams was murdered. The |
sta tement says that he met him OH How |
ard street, where they talked some time. |
In friendly scutfie Durrant was thrown
to the ground. Durrant said he was sorry
he got dirt on his clothes as he had got |
to go to party where there would De !
ladies present. Durrant then left for DR.. |
Voeeps house, and the witness looking |
at the clock noticed that it was $3.50.
An Associated Press reporter traced
Reynolds to the address given in this |
S statement, as the Central lodging house,
81 Market street. The place is a cheap |
lodging house. the janitor says the re-
mem bers Reynolds, but the latter has |
not been there lately.