davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1895-11-06
DURRANT TURNS AUTHOR.
The Convicted rlurderer of Blanche
Lamont Tells of ftis Feel
ings in Court.

William Henry Theodore Durrant has
turned author. He burns the midnight
oil in his cell at the County Jail and turns
out great heaps of manuscript, some pages
OF which THE CALL presents this morning,
rather as a literary curiosity than any
thing else.
Naturally, whatever Durrant writes in
his lonely cell is of absorbing interest to
the world, for he mas been the central
figure in one of the greatest criminal trials
of The century. He writes great deal
these days, and ID tell the trlth, is able to
command something more than fair
price for the product of his pen.
"You see" he said yesterday. THAT IS
one of the advantages of being notorious
man. / have had many offers from edit
ors who desire to print my writings ana
dealer in London has written to NE offer
ing 925 for my autograph alone. All this
will bring money to my parents at the time
when they need it most"
He has orders from various newspapers
and publications for manuscript. The
great New York dailies have made him
generous-even fabulous-offers for his
writings. The public is keen to know as
much as it can learn of this abnormal
man, who still smiles and preserves calm
and seemingly unaffected exterior, though
The San Francisco call., 1895-11-06
THEODORE DURRANT'S LIFE.
Compiled From His Own Evidence
Given on the Witness
Stand.

From Durrant's testimony and state
ments made by him during the trial the
following particulars of his life are col
iected:
1 am "a years of age and have resided in
San Francisco sixteen years. My father
and mother were married at Toronto,
Canada, on the Goth of June, 1870. They
were both natives of Canada. In Decem-
Der of 1879 my parents removed from To-
ronto to San Francisco. have one sister
living, Eullah Maud Durrant She is 81
years of age and is now in Berlin study
ing the pianoforte at the conservatory.
She left for Europe on the 14th of February
last.
With the exception of few trips 1 have
made I have always lived with my parents.
AT one time, ten years ago, lived at Santa
Rosa with my sister, whose residence
there was necessitated by the state of her
health, which was very poor.
When we first came to San Francisco we
lived in Hayes Valley, on Fell street, be-
tween Buchanan and Laguna. We lived
there only year or two and then removed
to Hayes street, opposite the Jesuit Col
lege, between Van Ness avenue and Frank
lin street.
While my sister and l were away at
Santa Rosa my mother and father lived in
rooms on Fifth street near .Iassia- fte-
The San Francisco call., 1895-11-06

came realize nv situation organism;
paralyzed My mind refused to think; felt
effort shake the feeling off, the
feeling of ietargy fastened dear mother
became conscious and felt like myself again. clasped her.
embraced her. looked her and felt relief
My strength and returned only to be startled
the cheering and vocfeous applause the multitudenotaby
hat cappng Mobiles
screeCfling of the crowd.
My thoughts swiftly my mother cared moth
Ing myself but did feel for dear,
respectful silence
ing blow her wounded heart. Yes declare reader
there nothing that has touched deeply
love and affection of dear mother whose heart pierced
daily for months and weeks during this ordeal finally
the broke
and the of the drama real life
people-wha shall say? hesitate bleeding
heart with her must
needs themselves like applaud
sorrowfui
All! words for language express nv
indignation such There nothing
ve degraded demoniacaI mammonaa devIis satanic mpis
1eiis rev the grief sorrow of
mothers heart.
Innocent that was, innocent that claim
posed with chds confidence at the outcome of the charge
gave testimony the whole willingly gave
whole truth-wheher it against stand
of the points the
which used against argument
into all helped crcum-
stantiaI evidence.
them have now the tri-
uph Of the innocent and although the law of the land
if must o God, Maker
will ever hereafter till my
life disappears beyond
stand the brink of eternity the
the gul of my soul that Innocent,
WILLIAM HENRY THEODORE DURRANT.
Cell %, County Jail, $, 1906
The San Francisco call., 1895-11-06

convicted'of murder so heinous that its
perpetration sent thrill OF horror round
the world.
In his communication to THE CALL, Dur
rant gives an inkling of that seeming
mystery of his calm and imperturbable
demeanor throughout the trial, and even
at its last moments when the dread YER
dict came.
He says he struggled to maintain his
calmncss and not to break down and show
feeling before his enemies. And this is
probably true. No matter how abnormal
a creature Durrant may be, it is hardly
probable that his seeming indiffer-
ence is natural, his GOODNESS unaffected.
Indeed, a man may be studied from many
points in his writings. To the practiced
eyes these present many opportunities for
the study of character that are not presented
in any other way.
To the student of chirography the hand
writing of Durrant viii present excellent
chances for the study of the mans charac-
teristics.
OF course the writer of the pages still
protests his innocence, though aiury of his
peers has adjudged him guilty. He also
pays his respects to the crowd that cheered
when Foreman Warren Dutton announced
the dread verdict of guilty.
Taken as q whole, Durrant's commune
cation to THE CALL is a unique document
in its way, and will repay careful study by
those who care to pry into the mysteries
and mainsprings of that phase of human
nature as presented in the case of William
Henry Theodore Dnrrant,
The San Francisco call., 1895-11-06

we came home our family again went
housekeeping at 305 Fell street. Seven
years ago we removed to my mother and
fathers present residence, 1925 Fair Oaks
street.
My education began at private school
when | was years of age. / have been
going to school continually since then.
though at vacation time, for the past eight
or nine years. have been employed at the
Golden Rule Bazaar, and have at different
times done odd jobs in electricity for vari-
ous persons. l worked for John Coon
once; he is president of the Belvedere
Land Association. l wired the house of
Joseph Perkins and also did work for Mr..
Bunker.
When / graduated from the grammar
school l went to the Cogswell Polytechnic
School and then to the Cooper Medical
College.
About five years ago, when Emmanuel
Church was first built, became mem ber
of its congregation, and from tha. time till
my arrest | was regular attendant at all
its services and social gatherings. Prior to
the building of Emmanuel Church at
tended Grace Methodist Episcopal Church
and Sabbath-schooi. Before that, when /
was quite small, / went to the Trinity
Presbyterian Sunday-school.
When my father and mother first came
here from Toronto they brought church
letters and presented them to the Metro
polltan Temple congregation, which was
at that time presided over by the Rev. Mr.,
Kalloch. Until was arrested for this
crime my life was very pleasant and there
was nothing in it at all out of the ordinary
The San Francisco call., 1895-11-06
DURRANT'S LETTER TO "THE CALL

cannot describe the peculiar feeling that kept creeping
Judge Muphy charge to the jury drew closer and closer
the end; and the last of the charge
tarly looked about if ASK "What P" felt
of chaos for nstinctveIy
eyes the jury and looked
know what they going to do Ionged yeaned for their
expressions hear them looked steadfastIy the
of their tried
read in their faces which of them for against
Hope and fell cast searching looks them felt
relieved again felt disturbed the looks another
ard all at they filed out of their box the
felt cloud mind and all became blank
the looked around; my friends
great thirsty crowd of Curiosity-seeker
wondered myself that should pos
sessed when all these people had centered their interest
They the evidence hear and the end
trial. and of it ALL
inwardIy felt amused then all at flash OF position
to control feelings and all out
least, calm and Indifferent But askng
and presently when the jurors filed back
the took their Seats ah with what remarkable
rapdiy scanned their faces from the other
their before the would unfold
tightly slip paper the keeny
my predcament In less than minute should
all presentmens all opinions hope
all fear and doubt decided
Dutn unfold the reading
verdict felt as if half dozen reading
felt reading the
another catch another my
great deep mystery of
AS he uttered the first |
the peculiar tremor seized body
myself hear the verdict the last
uttered cold chill passed through Instantly all
doubt passed and became of feeling
forebodng the ill The change of
The record-union., 1895-10-04
TIE UNGaAIbFUl CITY DEMOCRACY.
1t Has Bounced the Faithful Larry
Farrell.
He Was Last Night Locked Out From
Its Coincii-How the Vacau-
cles Wore Filled.

The Democratic City Central Commit
tee probably killed one vote for its party
last night, and Larry Farrell has the
modification of knowing that he is not
considered good enough TO associate with
the members of the committee.
When the late and unlamented Armory
Hall Convention" concluded its labors
it left vacancy on the Central Commit
tee 10 be filled by some one from the
First Ward. The delegates from that
neck of the woods subseq uently met and
placed the conmitteeman's mantle on the
shoulders OF Mr.. Lawrence Farrell.
Larry" as his moro intimate friends
take the liberty of calling him. has been
for, 10, these many years faithful newer
OF wood and carrier OF water in the ranks
of MS party, the only political honor that
it ever conferred upon him being 10 orna-
ment his breast with policeman's star.
a few years ago. when The annual po-
lice deal came round. Larry somehow
became lost iii The shuttle, and ever since
he has been yearnng for The Hesh-pots
and political distinction.
" uon he was CHOSEN the other night to
represent the First y ard on the commit
tee that Is to guide The destiuie- OF the
q. q. D. until the next Arnory hall fam
dango comes oil, lie was happy.
Eut now Larry's heart Is in gloom
again, and even the Harp That Once
Through Iara's Halls" was heard coulu
not arouse III him anything like his old
time tlre and zeal.
LAST night tho Democratic Committee
handed down by the LaRue- Armory
Han Convention met and declared that
there was no vacant chair III its circle !oy
Mr.. Farrell and refused TO recognize him
rs one OF its number.
Ine place MAS given 10 Richard VI.
Clarken, The weli-kuown lawyer, and
now there is nothing left Tor Larry To do
but Join either the Popuiist or Citizens'
parties. Ii costs big round dollar TO
got into the latter organization, but the
oIhe! is probably cheaper.
After dIscardlng MIR. Farrell the COM
nittee elected H. J. ManniX 10 represent
the Ninth W ard.
Dr. G.. t. Bain bridge was placed on the
Ticket as Ine candidate Tor School DI-
rector from the First Ward, and l.. {.
Biliups was chosen as the nominee for
School Director .rotH The Ninth Ward.
John 0c1sner was made the nominee
FOR Trustee from the Fourth Ward.
No action wRs taken concerning the
vacancies on the ticket Tor CITY Attorney
and Auditor ami Assessor.
The record-union., 1895-10-04
ALL THE ACCUSATIONS DISMISSED.
It Was On Motion of the District
Attorney
9. 8. Holl Gives Up All Hope of Con-
victing the Supervisors Under
the Courts Ruling.

When Judge Catlin's court convened
yesterday morning r. t. Devlin, of coun-
Sci for Supervisors Morrison, Todd and
Curtis. announced they were ready TO
proceed to trial on the other cases.
District Attorney Ryan said that he
desired the presence of S. S. Holl, who
was assisting in the prosecution, in order
that he might consult with him as to the
best course to pursue. When Mr.. Holl
came in they held consultation and MIR.
Holl said that, under the ruling OF the
court in Supervisor Curtis case. he could
not hope to secure a conviction in the
other cases. and in his opinion it would
be q useless expenditure OF time and
money to 60 on with them.
The District Attorney thereupon moved
to dismiss the other accusations, thirty
one in number, and the court ordered
them dismissed.
There were eight different accusations
against each Supervisor, making thirty
two in all, and the accusations bsing alike
on each count, to the effect that the
Supervisor cast his vote for the payment
of the claim set forth In the accusation,
contrary to the form, force and effect OF
the statutes in such case made and pro-
vided. and that by reason of such vote
became guilty of willful and corrupt
violation of his official duty as super
visor.
The claims allowed were those of Geo.
ID. Irvine, George Cutter, j. NJ. Stephen
son and p. II. McGrath as Deputy Assess
ors, George NJ. Mott for II. S. Crocker 81
Co., and Q. j. Ellis for the Southern Pa
cific Company, E. S. Wachhorst. Deputy
County Clerk, and r. L. Cohn as Deputy
Recorder
The record-union., 1895-10-04
SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Miss F. Sterling of Detroit. Mich, is
visiting In this city.
James Govan is recovering from his
recent severe illness.
Mr.. and Mrs. L. Rosenberg of New
York are at the Golden Eagle.
Ex-senator r. B. Carpenter of Los
Angeles is stopping at the Golden Eagle
Mr. and Mrs. c. j. Titus have returned
home from a weeks visit to the coast re-
sorts.
John Eagan. the well-known telegraph
operator, Will go to San Francisco to-day
10 reside.
William Beckman. President of the
Peoples Savings Bank, aud Is. L. Stein
man. President OF tha Farmers and Me-
chanics' Bank, left last evening for
Fresno to attend the Bankers Conven-
ton.
Assemblyman J. 4. Bassford of So
lano County. Under Sheriff T. l.. Robin
son of that county and Beach Bassford
passed through the city last night on
their way to ktna, Slskiyou County, for a
big deer hunt.
The record-union., 1895-10-04
WHAT MORRISON SAYS.
He Will Sue the Members of the Grand
Jury for damages.

He VIII Sue the Members of the Grand
Jury for damages.
Supervisor Morrison said, in converse
ton with RECORD UNION representative
last night: II never voted for the ap-
pointment Of any deputies, and the rec
ords of the Board of Supervisors show
the fact. Nor did ever vote for any Of
their claims, having always refused to
do so.
when the Grand Jury called me before
them in this matter. l told them that [
had never voted either TO employ depu-
ties or TO pay their claims, and that the
claim book would show that 1 had al
ways refused to sign their claims. l also
told them that the other members of the
board understood the matter and would
corroborate my statement, but when
they called them they never asked them
anything about il.
They knew perfectly we'll then, when
they found the accusations against me,
that had not done what they charged.
! would not sign the claim book, and the
board authorized Supervisor Jenkins to
sign the deputies claims.
-. w. Hughes, who was my personal
attorney. and r. L. Devlin, who was
counsel Tor the board, advised it not TO
accept Judge Jonnson's decision, that the
DOdrO ulQsI pay LHe Salary OF Assistant
District Attorney j. Charles Jones, but TO
appeal from it; but the District Attorney
advised the board 10 accept it and it did
80.
II declined to vote on the resolution
giving Irvine power to appoint deputies
and advised the board TO let tho State
Board of Equalization order their APP
pointment, but they said that if the State
Board ordered il the deputies would get
50 day under the law, and that ii they
authorized Irvine to appoint be would
only pay them Sl00 month"; total saw
ing of 500 month.
'When Judge Johnson's decision was
rendered l notified the board that | did
not want to have TO segregate the depu-
ties claims every time we passed on bills,
but would refuse TO vote for their claims
every time, and wanted to be understood
as so voting. and they all understood per-
fectly that WAS my position and can cor
roborate me. This was all explained to
the Grand Jury.
''What do L propose to do? Well,
propose to sue every member of the
Grand Jury, and have redress for the in
Jury they have done me. | told them if
1 had done anything wrong that they
should indict me, but did not propose
TO have scurrilous reports circulated
about me, or to have my character
blackened. l propose to see ii man
can be vilified and prosecuted in this
way without just cause, and | propose to
find out, if possible. the motives that
actuated the mem bers. l shall commence
with the foreman first"
The record-union., 1895-10-04
Wassern1an, Davis &CO.
AGENTS FOR BUTTERICK PATTERNS,
Corner Fifth and Streets, Sacramento.

This number also contains some unusu-
ally interesting short stories and poems.
"Godey's MagaZine' for October (52
Lafayette Place, \. W is q southern
number, very handsomely illustrated and
largely devoted to the Atlanta Exposi-
ton. 1t is very fully and very hand
somely illustrated. Among the more
prominent articles are these: "rhe Cot
ton States Exposition" John ).
Cohen; king Cotton and His Subjects. -
Lee j. Vance; daniel Chester French.
Sculptor" with illustrations OF his stat
uary, Robard; The Fate of Gigi," tale
OF Little Italy, Walter b. Crane; "Heal-
ing Without Medicine" John X. Musick:
"A Confession OF Success" Frances A.
Mathews; Great Singers of This Cen
tury," Albert l.. Parkes; French
Beauty" discourse on the Gallo type:
Music i'll America-Ihe Cleveland Col
ony," Rupert hughes; THE Vendemmia
at ' lila 1ori," with drawings by. X. q.
Nosburgh from photographs, Belle
Spaidlng; "Godey's Fashions" Countess
Annie lie Montaign.
"harper's Weekly" of September 2Sth
contains large and handsomely Illus
trated supplement devoted to the FORTH
coming revival at Athens Of the ancient
Olympic games, which will be attended
by an immense concourse OF athletes from
90 - wv - A0S' h0 AitlCio 10 WIlbleu Dy
Demetrius kalopothakes. Ph. d., the
correspondent at Athens OF the London
"Ilmes." The paper contains a descrip-
tlon OF The restored Stadion, in which the
games will be held. aud views of many
other examples of modern Greek archi-
lecture. aud an interesting account of the
circumstances leading to the re-establish-
ment OF the ancient sports.
"Harper,,s Bazar" of September 2Sth
was characterized by breezy outdoor
feeling. a hunting costume, easily adapt
able 1or bicycle use, has the place of
honor. House gowns from Paris are
illustrated by Chapuis. and variety OF
toilets Tor the autumn meets every re-
quirement OF the moment. Interesting
stories and miscellany make the number
very attractive. Notes from the several
woInen's colleges outline plans for the
season.
The record-union., 1895-10-04
East half lot s. F and G, Twenty ninth

East half lot s. F and G, Twenty-ninth
and Thirtieth streets.
Orangevale Colonization Company to
A. w. McKenzie-Tract 81, Orapgevale.
Lee Stanley ct ux to Isador Cohen
East 30 feet of lot 4, l. and M, Seventh
and Eighth streets.
Peoples Savings Bank to c. Ryan. as
signee OF j. T. Barry-East l50 feet of
north half lots and 6, Q and r. Eigh-
leenth and Nineteenth streets.
The Changers Hall Association OF
Florin to Trustees I. 0. 0. f. No. SOL
Part Of lot Is. town of F'lorin.
Cordelia Z. Willis mson to f. y. Lam
bert-Seventoen and one-half acres in
southeast quarter section 5, township
north, range east.
The record-union., 1895-10-04
No such Advertising.

From the Rcdlands Cltrograph.l
Fifty thousand copies of the Sacra-
mento RECoRD-U UNIONS great Electric
Carnival number have been ordered to
be sent TO the Atlanta Exposition. Good
There is no sucn advertising as can be
done by the newspapers, and there will
be returns from those $4,000 copies
greater than could he gotten from lik Q
sum OF money spent in any similar man
ner
The record-union., 1895-10-04
HOTEL ARRIVALS

Arrivals at the Golden Eagle Hotel yes
terday: c. f. Scott. Albert Goodman, q.
z. Riley, Charles VI. Max well. f. Rosen-
berg and wife, New FORK; X. W. Miller,
Santa Rosa: j. b. Lippincott, X. b. Car
peuter. Los Angeles; f. b. Westcott, st.
Louis; Miss Eranch Sterling, Detroit,
Mich; E. G. Winchell, Fresno; w. +.
Holden. ". q. Watkins, Max Levin. II.
Marston, E. Cooke and wife, j. A. Fen
ger. Jerome L. Young, X. n. Ruffis, Z.
NJ. Ferguson, Mrs. S. ). Stiles. A. b. CAL
der, a. q. Glenn, L. z. Davis, NJ. NJ. Din
kespiel, Oscar \. Schlam. G. H. Clarke.
San Francisco; 4. W. O. O'Brien. Oakland.
The record-union., 1895-10-04
six Persons Injured.

New YORK, Oct. 2-Six persons were
injured this afternoon by an explosion OF
Roman candles in tho fireworks factory
of Detwiler. Il Street in Jersey City. one
OF the injured will die. Following is The
list; William Booklet, Will probably die
Herman Krakow. Nicholas Laibold,
Clifford Mount aud Ernest Nelson. rhe
building in which the explosion occurred
was frame structure and was COM
pletoiy burned.
The record-union., 1895-10-04
IN a BoX-CAR
james uilI says Three Men Assaulted
Him here.

JaiGcS s1itl -ssN hitG 41en ASStt
Him here.
\ man named James Hill reported at
the police station last night that he was
assaulted in a boX-car at. Front and y
streets by three young men, who at
pied TO rob him. Failing in their at
tempt. he said, one OF them struck him on
the nose with coupling pin, fracturing
his skull.
Iill said he was sleeping in the car and
was aroused by his assaianis. lie at
tempted 10 get up to see who they were
ami what they wanted, when one OF them
struck him.
Officers Fisher and George McManus
ran across three young men later OH and
took TWO of ;ben to Jail on suspicion OF
being bad characters. he other escaped.
Inc two men arrested gave their nauies
as Charles Burtcher and William Glenn.
Burtcher carried Il sack continuing TWO
or three pair of Indian inoccasins.
The record-union., 1895-10-04
Real Estate Transfers.

The following real estate transactions
have been recorded since our last report:
Charlotte NJ. MeClstchy to Minnie L.
Fogarty-East half lot 8. and X, Fiji
teenth and Sixteenth streets.
State OF California TO j. J. Atkinson
(patent)-Suryey 50S.
Eli Mayo to A. e. Gidlund-North half
lots and 2, q and b, Twenty-third and
Xwenty-fourth streets.
Virginia Comte to Sid Eldred-West
half lot 2, Il and NJ, Ninth and Tenth
streets.
c. L. Wright ct ux to w. S. Sampson
The record-union., 1895-10-04

= Ben JOnson WAS an out-and-out Bo-
hemian. Was he not nick named "the
canary bird" on account of his fondness
fer canary wine? And was it not his
habit to get drunk as a preliminary
to course OF study in bed or to work?
Was he not also founder and President
OF the Apollo Club at the Devil Tavern in
Eieet street.
The record-union., 1895-10-04
Argued aud Submitted.

The case of Conrad Gibfried VS.. John
Wagner WAS argued and submitted on
briefs yesterday in Judge Johnson's
court.
Gibfriea sued for the estate of Michael
Wagner deceased. claiming that John
Wagner had unduly influenced the de-
ceased, who was old and weak minded.
Wagner testified that he had furnished
money to the deceased aud supported
him.
The record-union., 1895-10-04
Costly Fire in Ohio.

CAMBRIDGE, Oct. "A fire early this
morning destroyed large portion of the
business center of the town. Assistance
from GAINESVILLE and Barnesville pre-
vented q Wholesale conhagration. Losses
Will aggregate S2O0,000. A man named
Frank Laws was burned to death in
Davis livery stable.
The record-union., 1895-10-04
hni,. hts of pythias election.

At the regular meeting OF Capitol
Lodge, No. l57. Knights OF Pythias. on
Wednesday night, an animated election
took place to I'LL the vacancy in the office
OF Inner Guard. occasioned by the resg-
nation OF u. ). Spears.
Several candidates were nominated, but
Knight Gilmore received majority of
The votes cast. and was declared elected.
Professor Joseph ". II. Johnson and \.
" llliams conducted the election.
The record-union., 1895-10-04
TOPICS OF THE TURF.
STAR POINTER WINS THE BIG
PACE AT TERRE HAUTE.
Racing Events at Detroit, Gravesend
Park, san Francisco and
Other Tracks.

TERRE HAUTE Qnd.), Oct. 3-Star
Pointer won the 2:1O pace, as it was ex-
pected he would, in one, two, three order.
Summaries:
wo-thirty-five trot, purse $1,000, Fitz
Royal won, Judge Rice second, Pattie
Clark third. Best time-2:l64.
IWO-tan 81 hnn.
The record-union., 1895-10-04
socinl Last Evening

\ well-ailended and very pleasant
social was given last evening at the Six
teenth-street Lutheran Church. There
was charming programme oi musical
AMI literary exercises, aud refreshments
wero served.