The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-10-13

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 12.-Ths
story Of the mysterious statement of
Durrant. sealed in an envelope
marked. ITO be opened if I am con-
victed." brought forward so promi-
nently by District Attorney Barnes.
does not seem to worry the defendant
or his lawyers so much as it angers
them Durrant himself Is not only
wrathful. 6ut processes to be greatly
surprised at the conduct of the re-
porter, upon whose testimony he
thinks the prosecution will rely TO es-
tabHsh its point.
Il do not like to say anything against
a woman" said Durrant, "but my dis
appointment is so keen that L cannot
keep silent.
"The reporter has been kind to mo
in many Ways-has given me repeated
assurances Of belief in my innocence,
and has often said that I had her
prayers for speedy termination of
this terrible nightmare. She has re-
peatedly sought expressions Of opinion
from me- Adhering to an infexible
rule Of not denying or indOrSing any
thing. whether for or against me.
always gave her the same answer My
time had not come to talk.
"At recent call she detailed this
dramatic yarn about my having writ
ten a mysterious something which
put in an envelope with a strict injunc-
ton. distinctly written on the outside.
that it be returned to me in case Of
acquittal. or opened in the event of
conviction. These stupid stories an
nOyeo me, and, realizing how much
talk this would make. I asked he as
a special favor that she make no mex
Of oft ~.
press or the prosecution. She readily
assented to my request, and even went
further
If you doubt me- she said. get
your Bible ! took that dear book and
passed it to her. She placed it on the
wicket door and solemnly swore that
she would make no mention Of it.
Durrant Much Surprised.
Imagine my surprise when the dis
trict attorney asked me about that
envelope 1t was not that 1 cared
about the story-it was not true; L
had nothing to fear. So little did it inn
press me after I supposed it was rele-
gated to oblivion, where 1t belonged
that [ had absolutely forgotten it.
Il wrote a statement. it is true.
Everybody knows that. 1t was made
public, but somewhat Earbled- There
was nothing mysterious about it and
no envelope enclosed it.
The papers and the people," con-
tinued Durrant. talk of my GOODNESS
my nerve Tt is not my fortitude IN
this hour of darkness, it is my all
abiding faith in God that sustains me
I have faith in his goodness; that he
will protect me because [ am Innocent
of these frightful crimes.
Or Graham" the prisoner
branched off. Il have always looked
upon as an honorable fellow, and I
cannot think but what he will tell ex-
actly what occurred at our meeting
Surely what he said and what Dun
nigan has bartered for hard cash
must be COMPOUNDED.
When Dunnigan came here with
Graham, he told me he was a CORES
pOndent for an eastern paper and was
anxious to set me right in the eastern
papers. AS 7 was not consenting to
interviews, had to decline his fatter-
ing offer.
"The district attorney has made con-
siderable
Sport of My Ignorance
of the word alfbi. 7 had never been
interested in things criminal; I had
never read a trial; the word was as
strange to me as If it had been San
skirt After my arrest heard the
word several times, wondering what it
was and did not ask, as knew it
would make me appear ignorant. The
conversation soon instructed me-"
Durrant does not appear to take
much stock in the general opinion that
the district attorney hurt the case of
the defense when he probed SO deeply
into the matter of the man in the
light coat who, Durrant swears, gave
him the clew that sent him to the
ferry. The detectives of the defense
are inclined 10 make light of this
part of the matter. Thev have eStab-
lished to their own satisfaction the
identity of the unknown who. they
claim. tapped Durrant on the shoulder
and started him for the ferry
The mysterious person, they say,
was nothing more than one of the Of
fcers of the police department of the
city and county of San Francisco They
argue that for some days prior to
April 10 the name of Durrant had been
Joined by the police with the myster-
tous disappearance of Blanche Lamont,
Carrying out this idea. one of the men
in citizens clothes, who had seen Dur
rant. was detailed on the afternoon Of
April u to accost the suspect, wher-
ever found. and to give him Tip
which would lead him to the ferry.
where another man could have an op-
pOrtunity to see whether or not he
came. and if he did to watch him
closely and report his actions.
That is the theory the defense has
figured out. Captain Lees denied it.
SHIP SUNK-ALL LOST.