Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1895-07-28
Erheodore purr.nt.. Trial.

SAX FRANCISCO, July 3-Hund:
reds OF people surrounded the county
Jail this morning eager to see William
Henry Theodore Durrant taken tothe
new City Hall to be tried for the
murder OF Blanche Lamont and Min
! ME Williams in Emanuel Church last
April.
1t was supposed that Durrant would
be kept in Jail until near the time for
commencing the trial. The waiting
crowds were disappointed. At s:45
a. N. Sheriff Whelan sent his private
buggy tothe county Jail and Durrant
and Chief .Jailer Sattler entered this
open buggy and started at once for
the City Hall. No one saw them
start except the deputy iaileB. Dur
rant was not %handcuffed. and the pair
attracted no attention as they drove
quietly through the streets The
early hour disappointed the watchers
at both ends OF the journey,
After Durrant had passed into the
court room, where he was taken for
safety, the crowds began to gather Mt
the jail, and all streets in the vicinity
were black with people.
After the hour for opening court
the people early filled the corridors
leading to the court room Of the SUI
perior Court Of Judge Murphy, be-
fore whom Durrant is to be tried. a
squad Of Deputy Sheriffs and detec.
tives kept the crowd on the move IN
til the regular hour for the opening
OF the court. Deputies guarded both
doors OF the court room and admitted
none but jurors, attorneys and news
papermen. These occupied all the
seats in the room. and all the chairs
being taken, Judge Murphy ordered
that none other be admitted.
Durrant's father, who greatly re-
sembles his son and who appears to
be about the same age, was early at
the court to meet his son. The two
sat in quiet conversation rs the room
gradually filled up.
When Durrant was first arrested
his moustache hid his mouth, and his
long hair gave him the appearance of
a student. Now his closely cropped
hair gives him n criminal appearance,
J and his clean shaven lips reveal the
coarse sensuality Of his mouth. Three
months confinement have made his
naturally colorless complexion V
moro pallid and pasty. He is fatter
than when arrested and his eyes we're
very bright as he restlessly glanced
around the room. 1t is only by effort
that Durrant seems able to fix his at.
tention on one subject, but frequent
ly forces himself to concentrate his
eyes and mind.
The defendant was represented by
Attorneys Deuprey, Dickinson and
Thompson. District Attorney Barnes
personally appeared for the prosecu-
ton accompanied by the Assistant
District Attorney PeiXotto, Captain
OF Detectives Lees and all the detec-
tiyes under him were in or about the
court. room. When Judge Murphy
said Case of w. Ii. II. Durrant for
murder Barnes said 4Ready for the
people,"
Attorney Dickinson for the defend
ant then formally moved for change
OF venue, stating that il it should APP
pear that it would be impossible to sc
cure an unbiased jury, or should such
u state OF feeling DO developed as
would render n fair trial improbable
he would reserve the right to renew
the motion, which he asked the Judge
now to pass upon. In support Of the
motion Dickinson said he woulk sub.
NIT afidavits of Durrant, Charles j.
Garner and p. j. Perkins. The Judge
insisted that the anidavits should be
read although counsel said the read.
ing would occupy to day and to.mor.
row.
Attorney Deuprey then began to
read Durrant's affidavit which stated
that owing to the publication in the
local press tho minds Of the people
were influenced against the defend.
ant and the press and people violently
prciudiced against him 20 that he
believed he could not have a fair
trial.
In support OF this statement, Dcu.
prey read, as part of the affidavit, ex-
cerpts from three morning and three
evening papers published in San
Francisco, including practically every,
thing that has been written about
Durrant and the murder.
Tho reading OF Durrant's affidavit
occupied tho court until the adjourn.
ment.