The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1895-09-07
Prosecution Outlines the Facts on
Which Its Case Will Hang.
THE MURDER STORY ReToLD
Blanche Lam0nt's Pure Character and
Her Foul Assassination
Brought Out.

Brought Out.
San Francisco. Cal, Sept. s.-The act
ual trial Of Theodore Durrant for the
murder of Blanche Lamont commenced
today. District Attorney Barnes deliv-
cred an opening address. of which the
following 10 q synopsis:
AT this point in the trial. and before
proceeding with the evidence, it be-
comes my duty as q representative of
the people to make what IL called the
opening statement of the case. The
opening statement should not be re-
.garded by you in the light Of testimony;
neither should it be regarded as an ar
gument upon the facts. It should not
have any weight with you. nor should
you consider it as mitigating against
the prisoner. It is merely statement
Of what the people expect to prove, a
statement Of evidence which they in
tend to present for your consideration
and upon which they will confidently
rely for verdict at your hands which
shall sweep away the sophistries and
the technicalities that have enveloped
the criminal proceedings In this state as
with a garment and shall declare that
the land we live in Is blessed not only
Of God to man, but Is further blessed
with the manifold gifts of nature and
with the hard. clear common sense that
can rise above the tortuous environ
ments that surround the criminal and
punish the crime committed in the man
ner required by all laws, both human
and divine.
1--WE shall show you that in the
month Of September. 1894. Blanche La
mont, a young girl about 20 years of
age. came to San Francisco from her
home at Dillon, Mont, in the hope that
the mild climate Of California might
benefit her health. She went to reside
with her aunt and uncle. Mr.. and Mrs.
C. G. Noble, and from the time Of her
arrival here until April she was en-
gagged in attending school She was not
q society girl In any sense of the word.
She was of a quiet disposition, home
keeping and religious. She never at
tended parties nor theaters nor other
places Of amusement except in the COM
pany Of her relatives.
1--WE will show that Blanche Lamont
In her lifetime was well. too well.
and yet not well enough acquainted
with the prisoner. Durrant: that he was
in the habit Of accompanying her home
from church and prayer meeting; that
he was q caller upon her at her aunt's
house; that upon the only occasion up
on which she ever went anywhere with
any young man as far az we are inform
ed she visited the park one afternoon
with Durrant. We will give you his
tory of her life and her movements
as far as we are able, up to the third OF
April. 1896. in order that you may form
q Just appreciation Of the character
and habits Of this unfortunate young
girl.
I'VE will show you her connection
with the defendant and we will show
you the reason why when the murdered
body OF Blanche Lamont was found IN
the darkened belly Of Emanuel church
and the question sprang from the lips
of every resident of this city and OF
this country, who n tho murderer? ?
why It II that tho state answers that
he who was responsible for the slaugh-
ter Of this young life 10 William Henry
Theodore Durrant. Durrant. once the
friend Of Blanche Lamont: Durrant
once in charge Of the Sunday school IL
brary; Durrant. once the electrician
who knew the ms and outs OF the great
building; Durrant. once the handy man
and Observation-Disclosures of the church
Durrant, now the prisoner and on tr1al
for his life. We shall show Durrant
connection with the crime and shall
demonstrate by irrefutable and unan'
swerable evidence that he, and he alone