Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-09-26
FOR THE DEFENSE.
DuErant's Counsel Makes a Pre-.
Iiminary Statement.
ATTACKS THE CASE OF TIE STATE.

Says He VIII Produce Evidence That, II
He Does, Should Clear the Defendant
Intimation That the Crime May Iso
Charged on el,e Pastor Of the Church
Testimony Given by the Mother Of the
Accused Man.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. s6.-Thc depart
mcrt of the superior court in which Theo.
Durrant is on trial for the murder OF
Blanche Lament was a scene OF excite
mcnt yesterday. The announcement by
the distric. attorney that the people rested
and the subsequent statement of attorneys
for the defense that they would be ready
to proceed packed the court room, many OF
those present being ladies Although the
occasion was CT the gravest Importance to
Du-rant he was the most cool and irnpas-
sive individual present. The defense first
called for further cross examination Dc
tcctive Gibson, Deputy Coroner Illicit
and Mrs. Leak. The last mentioned was
questioned regarding her cycsight, she
maintaining that it is good; and that she
nevcr had any optical trouble. Gibson
said that no had found Ratchet in the
animation, and the deputy coroner test
fed that when he first viewed Tie body Of
Blanche Lamont in the bclfry the mouth
of the dead girl was slightly open.
Only a Strong Suspicion Creatcd.
Attorney Eugene Duprey for tn, de-
Tense then began his opening statement.
HIS intimation that the murder was COM
mitted not by Durrant but by Rev. John
George Gibson, pastor of Emanuel church,
made in significant allusion to the re-
se,nblancc of,,the preachers handwriting
to the lettering on the paper enclosing
Blanche Lamont's rings created q marked
sensation The address of Duprey began
with definitions of the duties of the jurors
in capital cases. He attacked the news
papers for the articles written and pub
lished concerning Durrnnt and warned
the Jury against deductions from circum-
stantial evidence. Duprcy then said: The
district attorney has presented a
strong case of circulnstantial evidence
which at first would create strong sus
picion of the guilt of the defendant. We
claim that beyond strong suspicion the
prosecution has failed to go. We contend
that with all the testimony introduced the
only issues to be passed on have not been
arrested.
VIII Trace Durrant on the Fatal Day.
Under the testimony thus far we claim
| the right to ask the court at this time to
| instruct the jury without one word to ac-
quit. But rs a duty to the defendant, his
parents and the community his lips
| should be unscalcd. You are entitled to
and should know where Durrs,nt was and
| what he did on April from the time he
arose in the morning until he went to bed
| at night The district attorney promised
| to show that Durrant was not where he
should have been on the afternoon of
| April 3, namely at the lecture room of the
| Cooper Medical college. Where is that
promised proof? Let me carry you along
the ground upon which we ask fer yer.
dict for the defense. On the morning Of
| April Durrant LETT his home and walked
toward the house of George King. SO that
| he might have n helper that evening to
Tx the gas in the church He accidentally
met Blanche Lamont. whom he told he
was on his way to Kings house and asked
her to accompany him.
Takes Defendant to the Church.
| "Shc said that she did not have time to
accompany him before school, and re.
questcd Durrant to accompany her to
school. He acquicsced in this and accom-
panied her as far as Suffer street and DC
tavia. The defendant went on to Webster
street t. the medical college. We will
show these facts and what Durrant did
from his arrival there until the noon hour,
when he walked to Broadway and to q
bluff overlooking the bay. We will show
his return to the college at 1889 and what
was done from then until $3.50 Then that
he went to DIR. Chcncy's lecture and VIC
will produce his notes, different from any
other students and show that he is marked
present. DIR. Cheney will tell you that he
was present. We will show you that after
this lecture he took the Sutton street cal
to Polk, to Mission and Ninth out Mis-
sion ana then to the church, and alone did
he walk into the church.