The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-26
THE FIFTEENTH DAY.
Deuprey's Opening Speech-The Ac-
Cusation Against the Pastor-Mrs.
Durrant on the Stand.

Durrant on the Stand.
Doubtless, if the defense makes perfectly
good, by reliable testimony, all that its
senior attorney has claimed for Durrant he
will be acquitted. But
And here speculation as to the result of
the trial must cease. 1t is too late day.
Already the prosecution has closed and the
defense made a fair beginning. What the
latter can prove will soon be known. The
witnesses are already testifying.
Mr.. Deuprey made his speech to the jury
yesterday morning before crowded and
somewhat fashionable audience. Never
had an attorney an audience that listened
more attentively, more eagerly, to every
word that fell from his lips. Scores Of
spectators were content to stand and listen
and not another spectator could possibly
have been crowded into the room. There
was even a larger percentage of ladies
present than usual, and that many OF
them were members of what is called San
Francisco's exclusive set was apparent.
At least YOU could find most of their names
in the Blue Book.
Mr.. Deuprey began his intensely forensic
address with pat quotation from Lord
Cowper about the safeguards of the law,
or something to that effect, and ended it
with a most dramatic, imprisoned appeal
for the jury to acquit his client.
His address throughout was an argu-
ment rather than a statement, and District
Attorney Barnes failing to interpose an
objection to the argumentative style
Judge Murphy himself thought it neces-
sary to call Mr.. Deuprey's attention 70 the
fact that the practice is at this time to
make merely statement to the jury,
leaving the arguments for the closing
speeches.
Mr.. Deuprey accepted the courts sugges-
ton gracefully, albeit with a dexterously
put phrase which maintained his own
belief that Judge Murphy was in the
wrong.
'"The most essential elements to this case are
lacking in the proof offered by the prosecu-
ton" said Mr.. Deuprey. "Where did Blanche
Lamont forfeit her life? When did Blanche
Lamont meet her death? By whose hand was
she slain?
months have passed and no answer comes
to these questions. There is strange silence
on the part of the prosecution concerning
them. A fourth question has not been an
swered. What caused the death?
"And fifth question has not been answered,
was the motive for this defendant to take the
life of Blanche Lamont?
"And because these vital questions are IN
answered we claim that we would be justified
at this time to ask the court to dismiss the
charge against this young man without further
testimony and to acquit him of this terrible
charge"
But Mr.. Deuprey had reasons for not
taking this simple and direct course. He
thought it was the duty of the court to
first hear Durrant in his own defense. The
prisoners lips would now be unsealed.
'He will tell you where he was and what
he was doing that afternoon" said Mr..
Deuprev, and, he added, with marked
significance, che will be corroborated.
And then, ''piece by piece we shall tear
the mask of faIsehood from the witnesses
of the prosecution"
He said he would prove the character of
Martin Ouinlan, Witness Clark, Witness
Phillips and Pawnbroker Oppenheim.
And though he did not say it in so many
words the infection 'of his voice meant
that these characters would be shown to
be unreliable.
He would prove that Durrant did not
wear light trousers on the Sd of April, but
was dressed all in black. He would prove
that Durrant never wore an oyercoat in the
daytime, and that therefore it must have
been somebody else whom Mrs. Vogel saw
waiting outside of the Normal School.
Then as to the alibi. The defendant
would testify that he spent the afternoon
at Cooper Medical College, and DR.. Cheney
would testify that Durrant was present at
his lecture which began at half past 8.
"More than that" said Mr. Deuprey, i'm
pressively, 1--WE will show Durrant's notes