Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-04-15

the signal corps for Mount Diablo,
nifty miles away. The two murders
necessary to go back to the Lamont
case.
Yesterday Mrs. Noble, the aunt OF
Miss Lamont, received through ,he
malls paper containing the four rings
worn by her niece the day She disap-
peared. On the paper was written
the name and address OF Theodore
Durant. Late last night the detectives
mad about decided Durunt had MFR
defed Miss Williams. and this theory
was further strengthened this morning
atter making a thorough search of the
Emanuel church, The dead and out
ragged body oil Miss Lamont was found
concealed In the steeple. Death had
been caused by strangulation. The
body was lying just inside the door
OF the lower room, nude and ON the
noor. Around the neck there were a
few streaks, the marks OF fingers that
had been pressed deep into the tender
fesh. The mouth was opened, showing
the regular teeth; the features were
badly distorted. being drawn, and the
lips We're swoolen and bloodatained.
The nose was the only feature that re-
talned its original shape, for the checks
We're bloated. The girls hair was
matted with dirt and hung loosely
about her shoulders. The body was in
the last stages OF decomposition, the
odor cmanating from the remains hav-
ing reached the nostrils of the de-
tectives before they opened the door.
When the officers reached the top
of the stairs they found the door lead
ing to the tower room locked They
broke In the door. II was so dark they
could not see and one of the officers
struck match AS the light flashed
up they saw before them the body of
the girl for whom they were searching
The body was taken to the morguc,
where II was placed on a slab by the
side OF Minnie Williams. As soon as
the news became known immense
crowds surrounded the church and had
to be kept back by the police The
chief Of police sent for Rev Gibson
pastor of the church, and the report
became current that he had been ac-
cused of the crime and had been ar
rested. Then the crowds surged to
DIR. Glbson's house and the excitement
grew more intense. 1t soon had spread
all over the city and extra papers were
COTTON out and thousands OF people
Hooked to the scene from all over the
city. The rumors of the arrest were
later denied, and It became known that
the pastor and sexton had been called
merely to tell what they knew.
At o'clock the news that Durant
had been arrested at Walnut creek, on
the road to Mount Diablo, came. lie
was caught by Detective Anthony, who
left in pursuit of him early this morn
ing. The detective and his prisoner
left on the next train for san Fran
cisco, where they arrived this evening.
Another immense crowd had gathered
at the ferries to see the suspected
murderer come in, but "A detachment OF
police was In sight, and they kept the
crowd back. Durant was hustled into
n patrol wagon. which went to the
city prison, whore he was locked up.
The police are certain they have the
right man. They claim 10 have two
witnesses who saw Durant and Miss
Williams in company last Friday night,
and also state that when search was
made of Durant's house today that In
the pocket of his coat was found
purse which Miss Williams is known
to have carried Friday night.
Durant Is about 90 years OF age and
was born and raised in the neighbor-
hood In which the murders occurred.
He IL graduate OF the Coggswell high
school and has been studying medicine
for a year. He is member OF the
Second brigade signal corps and was
assistant superintendent of Emanuel
church sunday school. He was always
OF quiet disposition, and his friends
refuse TO believe, In spite OF the evil
dence, that he committed the crimes
attributed TO him. The police. how
ever, think Durant is another Jack the
Ripper, with mania for murder.
They state that 1t is highly probable
Durant is responsible for the killing OF
Eugene Ware, a young drug clerk.
who was found stabbed to death sew
eral months ago In the store where he
worked. No trace was ever found OF
the assassin, and the theory Is that
Durnnt killed him. No motive for this
murder was discovered. and the hend-
ish cruelty Of 1t CWare was stabbed I'm
eighteen places leads to the belief that
1t was the work Of an insane person.
Durant's parents are highly esteemed
people OF the district In which they
live. His father Is chief engineer in
Buchingham's large shoe factory, and
while not rich. has been able TO give
his children good education and start
them in life.