The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-23
Evidence Submitted Yesterday That
Lamont's Alleged Murderer.
TESTIMONY OF STUDENTS
SOME OF THE PRISONERS STATE
MENTs FLATLY CONTRADICTED.
His Efforts to Secure Notes of DIR. Che
Ferry-Sun-Burner Story Exploded.


SAN FRANCISCO. Oct. 22.-At the OPEN
ing OF court this morning the defense in the
trial OF Theodore Durrant announced that
it had finished its case, and the taking of
testimony in rebuttal was at once begun
by the prosecution. The testimony was the
most important given during the trial. as 1t
coniicted with several vital statements
made by Durrant while he was on the
stand The testimoney of DR.. Gubert f.
Graham, for instance, Is considered by
many to sweep away Durrants entire de-
fense. Graham, who Is a medical student
and an intimate friend of Durrant, told of
a sensational interview that took place be-
tween himself and the prisoner at the
county Jail on April 20. Dr. Graham was
accompanied to the prison by ]. s. Dun
nigan, a newspaper man, who was asked by
Durrant to retire after he had been there
few minutes. Graham said that after Dun
nigan stepped aside Durrant asked him II
he would let him see his notes Of Dr.
Cheney's lecture, in order that he might
compare them with his own. Graham de-
murerd at first, after which he said Dur
rant stated frankly to him that he had
no notes of the lecture. He said Durrant
told him If he had the notes of the lecture
d
himself, and urged him to leave the notes
with Mrs. Durrant, in order that she might
bring them to him at the prison. DR.. Gra-
ham said he refused the request and never
afterwards visited Durrant at the prison
DR.. Graham's story was not shaken in any
particular On cross-examination. While he
was testifying the jurors watched Durrant
closely. but he gave no sign to indicate that
~, of an ir11rpf
tance DR.. Graham will be recalled to-
morrow for further cross-examination.
The first witnesses called in rebuttal by
the prosecution were the FIVE trustees of
Emanuel Baptist Church. While Durrant
was on the stand he testified that he had
been asked to repair the sun burner at
Emanuel Church on April /, by the trustees.
The trustees denied that they had asked
Durrant to make repairs of any kind at the
church during March or April.
witnesses were then called to disprove
Durrants statement that on the afternoon
of April II he was at the ferry for the
purpose of searching for Blanche Lamont,
who he said, a mysterious stranger had
.old him would cross the bay that after
noon. C.. w. Dodge, medical student,
said he saw Durrant at the ferry and the
prisoner told him he was waiting for
number of members of the signal crops
who were expected from Oakland. c. A.
Dukes, a medical student who ACCOMPANY
led Dodge, corroberated his testimony.
LAST SEEN Or MINNIE WILLIAMS.
A A. Hobe, an old schoolmate of Dur
rant, testified that he saw Durrant at the
ferry the same afternoon in company with
a young woman who answered the descrip-
ton of Minnie Williams. 1t is known that
Minnie Williams came over from her home
in Alameda that afternoon and next day
her body was found in Emanuel Church.
1t Is the theory of the prosecution, that,
instead of being at the ferry to look for
Blanche Lamont, Durrant was there for
the purpose of meeting s.4ss Williams and
Turing her to her death.
Il. A. Glazer, a student at the medical
college, testified that on the afternoon OF
April 10 Durrant asked him to read aloud
his notes of Dr. Chenys lecture. Glaziet
said he read his notes to Durrant, who
devoted three-quarters of an hour to writ
ing In his note book. The defense tried
to show that 1t was customary for stu
dents to compare notes. but Giazier SAID
tnat Durrant read nothing that purported
to be his own notes.
Thomas Price, chemist, was called 10
give expert testimony two or three
points at issue. He was asked practically
in what condition man would be who
mad breaihed s ,,, rranf lrnaa saa ba was o work.
ing over the sun-burner. To Illustrate the
question, which was hypothetical in form,
a blackboard drawing MADE by Durrant
was used, in which Durrant was shown
lying at full length on plank VITA MS
head over sun-burner comprising
sTsnbyI!as @hich gas wSs owng UNDER aalf force
The witness said a man would be un-
conscious in five minutes-the length OF
the burner. Prof. Price was asked about
the dark stain on the sole of Rev. Glib
sons shoe, which was found in the pas
tors study in the church. The defense
court overruled the objection. The wit
ness said the mark was only grease
Spot fess n give the result of his examination
of the blood-stained boards taken from the
stairs and belfry in Emanuel Church, but
the court ruled that the boards could not
be introduced in rebuttal.
Charles Morrison and j. H. Cooper, news
paper reporters. told of an interview they
had with Durrant in the city prison on the
night of his arrest. Both witnesses testified
that Durrant said he arrived at the church
on April 3, between and go o'clock In the
afternoon. This testimony connicts With
the statement Durrant now makes. to the
erect that he did not arrive at the church
until O'Clock. Morrison and Cooper, who
were present at the interview between re-
norter Marshall and detective Gibson, also
testified that it was untrue, as alleged by
Marshall. that Gibson said he saw the print
of a No or shoe in the belfry near where
blanche Lamont's body was found.
From the present outlook the case viii
go to the jury not later than the close of
next week after being on trial since July
% District Attorney Barnes says all of the
rehuttal testimony will be introduced to-
morrow, and as the defense has no more
,vitnesses the arguments will begin on
thursday Ii is expected Assistant District
Attorney Peixoto will open for the prosecu-
ton and will be followed by General Dick
inson or Judge Thompson for the defense.
| II Is now believed that attorney Duprey will
not again appear in the case. as his ply
erv District Attorney Barnes will make
the closing argument for the prosecution
and the case will probably be submitted to
the jury at the close OF next. week.