The record-union., 1895-04-15

bow, led the police to suspect that the
same man who had killed Miss Williams
had slain Miss Lamont, and learning that
Miss Williams knew of his first crime,
attempted further concea.ment by COM
mitting a second murder.
Late last night tho detectives had about
decided that Durrant had murdered Miss
Williams. and this theory was further
strengthened this morning, when, on
making thorough search of Emanuel
Church. the dead and outraged body of
Miss Lamont was found concealed in the
steeple. Death had been caused by
strangulation. The body was lying just
inside the door of the tower-room, max ed
and on the floor. Around the neck there
were few streaks, the marks of fingers
that had been pressed deep into the tender
hesh- The mouth was open, showing the
regular teeth. The features were badly
distorted, being drawn down at one cor
ner, and the lips were swollen and blood
stained. The nose was the only feature
that retained its original shape, for the
cheeks are bloated. The girls light brown
halr was matted with dirt, and hung
loosely about her shoulders. The body
was in the first stages of decomposition,
the odor emanating from the remains
having reached the nostrils of the de-
tectives before they opened the door.
When the officers reached the head of
the stairs they found the door leading to
the tower room locked. They broke in
the door. 1t was so dark they could not
see, and one of the officers struck
match. AS the light fiared they saw be-
lore them the dead body of the girl for
whom they were searching. The body
was taken to the Morgue, where it was
placed on 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. DIR.
Gibson, pastor of the church, and reports
became current that he had been accused
OF the crimes. Crowds surged to Glib
sons house, and the excitement grew
more intense. 1t soon spread all over
the city. The rumor of the arrest was
later denied, and it became known that
DR.. Gibson and the sexton of the church
had been merely called before the police
to tell what they knew.
At o'clock came the news that Durrant
had been arrested at Walnut Creek, on
the road to Mount Diablo He was caught
by Detective Anthony, who left in pur-
suit early this morning. The detective
and his prisoner left on the next train for
San francisco, 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 waiting and they kept the
crowd back. Durrant was hustled into
patrol wagon and whirled away to the
City Prison, where he was locked UP.
The police are certain that they have
the right man. They claim to have two wit
nesses who saw Durrant and Miss Will
Jams in company last Friday night, and
also state that when search was made Of
Durrants house to-day in the pocket of
his coat was found purse which Miss
Williams is known to have carried Fri
day night.
Durrant is about % years old, and was
born and raised in the neighborhood in
which the murders occurred. He is a
graduate of the Cogswell High School,
and has been studying medicine for a
year. He is a member of the Second
Brigade Signal Corps, and was Assistant
Superintendent of the Emanuel Sunday
school He was always OF quiet DISPOSE
ton, and his friends refuse to believe, in
spite of the evidence, that he committed
the crimes attributed to him. The police.
however, think that Durrant is another
Jack the Ripper" with a mania for
murder.
They state that it is highly probable
that Durrant is responsible for the killing
of Eugene Ware, young drug clerk,
who was stabbed to death several months
ago in the store where he worked. No
trace was ever found of the assassin, and
the theory is that Durrant killed him. No
motive for this murder was discovered,
and the fiendish cruelty of it Ware was
stabbed in eighteen placesl leads to the
belief that it was the work of an insane
person.
Durrants parents are highly esteemed
people of the district in which they live.
His father is chief engineer in Bucking-
3 y.
while not rich, has been able to give his
children good education and start them
in life.
Detective Anthony met Durrant and his
companions coming back from Nit.
Diablo. They were in uniform, and had
been on signaling expedition. When
Durrant was placed under arrest his COM
rades at first wanted to resist the officer.
but finally allowed him to be taken to
Walnut Creek, where the officer and his
prisoner boarded a train for San Fran
cisco.
When they arrived at the prison, as al
ready described, Durrant, in his regi-
mentals, was taken to the Chiefs office
and searching examination made. He
appeared very much unconcerned, and
when told that Miss Lamonps body had
been found, did not lose his nerve, al
though he appeared greatly shocked and
serious.
After the examination by the Chief,
Durrant was taken to cell, where be was
joined by his parents and lawyer. He
made the following statement to the AS
sociated Press representative:
The last time L met Miss Lamont was
on the morning of the day she disap-
peared, April Sd. We talked about
books, and 1 promised to bring book
for her to prayer meeting that night.
Miss Lamont did not appear at prayer
meeting, and the following Friday took
the book to her house and gave it to her
sister. The latter told me that blanche
had gone to school, evidently irving To
keep the fact of her disappearance
secret. That is all know of the Lamont
case. The last time I saw Minnie Will
Jams was three weeks apo.U