Evening journal., 1895-10-14
DURANT MURDER TRIAL
A Forecast of the Expected
Evidence.
WHAT he TOLD MISS CUNNINGHAM

1t Is Iniimated That There Is Something
TO Come which WIN Have an Important
Bearing on the Case-AIore Sensations
Promised.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 14-Now that
Durant has told his story ON the witness
stand and has made answers to all the 40.
cusations implied by the cross questions
OF tho prosecution, an impression exists
among those who have watched the trial
closely that thore Is something to come
which will perhaps have more effect on
the minds Of the iurymen as regards the
guilt or innocence Of the defendant than
anything that has gone before. This feel
ing is due 60 the confidence with which
District Attorney Barnes put series OF
startling questions relating TO a converse.
tion held by Durant with newspaper 70.
porter, Miss Carrie Cunningham, at the
county jail within the past week, and al.
so touching on the address and indorse
mont of a certain envelope which may OF
may not have contained a confession.
The prosecution witnesses will seek to
show by their testimony that Durant
made admissions which destroys the whole
fabric Of the defense These alleged ad-
missions are taken by the prosecution as
coming from the one person on earth who
knows all that occurred beneath the bel
fry Of the Emanuel Baptist church on the
afternoon Of April g. The record Of what
passed at the county jail between Miss
Cunningham and Durant is thus told by
tho prosecution, which is In possession Of
the full facts:
Miss Cunningham's Interview.
ION the evening Of Sept a2 Miss Gun.
ningham visited Durant at the county
jail, and during the course OF their con.
versation Durant showed her "A small en-.
velope, which bore the following address
and Endorsement; 'Afessrs. Dickinson and
Duproy. To be opened in case I am con-
victed. To be returned TO me in case ]
am acquitted. Durant told the young
lady that the envelope contained a COM
plete statement Of all that had occurred
at the Emanuel Baptist church on the
afternoon of April 3. He said that 1t had
been written in order that his attorneys
might know the faots in the case Of his
being convicted of the murder Of Blanche
Lamont. On the following evening Sept
28, Miss Cunningham again visited Du-
rant as the county jail and was there
shown large envelope addressed like the
that the contents of the other envelope
had become jammod up and that he had
transferred the written statement to the
larger envelope. On the morning Of Oct
o Miss Cunningham held a conversation
with Durant at the county Jail, and dur
ing the course Of that conversation and
IN answer TO questions asked him by the
young lady he said that at about
O'Clock on the afternoon Of April 3 he as
cended the space between the ceiling and
tho roof OF the Emanuel Baptist church
for the purpose of fixing one of the sun
burners. While at work he heard noise,
which at once attracted his attention. 1t
seemed TO como from that part Of the
building where the belfry is situated. He
walked along in tho direction whence the
sound came and peered through the open
ing that connects the space above the cell
ing with the interior of the bolfry tower.
While in this position he saw the body Of
Blanche Lamont lying ON the second land
ing Of the belfry stairs. He repeated the
details of the circumstances and added
that Blanche Lamont was murdered on
the second landing Of the belfry stairs.
Miss Cunningham then said:
'''Oh, yes it was from the second land
ing Of the stairs that the blood dripped
down ana stained the cioth over the pic
ture frame on the floor below.
"Durant replied that there was no
blood on the cover Of the picture frame,
as we have had the stains analyzed, and
we find they wcro made by water, not
blood "
An official inspection was made OF the
cloth covered picture frame referred TO as
being stained by blood. This inspection
revealed the fact that "a piece Of the cloth
cover, I inch by 2 inches in Size had
been cut from the frame in the center Of
one Of the largest blotches or stains. As
this was not done by any one connected
with the prosecution the inference is
drawn that 1t was done by some one in
terested in the defense, and that it was for
the purpose indicated by Durant's alleged
statement regarding the analysis.
r...4.t.. c.,.ttr. nr.e rxtsoa