Evening star., 1895-09-03
DURRANT ON TRIAL
Opening of the Celebrated Murder
Case.
WHAT THE STATE HOPES TO PROVE
When Blanche Lamont Came to
Her Death.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY OPENS

SAN FRANCISCO, September 3.-The
actual trial of Theodore Durrant for the
murder of Blsnche Lamont commenced to-
day. District Attorney Barnes delivered
the opening address. He said:
District Attorney Barnes Opens.
"At this point in the trial, and before
proceeding with the evidence, 1t becomes
my duty as representative of the people to
make what is called the opening statement
of the case. The opening statement should
not be regarded by you in the light of
testimony, neither should it be regarded as
an argument upon the facts. 1t should
not have any weight with you nor should
you consider 1t as mitigating against the
prisoner. 1t Is merely a statement OF what
the people expect to prove-a statement
of the evidence which they intend to set
before your consideration, and upon which
they will confidently rely for verdict at
your hands which shall sweep away the
sophistrieS and the technicalitieS that have
enveloped criminal proceedings in this state
as with garment, and shall declare tha t
the land We live in is blessed not only with
the manifold gifts of nature and of God
to man. but is further blessed with the
hard, clear common sense than can rise
above the tortuous environments that sur
round the criminal and punish the crime
committed in the manner required and de-
manded by all laws, both human and
divine.
Blanche Lamont.
1--WE will show you that in the month of
September. 1894, Blanche Lamont, a young
girl about twenty years of age. came to
San Francisco from her home at Dillon,
Mont, in the hope that the mild climate
of California might benefit her health.
She went to reside with her aunt and uncle,
time of her arrival until April she was
engaged in attending school. She was not
a society girl in any sense of the word.
She was of quiet disposition, home
keeping and religious. She never attended
parties nor theaters or other places of
ameusement except in company with her
relatives.
I'VE will show that Blanche Lamont in
her lifetime was well, too well. and yet
not well enough acquainted with the pris-
oner, Durrant; that he was in the habit
of accompanying her home from church
and prayer meeting; that he was caller
upon her at her aunt's house: that upon
the only occasion upon which she ever
went anywhere with any young man, as
far as we ara informed. she visited the
park one afternoon in company with Dur
rant
1--WE will give you history of her life
and her movements, as far as we are able.
up to the Sd of April, 1895, in order that
you may form a just appreciation of the
character and the habits of this unfortu-
nate young girl. We will show you her
connection with the defendant, and We
will show you the reason why, when the
murdered body of Blanche Lamont was
found in the darkened belfry of Emanuel
Church. and the question sprang from
the lips of every resident of this city and
of this country. Who is the murderer
why 1t Is that the state answers that
he who was responsible for the slaughter
Of this young life is William Henry Theo-
dore Durrant. Durrant, once the friend
of Blanche Lamont; Durrant, once in
charge of the Sunday school library; Dur
rant, once assistant superintendent of the
Emanuel Sunday school: Durrant. once the
electrician, who knew the ins and outs
of the great building; Durrant, once the
handy man and Jack of all trades at the
church, and now Durrant, the prisoner and
on trial for his life We shall show Dur
rants connection with the crime and shall
demonstrate by irrefutable and unanswer-
able evidence that he, and he alone, COM
mitted the murder.
"If we show you these facts-if we show
you that Durrant met this ill-fated girl
on the date of her death: that ne accom-
panied her to the church; that he was seen
to enter the church with her; that he was
seen afterward in the church alone; that
Blanche Lamont was never seen again by
human eyes from the moment when she
entered the portals of Emanuel Baptist
Church with the defendant; that in the
church were found her dead body, her
clothes. her school books s-showing that she
had never been home and that she had
gone straight from her school to her
deatS: If we show you, as We confidently
expect, that no one but the prisoner could
have committed this outrageous and hor-
rible crime, We shall look to you as citizens
of the great state whose reputation for
justice and for enforcement of the laws
We, as its officers, are trying to uphold to
render your verdict that the prisoner at the
bar is guilty of murder in the first degree"