The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-10-03
1t LOOKS HOPELESS,
FHE DEFENSE IN THE DURRANT
CASE FALLS TO THE GROUND.
statements That Durrant's InnO-
cence Would he " In Three
Minutes Are Not Su~bstantiated by
the Attorneys for the Prisoner.

San Francisco, Sept. 27-The depart
ment of the superior court IN which
Theodore Durrant is on trial for the
murder of Blanche Lamont. was q
scene of excitement this morning.
The announcement by the district at
torney that the people rest" and the
subsequent statement of attorneys for
the defense that they could be ready
to proceed today, drew to the city
hall q crowd that could not secure
admittamce to a room ten times the
size of the apartment set apart for
the trial. The fact that the defense
in its opening statement would reveal
for the first time the nature of evil
dence relied upon for an acquittal,
served to arouse public interest to n
degree never before e In California
ut II trial of a man for his life. The
hot, sultry day was intensified in the
crowded court room. Although the oc-
casion was Of the gravest Importance
to Durrant. he was the most cool and
impressive individual present. At
torney Eugene Duprey, for the de-
Tense, began his opening statement.
His intimation that the murder vas
committed not by Durrant, but by
Rev. John Gibson, pastor Of Emanuel
church, by making significant allusion
to the resemblance of the preachers
handwriting with the lettering on the
paper enclosing Blanche Lamont's
rings, created a marked sensation.
Duprey said: The district attorney
has presented Il strong case of cir
c~umstantial evidence, which at first
would create a strong suspicion of the
guilt of the defendant. We claim that
beyond o strong suspicion the prosecu-
ton has failed to 60. We insist that
the proper proof is wanting to connect
the defendant with the murder. We
will show that other men had access
to Emanuel church. Proof may point
to others. We will show hat Ito
marks upon the belfry door are the
marks of a chisel and that the chisel
was found in the pastors study in a
tool box. We will show you as long
as they have introduced a paper here
with letters on it as compared with
letters found in Emanuel church that
they are letters written by Rev. John
George Gibson. If we are TO act upon
suspicious we will show you that
there are others who have been cast
into suspicion, and worse than the de-
PENDANT"
Durrant's Mother TestiNcs.
After a recess Mrs. Matilda Dur
rant, mother of the prisoner, took the
stand as the first witness for the de-
Tense. She told about her own birth
and marriage in Toronto. Canada,
where Theodore was born. The fam
lily came here In December. 1879. She
detailed the childhood Of the prisoner,
and his education at various schools.
During vacation he worked at various
occupations; he had money in the
bank. She testified that on the morn
ing of April 3 her son was dressed in
n blue cheviOt suit. the blue trousers
of which she identified and the gar
ment was introduced in evidence.
Mrs. Durrant stated that her son re-
turned home that evening shortly af-
ter 6 o'clock dressed in the same blue
cheviOt suit. He wore no O%vercOat.
She testified that the trousers were
made to order by a local tailor. When
Theodore left home on the morning of
April 3 he kissed his mother good by
and Saluted her in the same manner
when he returned at night. The fami-
ly dined that evening at 6:15, but the
witness said Theodore had little aDpe-
tite and did not look well. At 3 o'clock
that evening he took his mother to q
street car. and when she returned 1t
II 30 o'clock, he was In bed and
asleep.
Police Sergeant Reynolds described
the chisel marks on the helfry door.
He searched for a tool with which the
marks might have been made, and in
the pastors study found a chisel
which fitted the marks exactly.
Another Sensation.
Omaha. Sept. 21.-The Bee to-day
says: Last night a prominent member
of the PinkertOn detective agency
passed through here. He had just
come from San Francisco and is ia
miliar with the whole proceedings in
the Durrant matter. When pressed by
a friend for Il tip on the surprise that
Durrant's lawyers We're holding back.
he said that as the fact would soOn
come out in court he had no objection
to telling what the profound secret
was. The detective said that Durrant
had now in his possession and would
Don show to the court a letter which
Is bound to establish his innocence Of
the crime with which he is charged.
This letter was written by Blanche
Lamont a day or two after she is sup
posed to have been murdered. Con-
corning the contents of the letter or
its exact date he would not speak.
but he said that there could be no
doubt but the letter was written by
Miss Lamont later than April 3.
Bad For Durrant
San Francisco, Sept. 2S.-The key