The record-union., 1895-10-02
Yesterday an Interesting Day in
the Trial of Durrant.
DEFENSE DESTROYING EVIDENCE OF
PROSECUTION.
Four Men Testify That Pawnbroker
Oppenheim is Not InfaIlible as All
Identifying Misunderstanding Mo
Coy of the Y. Nj. c. A. Cited for
Contempt for Alleged Threats
Against One of the Jurors.

threat to hang iurvman was brought to
the courts attention. There was reve-
lation as to where some of the funds for
Durrant's defense came from, and the de-
fense won a signal victory on the point of
impeachment Of the roll-call at the col
lege on the afternoon of April Sd by in
ference.
AS a result of the threat against the
juryman. II. J. Mccoy, Secretary OF the
Y. NJ. G. A.. will be cited for contempt of
court Thursday, and Judge Murphy has
intimated that his punishment will be
severe. His otfense is that on Thursday
last he entered a street car in which
Jurors Truman and Crocker were riding.
He knew Truman through religious
work, and sat down beside him. After
exchanging few words about Durrant,
Mccoy said to Truman: IF you don't
hang Durrant we will hang you"
Truman did not take McCoy's remarks
seriously, but, in view of the courts ed-
monition that jurynen should not per-
NIT anyone 10 speak to them about the
case, he reported the threat to Judge
Murphy.
The Judge brought the matter up this
morning, and, after hearing Truman's s
ton for Mccoy, returnable Thursday at
noon. He said that, as Mccoy was an in
teiIigent man, he was not inclined TO
show him any lenlency.
McCoy's words are, by many, taken
seriously, as there Is very strong feel
ing against Durrant, aud movement to
lynch him, in case of even a disagree
ment by the jury, has been talked about
tor some time.
The defense proved by four witnesses
this morning that Adolph Oppenheim,
the pawn broker who says that Durrant
tried TO sell him one OF Blanche Lamont'S
rings, is not in alllble as al Identifying
witness. Durranps attorneys recently
had four young men visit Oppenheim
with articles OF jewelry, ostenslbly to
pawn them. W hen he gave his testl-
mony against Durrant Oppenheim was
asked about these visitors, and gave de-
scriptionS of them which were altogether
at variance with the appearance OF the
young men who were called TO the stand
this morning. Two OF these witnesses
were forced TO admit that they were MEM
bers of Durrant's signal corps, and that
they contributed to the fund for his de-
tense. Where Durran's funds have
come from has mystilied the police.
The proposition OF admitting interential
testimony 10 show the unreliability Of
the rolI-call at Cooper College lectures
has been in abeyance for some time. but
was brought up and probably finally set
tied to-day. The reliability OF this roll
call is the most vital point in the de-
tense. The prosecution has sought to
show that 1t was customary for students
TO answer the roll-call for aDsentees, and
has witnesses who at other times have
| answered for Durrant and others whom
! he asked to answer. But none OF these
were connected with April 3D.
The defense to-day, in addition to at
| tacking Oppenheim on his inability to
properly describe persons visiting his
! store, began to destroy his evidence by
aibi, with which it proposes to show
where Durrant was at 10 o'clock on the
| mornings between April 4th and 10th,
within which dates Oppenheim said Dur
rant had tried to sell him the ring.
! The roll-cal for lecture delivered at
! 10 o'clock on the 4th of y pril at Cooper
! College, with Durrant marked present,
was introduced, and it was in connection
| with il that the court ruled out the in
| ferential testimony. 1t is probable that
| the prosecution will have to put on the
seventy-Iour students of Durrants class
| and endeavor TO find one who answered
! for him. The students have been polied
| on the question, but no one has yet been
| found who viii admit that he answered
! for the alleged murderer.
! The defense followed up its alibi on
! the Oppenheim testimony by showing
! that on the 9th of April, soon after II
! O'Clock, Durrant was at the Lick
! Technical School, two miles from Open
! helms store
| Henry j. Mccoy was asked this after
noon about his alleged conversation with
Juror Truman, aud evinced much sur
| prise at learning that it had taken such a
serious turn. He admitted that he had
talk ed to Mr.. Truman under the circum-
stances stated by the juror. but did not
recollect having made use of any express
/ sion that would influence ham in passing
upon the Durrant case.
Il remember having seen Mr.. Truman
! and | talked to him, but l don't think l
made use of the language he attributes
to me-" he said. II may have spoken
/ about the Durrant case; it seems to me
did, but certainly / had no intention of
! influencing Mr.. Truman ono way or the
| other"
! When asked If he knew he had been
cited to appear before the court for con-
/ tempt he said, mo, l am surprised to
! hear it. l am not aware that l have done
! anything TO which the court can object.
and | am astonished that Mr.. Truman
should have made any such statement to
the court"