The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-12
WHY DURRANT IS STO|CAl
The Prisoners Mother Ex-
plains His Apparent Lack
Of Feeling.
DOES NOT LOOK FOB SYMPATHY.
Says He Is Innocent and Brave and
That He Has No Need to Be
Concerned.

The stoical countenance and utterly i'm
perturbable bearing of the prisoner, Dur
rant, under any and all circumstances
since his arraignment for the murder OF
Blanche Lamont add Minnie Williams,
whether in the courtroom or out, has been
the subject for endless comment, both fav-
orable and unfayorable, by persons who
have witnessed the calm, self-contained de-
pertinent of the young medical student.
Accused of two of the most atrocious
crimes chronicled in the criminal annals
of all time, most people expect to see Dur
rant eyince some sort of feeling under the
trying circumstances and awful aecusa-
tions with which he is constantly sur
rounded or confronted. When the terri
BILE details of the crime are recited they
look for some sort of an expression in his
countenance, for shudder of dread or re-
pulsien at the thought of the atrocity of
the deed, by which to judge of his guilt
ness or innocence of conscience, but none
have ever been rewarded, even those who
have observed him the most closely.
Mrs. Durrant, the mother of the &C
cused, consented last evening to be inter-
viewed concerning the reason for the
sphinxEke conduct of her son.
"How would You have my son deport
himself?" she asked as a preface to what
she had to say on the subject. Theodore
has all the fortitude of self-conscious inno-
cence, and knows, as do. that he will be
able to establish it. Why then shoula he
be concerneds Terrible as the accusations
are, why should he feel any dread OF them
when he knows he is not guilty? think
my son conducts himself as any innocent
man would who had any courage at all.
'Issuppose some people think because
Theodore apparently shows no feeling, be-
cause he does not cringe for sympathy,
that he is hardened and has no feeling,
but know differently. ! know he has as
much feeling as any one, but it would do
ciates the horror of the crime as much as
any one, and feels just as sorry for the
friends of the murdered girls as any one,
but any expression of his feelings would
be misconstrued by more people than
would attribute the true feeling that
prompted it.
sThen, too, he is not looking for SYM
pathy. He knows he has the soiicitude OF
those who believe him innocent and does
not expect any sympathy from those who
think otherwise. | see no reason Tor my
son to evince any dread when confronted
by the exhibits in the case since he had no
part in the CRIME they are supposed to
illustrate. Ny son is strong and has his
mother there to support him, and ! can
see no reason why he should act In any
way other than he does
Mrs. Durrant was asked for her opinion
of the women who attend the trial.
"Some are there" said she, ito show
their sympathy for us. Their presence
appreciate. OF the others | have an opin-
ion but do not care to express it. All
can say is that were it any other woman's
boy who was thus accused | would not be
there unless was friend of the family"
When the trial is taken up this morning
Mrs. Noble and Maud Lamont will be re-
called by the prosecution to strengthen
certain parts of their evidence, and then
the journey of Blanche Lamont will be
traced from the home of Mrs. Noble to the
Normal School on April 8, and by the in
PRODUCTION of the testimony of Conductor
Shalmouut of the Larkin-street line, the
gripmaD OF the Sutter-street car and other
witnesses the prosecution will endeavor to
show that Durrant accompanied the girl to
school.
Next will come evidence to show he was
not in attendance at Cooper College that
afternoon, and then the Journey of the
murdered girl from school to Emmanuel
church will be traced in the effort to con-
meet Durrantis movements on the after
noon of April 8 with Blanche Lannon'S
last moments on earth.
One link in the eircumstantial evidence
which had not up to yesterday been sup
piled was the distance the girl had to travel
on Market street from Powell to Valencia.
No one seemed to have seen her during that
portion of the journey until dispatch
was received Tuesday evening from Sierra
County, stating that one Curran would
supply the missing link. Captain Lees
Immediately telegraphed the Sheriff of
the county to investigate the rumor, and
received a reply yesterday that the report
was false. Captain Lees, however, claims
to have witness who will supply the re-
quired testimony.