The San Francisco call., 1895-07-30
Judge Murphy Takes Action
Concerning the Drama at
the AlCazar.
ALL THE PLAYERS ARRESTED.
Manager Daley Said He Would Con-
tinue to Disobey the Courts
Mandate.
THE DURRANT CASE IN A MINUTE-BRIEF
REVIEW OF THE PROCEEDINGS.


Forty veniremen were examined in Judge
Murphy's court yesterday, in the effort 10 secure
additional jurors in the Durrant case. Every
one of the forty, however, was excused for
cause, and the panel being exhausted 100 more
names were drawn from the box, the owners
of which will be called upon to answer as to
their qualifications as jurors on Wednesday and
Thursday.
General Dickinson presented an affidavit of
the defendant, calling attention OF the court to
the proposed production of "The Crime of the
Century," and he asked an order restraining
the presentation. 1t was granted and served,
but last night Manager DALEY and his players
ignored the order and produced one act of the
play They were arrested by Sheriff Whelan
and his deputies.
Judge Murphy held his court open to receive
the prisoners and the scene there was most ex-
citing. In default of bonds the manager and
all the male actors went to the County Jail
The ladies Of the company and the dramatist,
r. c. White, who is in feeble health, were re-
leased on their own recognizance. They will all
appear IN court this morning at 10 o'clock to
answer for contempt
Carroll Cook, attorney for Daley, will be in
town this morning and it is expected he will
institute habeas-corpus proceedings for the re-
lease of his clients
Department of the Superior Court had
its full quota of spectators in their seats
anxious to listen to the proceedings in the
Durrant case, when Bailiff Rocks raped
order and his Honor took the bench at 10
o'clock yesterday morning. The accused
was seated between his parents, who had
arrived early on the scene, and counsel IN
the case were on hand in good season,
General Dickinson putting the finishing
touches on the affidavit asking for an in
junction against the projectors of 1.-The
Crime of the Century," Just before court
was called to order Durrant held up his
right hand and swore to it before Cler K
Morris.
The moment after Judge Murphy an
nounced that he was ready to proceed.
General Dickinson arose and addressed
the court.
'f your Honor please" he said, sin
this case at bar desire to procure an order
restraining the production of the play,
which is advertised to occur at the Alcazar
this evening. I ask it upon this affidavit"
General Dickinson proceeded to read the
affidavit, which set forth the belief of the
defendant as follows:
That the play ''The Crime of Century is
based upon the testimony taken before the
Coroner and the Police Court; that the char
acters in the play represent the principal char
acter alleged and presumed to have partici-
pated in the murders of Blanche Lamont and
Minnie Williams, and the witnesses who testi-
fed and are to testify. The character Henri
Dubois he believes, is intended to represent
himself in his alleged movements and actions
connected with the murders of the two girls.
The characters Beatrice Lacombe and Marjory
Wilson, he assumes, represent the two girls,
Blanche Lamont and Minnie Williams, while
Carroty Bob is meant for the son of Sademan,
the sexton of Emmanuel Baptist Church.
IJza hot fba arlax oil oJnc 11.y
possible the story of the Emmanuel Church
murders.
With the affidavit Durrant presented
three exhibits-a page from the Examiner
of July IA, which contains the story of the
play, and two theatrical posters printed
partly in big red letters, announcing ''The
Crime of Century ''to be presented at
the Alcazar Theater on July go On one
of these posters was paragraph reading:
This original and strictly moral play does
not reflect on any person, place or principle,
nor on any sect, creed or religion.
The other, besides the reddest of big red
letters, bore the imprint of two hands in
white. The cast OF characters in the play
was given as follows:
Henri Dubois ois......................M Mortimer Snow
Mains, the spirit that tempted him - Al Hallet
Mays6an Rennett Two students F1ehaTd scott
81 Plunket, agent from the country . William Kay
CSNAASNJ 5SSN
Gin Two of kind Ioar ~: H9%afa
MI Johnstone, policeman. Ed Nannary
Beatrice Lacombe. schoolgirl. ........... Mai Wells
Mariory Wilson, housemaid Josephine Gassman
Mrs. Dubois, Henri's mother. Mrs. Chas. Edmunds
The defendant then averred that, upon
his information and belief, the play will
interfere with the course of Justice will in
fame the minds of the people, and is alto
gether a menace to morality" Wherefore,
he asked for an order restraining the pro-
duction.
AZ have prepared an order to that eff
feet" said General Dickinson, as he con-
cluded reading.
"The State" said District Attorney
Barnes, 'joins in the request made by the
defendant in his affidavit"
II should say, General Dickinson" an
swered the court, that it would be as well
to put in that affidavit an averment, upon
information and belief, that this purported
play to be produced is, in its main features.
made to represent the leading incidents In
this case"
Il think that is alleged" said General
Dickinson.
I'm other words" continued Judge Muir
ply, ''if it be true, as you claim, that this
purported play, which is threatened to be
produced, covers any of the facts or the
purported facts claimed to exist in this
case, it should be set forth"
Il think that suggestion good" said
General Dickinson, 'and 1 will add that to
this affidavit
The court then ordered the calling of the
names of the jurors already down and
Messrs. Truman and Sieberlich answered
present. The names of ten other venire-
men were called and the examinations be-
gan.
David Hamburger, dry-goods merchant,
and Sutter street, residence 1909 Post
street, was first called. In answer to ques-
tions he stated that he had no conscien-
tious scruples against the infliction of the
death penalty, but under no circumstance
would he bring in a verdict involving the
death penalty on circumstantial evidence.
On this ground he was challenged and ex-
cused.
Robert Weinecke, proprietor of the
Golden West Hotel, SO Ellis street, was ex-
cused on the ground that he was unalter-
ably opposed to the infiction of the death |
penalty.
George Haas, confectioner. residing at |
6l2 Ellis street, had no conscientious |
scruples against the lnfiction of the death |
penalty. He was of opinion that he could |
not give any weight to circumstantial |
evidence for the reason that his family and |
that of the defendant were very friendly |
and visited each other. The States chal- |