Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-10-22
THE DuRRANr TRIAL.

THE DURRANT TRIAL.
The main case for Durrant was closed
at San Francisco yesterday evening,
though his attorneys asked to be per-
mitted to put on one more witness to.
day. Their first witness yesterday was
Charles Lenihan, whom they st first
attempted to show might have been
mistaken for Durrant by Pawn broker
Oppenheim. The idea of proving this
seemed to have been abandoned and
Durrant's counsel sought to justify
themselves for having placed them on
the stand.
They tried to show that he had ac-
cepted position with a witness for the
prosecution and that he had originally
set the date of his visit to the pawn
broker between April 4 and 10, as
Durrant's alleged visit had been, but
now said it was April Is.
Lenihsn explained by saying that
he had received the position from an
old friend and that he had thought his
visit was between the 18th and 10th, un-
til he investigated and found it to be
| the 18th.
On cross examination Lenihan Great.
ed sensation by stating that when he
6gst visited the office of Durrant's coun-
sci hs expressed fear that his being q
witness might harm him, and the at
torneys told him they would get him
position in the health Office. He had
never gone back to get the position.
The ring belonging to Miss Lamont
which Durrant is alleged to have offer
sd to Oppenheim and the similar ring
offered by Lenihap were shown to the
witness and he had no difficulty in
telling them apart. Lenihan donned
both his own coat and hat and that
worn by Durrant for the benefit of the
Jury. Ienihan denied that he had q
mustache when he visited the Office OF
Durrant's counsel or that he had ever
had one. The witness the defense
promises for to-day will testify as to his
mustache.
Robert N. Lynch, Rev. DR.. Gibson's
private secretary, was called and ASKED
about conversation in the Emmanuel
Church between the defendants coun-
sell and MIR. Gibson when the chisel,
about which so much has been limited,
was found in the pastors study. The
substance of this conversation was ruled
out and will have to be obtained from
DR.. Gibson.
Gen. Dickinson, of Durrant's coun-
sci, himself took the stand and testified
that he had received strap anony-
mously through the mail, which was
very much like the one Blanche La
mont used for her books and which was
found with them hidden in the church.
The strap had the dead girls name in
printed letters, which Mr.. Dickinson
said Maude Lamont had identified as
having belonged to her sister.
The strap was offered in evidence.
On referring to Maud Lamont's testi-
mony it was found that she had
not identified either the strap
or the lettering as that of the
dead girl. District Attorney Barnes
then objected to the introduction of the
strap into the evidence and the court
took it under advisement.
The feature of the day was the affi-
davit of Charles 81. Clark, the CONNER
cial traveller, which was taken in Boston.
The defense said when Clark's name
was first mentioned as witness that
he had seen Blanche Lamont on q
Powell street car on the afternoon of
April with man who was not Dur
rant and that the man left her at Mar.
ket street. When the affidavit was
read, however, Clark merely stated
that he did not know either Durrant
or Blanche Lamont; that he had seen
young lady who looked like the
newspaper portraits Of Miss Lamont on
the car with an elderly man and that
he had since learned that the date was
not April 8.
+ W. Phillips, who testified that he
saw Durrant come out Of Oppenheim's
pawn shop, was recalled by the de-
Tense and asked about his hotel, the
London Harmony, in Victoria. He de.
MED the imputation that his house was
disreputeble and said members of par
lament and the present premier were
among his patrons.
DIR. Geo. g. Mcdonald testified as an
expert that gas inhalation would have
| caused the symptoms alleged to have
been shown by Durrant in the church
the afternoon of the murder.
/ The prosecution will begin its rebuff
tai to-day.