The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-27
HE KNEW MISS LAMONT.
Saw Her on April 3 With 3
Young Man Other Than
the Accused.
QUESTIONING THE TALEsMEN.
Irwin j. Truman and Thomas w.
SeiberllCh Sworn to Try
the Case.
THE DURRANT CASE IN A MINUTE-BRIEF |
ILL. c.I-I-AIN-CS

THE OURRANT CASE IN A MINUIE-bhlEF
REVIEW OF THE PROCEEDINGS.
Counsel for Durrant disclosed their line OF de-
tense in open court yesterday. They hope TO
prove an alibi for the accused and have named
the man upon whose testimony they mostly
relv. He is Charles H. Clark, travelling sales
man for q Boston wine and spirit house. In
oueu court Yesterday General Dickinson was
handed a telegram from Clark in which the
strongest kind of intimationS OF knowledge
were contained. Clark stated that he was on
Valencia-street car, going west, on the after
noon of April 8 last. about 80 O'Clock, when
he saw Blanche Lamont with young man,
who was not Durrant, on the same car.
General Dickinson was somewhat startled ct
the receipt of the telegram, but at once grasped
its Importance. If the Young lady was on
Valeneia-street ca with another than Durrant,
then, even if the young ladies OF the Normal
School who testified that they saw him board
Powell-street car at 3 o'clock were correct,
Durrant must have left Miss Lamont at some
place between Clay and Market streets. Coun-
sci for the defense Immediately drew up inter
rogatories TO be propounded 10 Mr.. Clark and
the court granted an order for q commission TO
issue TO take his deposition.
In other ways rapid progress was made in
the case. The challenge to the jury panel was
overruled and talesmen were examined as to
their qualifications. Twenty-three were cues
toned. many of them having strong views
against capital punishment and circumstan-
tial evidence, and at 81 adjournment of court
two had been accepted and sworn TO try the
case. They are Irwin J. Truman, the we'll
known banker and president Of the Civic
Federation, and Thomas W. Seiberlich, shoe
manufacturer.
Court adjourned till Monday morning, when
the examination of talesmen will be resumed.
-
cinct and distinctive method of reporting
the Durrant trial. While this journal may
not ct all times present as many columns
of matter in regard to this case as do some
of its contemporaries, yet readers may de-
pend on finding here every iota of news
that is requisite to a proper understanding
of the proceedings.
Every step in the legal battle will be
noted and analysed in al able manner,
with the thorough inpartiality that is
always characteristic OF trained and con-
scientious Journalists Irrelevant ques-
tons and immaterial answers will be elimi-
mated to the end that readers of THE CALL
will be spared the labor of perusing useless
columns of improbable platitudes.
In regard to the moral aspect of the case
The CALL will exercise that high dis
cretion which every reputable Journal
considers imperative 10 guard the clean
illness Of its columns. This may be dis
appointment to some excessively curious
minds, and there may be some read
ers who for a time will Withdraw their
approval, yet we doubt not that their sec
ond sober thought will cause them to
realize the righteousness of TIE CALLS
course, and that they will all return to the
support of the public journal that is indie
pendent enough to continue in the path OF
duty, regardless OF temporary incon-
veniences.
OF one thing the public viii take notice,
and that is that THE Calls report will be
distinctive, and that until you read THE
CALL you have not secured q complete
view of the circumstances that go to make
the Durrant trial one of the most interest
ing criminal cases OF the century.
Busy men and women are particularly
invited to scan the resume of the day S
proceedings that appears at the head OF this
column under the caption of ''The Dur
rant Case in Minute This epitome of
the case will be continued from day to day,
and those who have but minute to spare,
yet who wish to know the exact truth of
the days proceedings, may turn to THE
CALL and obtain the gistof the news in the
allotted sixty seconds.
The crush for place at the Durrant trial
yesterday morning was greater than at
any time since the celebrated case opened.
The moment the doors swung on their
hinges all who had excuses sufficient to
pass the deputies crowded in and filled the
seats and benches inside and outside the
bar, many women, and pretty ones, being
of the number. The prisoner and his
father sat side by side when Judge Murphy
assembled the bench and court was con-
vened, and all the counsel were waiting and
ready to proceed. The court notified the
attorneys that Deputy County Clerk Piper
was present with the list of jurors for
which inquiry had been made. At the re-
quest of the court Mr.. Piper handed the
list of jurors to Mr.. Deuprey.
II want to say to the gentlemen of the
defense" said his Honor 'tthat, as a mat
ter of course, matters concerning the ac-
ton of the court in bank are familiar to
me as a Judge, but as there has been an
omission concerning entries in the min
utes, and for the purpose of making the
record show the true state of facts / have
invited Judge SdHueTSOns the preSlQlng
Judge, to show the exact state of facts, SO
that the record may show and conform to
the truth. Will you please take the stand,
Judge?"
Judge Sanderson was sworn to tell the
truth concerning the matter upon which
he was to be questioned. He stated that
at meeting of the Judges in bank in jan
nary last it had been agreed that 5000 petit
jurors and IA grand jurors should be
drawn for the year; that after that each
Judge had submitted his list and the
whole number was made up and handed
to the County Clerk.
"Of course, your Honor said Mr.. Deu-
prey, after Judge Sanderson had finished,
this character of proof is objected to be-
cause it is not the best evidence" The
objection was overruled.
Upon the statement to me-" resumed
Judge Sanderson, that the secretary had
omitted to enter the minutes of the court
in bank in this proceeding, directed him
to insert these minutes as they actually
took place there. which he has done and I
have certified to-"
Judge Sanderson was excused and Secre-
tary Coffroth was called. He testified that
under the direction of the presiding Judge
he had made additional entries in the
minute-bo book of the Superior Court, to show
how the lists of petit and grand jurors had
haoa r1ada I'm Mr. Dou,oro,, -,