Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-10-05
DURRANT DOOMED
Doesn't Seem Any Hope for the
Alleged Miscreant.
SUMMARY OF TEN DAYS DEFENSE
Rather Makes Ter the Prosecution Than the
Accused-PitiAble in Its Weakness. the
Testimony Seems to show No LoophOle
of Escape-State About Sure of Convic-
tion-Recaicitrant Reporter Likely to
Gain Her Point.

tion-Recaicitrant Reporter Likely 70
Gain Her Point.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 5.-If the manner
in which the attorneys for the defense in
the trial of Theodore Durrant are hand
ling their case is any indication of the
strength OF their position, the prosecution
believes the developments leave little
doubt OF the prisoners conviction. To the
surprise of everybody the defense has be-
gun calling witnesses to show the previ-
Gus good character of the young Sunday
school superintendent. BY the prosecution
this step is interpreted to mean that the
defense has introduced all of the evidence
that it has to refute the mass of testimony
piled up by the people. If this is true the
verdict of the jury is q forcGonc conclu-
sion.
Press Prerogative Seems Pretty safe.
Miss Cunningham, the newspaper re-
porter who was threatened with imprison-
ment because she would not answer
question propounded to her by the de-
fcnsc, was called to the stand again to
give her another opportunity TO answer
the question. She refused to disclose the
source of her Information with regard to
TIE nature of Mrs. Leaks testimony, but
instead of sending her to prison the court
took the matter under adviscmcnt until
next Tuesday. In IL similar case the SUI
prcmo court of California sustained the
position of Il newspaper reporter. and the
court is, therefore. in doubt of its power
in the premises.
Rev. Gibson on the Ni,ncs, sand.
Rev. }. George Gibson, pastor of the
Emanuel church, Was called By the dc
fcnsc for the purpose Of Identifying speci-
mems Of his handwriting. The witness
refused to identify any of tine specimens
handed TO him. He said the writing
looked like his own. but as the documents
had hot been in his possession for some
time, if at all, he could not positively
identify the writing. At the request Of
Attorney Dupry Gibson printed the name
and address Of Mrs. Z. G.. Noble. Blanche
Lamont's aunt. The writing of Rev.
Gibson will play an important part in tho
future proceedings. as Attorney Duprcy
announced in his opening statement that
he would prove that Gibson directed the
wrapper in which Blanche Lannon'S 5 rings
were returned to Mrs. Noble
Will Zip Up Durrant's Reputation.
The defense summoned eX-Congrcssman
Henley and several other witnesses to
show the bad reputation of Attorney Quin-
Ian, who testified that on the afternoon Of
April ) he saw Durrant and Blanche La
mont walking toward Emanuel church
Fifteen witnesses We're placed on the stand
to show the previous good reputation Of
Durrant The witnesses al regarded Dur
rant Us "A model young man. The cross
examination was brief, rs the prosecution
expects to have no difficulty in proving
that Durrant's immortality was notorious
among the lower classes, with whom he
often associated.
Mighty Poor Showing for Thco.
Sumcd up briefly the result Of the first
ten days of testimony introduced by the
defense is As follows: DR.. Cheney failed
to testify, as Attorney Duprcy said he
would, that Durrant was present ut the
lecture given on the afternoon Blanche
Lamont was murdered. The prosecution
established the fact that the roll-call book
in which Durrant was recorded present
at the lecture is unreliable, as another
student is recorded present who testified
that he was absent TO offset these two
strong points the defense has placed on
the stand sixty-eight students who tcsti-
fled that they did not answer to Durrant' :
name at roli-call on April s.