The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-03
MAY ATTEMPT ALIBI
TALK OF PLACING DURRANT ON THE
STAND IN HIS OWN BEHALF.
A Witness Who KNOWS of the Alleged
Murderer burning Clothing
the Night of the Crime.

SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. At is said that
the counsel for Theodore Durrant. charged
with the Emanuel Church murders. will at
tempt to prove an alibi by the testimony OF
members of his family and his friends but
II has not been determined as yet whether
TO put the defendant on the stand or not.
III the people present a strong of cir
cumstantial evidence. strenuous effort viii
be made TO throw an unknown party into
the case, who will resemble Durrant to such
an extent as to permit a mistake in identi-
ncation. 1t Is thought that the best the de-
tense expects is disagreement of the jury.
The police have learned of a witness
whose story, II repeated in court. may
prove disastrous against Durrant's defense
against the murder charges with which he
is dealing The new witness is a woman,
and 1t Is said she declares that on the night
OF the murder of Minnie Williams Durrant
arrived home very late and burned some
thing. probably clothing. in stove before
he retired to his bedroom.
The young medical student claims that on
the night Minnie Williams met her tragic
fate he escorted two young ladies home
from the reception at the vogel residence
and then went to his own abode on Fair
Oaks street. where he remained until about
v " CioCh the IOllOWlnS morning.
The police have contended all along that
Durrant strangied Minnie Williams before
he went 10 DR.. Vogels, and after the re-
ception returned and hacked her body with
a Knife The story on which they are now
working follows up this idea.
Mrs Durrant. the mother of the accused,
mas stated that her son arrived home on
tnat eventfui night about the same time
as usual and went directly to bed This
story has been directly contradicted by a
woman who claimed she stopped at the
nV1a hat sxt<xlk L s~fl
feminine friend of hers that she was
awakened by the noise which Durrant made
getting into the house.
made by somebody who was at the stove
Mrs. Durrant called out: is that you
Theodoreg The answer came: Yes
the young mans mother. L am burning
some old letters Of mine.' he replied, and
M odon Of t. 5na hut
II was long after midnight when this oc-
Cured ss ,i, and I thought no more of the mat
charged with the murder of Minnie Will
liams Then the experience of that night
came pack to me. but l have kept my own
eounsei, as ! 40 not wish to get mixed up
The police authorities are very reticent
as to this important witness, but the gen.
eral impression is that they have located
proper time. Captain Lees, chief of detec-
tiyes,. In speaking Of the subject. admitted
that ne had heard the story, but would give
no Information regarding the Identity of the
witness. In fact, he denied that he knew
her.
The only way in which such a matter
could be effective said he, would be to
have witness tell her story on the witness
the story, but whether she will tell it in
court Is another matter"
The Chronicle says: Charles H. Clarke
who looked like Theodore Durrant, but VINO
was not Durrant, on Powell street car
on Apfn n the day Miss Lamont was
will not be taken in Boston to be used at
the trial of Durrant and the testimony of
three young girls that they saw Durrant
challenged so far as Clarke is concerned
Mrs. Clarke. wife of the man who is now
In Boston. made statement to Capt. Lees.
District Attorney Barnes. Eugene Deuprey
and John Fl. Dickinson, which proves con-
cl1sively that Clarke could not have been
on Powell-street car at the time Blanche
Lamont Is known to have taken her last
street-car ride. She has also exhibited a
letter from Clark to herself, written from
Boston s;s in which he states that he was
that Clarke was riding on the Powell-street
car and sitting close to him was young
corner of Powell and Market streets the the
young lady took transfer to Market
street car. The young man took no trans
separate and he heard the young man say:
Goodbye. Miss Lamont" as he raised his
hat and left her.
1t is known that on April 3, the day
Blanche Lamont was murdered, Clarke was
at his mothers bedside all day until 4:30
In the afternoon. 1t was therefore impos-
sible for him to have seen Miss Lamont
on a street car that day. Clarke's mother
Mrs. Mulrae, came here from Los Angeles,
about April 1 and had surgical opera
ton performed. On April 3 she was very
iii and because of that illness Mrs. Clarke
remembers the date. On that date Clarke
arose at o'clock and after breakfast
went TO his mothers house, where he re-
manned all day. Mrs. Clarke remembers a
day that Clarke could have seen Miss La
mont with a man. but 1t was not the day
the girl was murdered. 1t was a week
prior to April 3. AS a result of these de-
velopments the police are highly delighted.
Clarke's testimony, outlined by the de-
Tense, would have seriously affected the
case OF the prosecution against Durrant.