The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-04-20
SLAUGHTER IN a CHURCH

u huIllHIeu REMAINS OF TWO 1OUH8
Women Discovered In q House 81 Wor-
ship-The Bodies, When Found. Were Al
most understanding for "A Young Ned
ical Student Suspected of the Double MUIR
der.
SAN, Francisco, April 14.-Shortly
before noon yesterday the mutilated
body of Minnie Williams, a young
domestic, was found in the study of
Rev. DR.. Gibson, pastor of the Emanuel
Baptist church. The body had been
terribly cut, the instrument of death
being a broken case knife which was
found in the room. The discovery was
made by several young ladies who had
come to decorate the church for Easter
services. Pieces of the girls clothing
had been crammed into her mouth,
showing that the murderer tried to
stihe the cries of his victim, whom he
first outraged and then hacked to
death. The police, as yet, have no
clew.
A Second Murder to Still Evidence of the,
First.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 15.-Another
horrible discovery wa made yesterday
morning in a small room in the steeple
of the Emanuel Baptist church, where
the mutilated remains of young Min
ME Williams were found Saturday.
The church had been desecrated by a
second murder, the victim being an
other young girl, Blanch Lamont, who.
has been missing since the Sd inst.
She had been ~strangled to death, her
clothes had been Torn from her person
and her body was almost nude when
discovered. Her shoes and stockings.
were missing. Imprints of finger nails.
were plainly visible on the murdered
girls throat, but there vas no indica-
ton of further violence.
Shortly after the awful discovery
was made DIR. George w. Gibson, pas
tor of the church, was taken into GUS
tody by the police. No charge was
placed against him, but he will be
held until the mystery is fully cleared.
Miss Lamont was last seen alive in
the company of Theodore Duraut, a
young medical student, and assistant
superintendent of the Sunday-school
connected with the defled place of
worship. Durant, who is said to have
been engaged to be married to Miss
Lamont, is suspected of having taken
the life of the Williams girl, who is
known to have been a warm friend of
Miss Lamont. They were members of
the church, which they frequently at
tended together, and belonged to the
same Sunday-school class.
Since the disappearance of Blanche,
Mice NHf11,n.,- 1fA@- I'll AI,& L.
knew that her companion had met with
foul play. This startling statement
reached the ears of several members
of the church, and the girl was asked
for an explanation, but she positively
declined to reveal the nature of her
information, and the matter was
dropped.
The police are now inclined to think
that Durant, knowing that Miss Will
liams was in possession of sufficient
evidence to cover his guilt in connec-
ton with the disappearance of Miss
Lamont, concluded to decoy her into
the church and silence her forever.
The police argue that Durant had
heard the statement of the Williams
girl and momentarily feared exposure.
AS she continued to declare that her
friend had been murdered, Durant
concluded to kill her.
One of the most damaging witnesses
against the young medical student is
Charles Hills, who resides across the
street from the Emanuel Baptist
church. Shortly after 3 o'clock Fri
lay night he saw a nan and woman
standing neal the street corner. They
chatted together for some time, and
finally started up the street toward
the church. When the church was
reached the man caught the girl
by the arm, and half dragged
her to the gate leading to the
pastors study. After a few minutes
conversation the couple passed through
the garden and finally entered the
church through a side door. Hills is
positive that the man opened the door
with n key and was apparently thor
oughly familiar with the premises.
Suspecting that something was wrong
he waited outside for a few minutes,
but hearing Nc cutlery concluded that
the couple were members of the church
and went to his home.
The description of the man who ac-
companied the girl tallies with that.
of Durant. Thorough search is low
being made for Durant and it is ex-
pected he will be arrested tonight.
Rev. j.. George Gibson made 4 salts :
factory explanation to the chief of po-
lice as to his movements since last FRI
day, and was allowed to depart.
Theodore Durant was arrested att
Walnut Creek, thirty-five miles fromsi
his city.