The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-26
IN DURRANT'S DEFENSE
ATTORNEY DUPREY CHARGES
THAT PASTOR GIBSON KILL
ED BLANCHE LAMONT.
ARGUMENT IN THE CASE BEGUN

The Court Scene of Excitement and
Public Interest Aroused as Never Be-
fore at the Trial of a Man for his Life
--Only One-Tenth of the People
Could get tIn-.Durrant Cool and I'm
pass i've. Speech of Attorney Duprey
~-Wrs. Dnrrant on the Stand.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL Sept. 25.--The
department of the Superior Court in
which Theodore Durrant is on trial for
the murder of Blanche Lamont, was a
scene of excitement this morning. The
announcement by the district attorney
that the ''people rest" and the subse-
uuent statement of attorneys for the
defence that they would be ready to pro-
ceed to-day, drew to the City
Hall crowd that could not get
admission to room ten times the
size of the apartment set aside
for the trial The fact that the
defense in its opening statement would
reveal fer the first time the nature of
evidence relied upon for an acquittal
served TO arouse public interest TO Ge-
gree never before seen in California at a
trial of man for his life. The hot,
sultry day was intensified in the crowd
ed court room. Although the occasion
was of the grayest Importance TO Dur
rant, he was the most cool and impassive
individual present.
The defense first called, for further
cross examination, Detective Gibson,
Deputy Coroner Hillett and Mrs. Leake.
The last mentioned was questioned re-
garding her eyesight, she maintaining
that it was good and that she never had
had any optical trouble. Gibson said that
he had found hatchet in the belfry on
the occasion of his second examination,
and Deputy Coroner HiIlett testified that
when he first viewed tne body of
Blanche Lamont in the b9lfry, the
mouth of the dead girl was slightly
open.
Attorney Eugene Duprey, for the
defenEe, then began his opening state
ments His intimation that the murder
was committed, not by Durrant, but by
Rev. John George Gibson, pastor of
Emanuel chu ca, and significant allu-
sion to the resemblance of the preachers
handwriting with the lettering on the
paper found on Blanche Lamont's rings,
created a marked sensation. The address
of Duprey began with the def aitions of
the Jurors in capital cases. He attacked
the newso: pc f tt 81 rticles written
and published concerning Durrant and
warne the jury against improper deduc-
tions from crcamstantial evidence. Du-
prey then said:
4'The District Attorney has presented
strong case of circumstantial evidence,
n<E ~r% rrar11a rroatn atrpn0
piclon of the guilt of the defendant. We
claim that beyond a strong suspicion the
prosecution has failed to go. We con-
tend that with all the testimony intro
duced the only issues to be passed on
have net been answered Where did
Blanche Lamont forfeit her life When
did she meet her death Who caused
her death
''These questions have not been an
swered A fourth question is the cause
of her death. A fifth has not and can
not be answered. What was the motive
of the accused to take the life of Blanche
Lamont2 Under the testimony thus far
we claim to ask the court at this time to
instruct the jury without one word to
acquit. As a duty to the defendant, his
parents, and the community his lips
should be unsealed. You are entitled to
and should know where Durrant was and
what he did on April 3, from the time he
arose in the morning until he went to bed
at night. The District Attorney promised
to show that Durrant was not where he
should have been on the afternoon of
April 3, namely, at the lecture room of
the Cooper Medical College. Where is
that proof No allusion to it has been
made.
Tue prosecution has called b.
tween forty and fifty witnesses. Of that
number who have given material evi-
dence of three elderly ladies, three
young ladies, pawnbroker, a Victoria
hotel keeper, and pol ce court shyster,
and his colleague have furnished Il e
substantial testimony upon which the
prosecution relies. We insist that
the ,proper fproof is wanting to convict
the defendant with the murder. We
will show that other men had access to
Emanuel church. Proof may point to
othes 8.
Let ne carry you along th f.,
ground upon which we ask for verdict
for the defense. First, you shall hear
from the mother OF Durrant how he was
interested in church work and what he
did for Emanuel church. We will tell
you how he met Blanche Lamont and of
his associations with her. Mrs. Durrant
will tell how her son was dressed
when he left home on the morning of
April. She will tell what her son did
that evening. The & cd repute and hon
orable character of the defendant will
be proven The attendance at the Cooper
Medical College,and his general demeanor
shown. On April 3, Durrant left his
home aud walked towards the house of
George King, so that he might have
a helper that evening to fix the gas
in the church Ne accidentally met
Blanche Lamont whom he told he
was 'on the way to Kings House and
asked her to accompany hIm. She said
th@ she did not have time to
accompany him before school, and re.
quested Darrant to accompany her to