Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-10-10
DUnRANr's Story.
Tho Defendant t.-,iHss In ITS Own
Behalf.

fhc uefcndnnt f@sttUes IN his Wv"
uehaiL
BAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 0.-Theodofe
Durfant was placed on tho stand
to-day. Win tue same coolnees that
has character Esd his conduct oince
his arrest, be dvnled the principal allie.
gatlous that have been made against
him by the must important ~iinvsses
Tor the prosecution. His aDewsrs were
always brief anu 10 tho point. Only
once during tho course o. the direct
examination did no snow any nervous
meas or hesitancy. When Mi. Dlckln-
sou asked him u he took notes 4 ID.
Choney's lecture ON the aftsruo IA ~
April Ord, he cast his eyes toward the
floor, and for moment was silent.
He replied that he had taken notes,
but that they we're verv brief.
Taken altogether, Dl9faut's direct
testimony, which onuoi nj 3 O'Clock,
when tho cross examination began,
probably haI tendency to strengthen
mis- case. His demeanor while On the
stand was certainly Intended 10 i'm.
ptess the Jury with the obinion that lie
was telling the ruth. Qitations that
would ordinarily Gauss a visible itn.
preston upon a guilty mau were at-
ewered by Dufrant with the utmost
unc1ncorn. Even when Attorney
Dsuprey asked him II GU the 3fd OF
A lrlI or ut any other tlmo he murdered
or participated Ia nuruering Blanche
Lamont, the prisoner c1oliy replied In
the negative.
A significant feature OF the tcstl-
mony was the fact that while Duffant
was telling OF several Incidents that
took place Mt n prayer.meeiing held on
tho evening OF A prii Bird, Mrs. &. u.
Noble, Blanche Lamosps aunt, shook
her head several timer. rs N to Indicate
that tue statements made by tho pris-
oneT, OF which she had positive
knowledge, were not correct.
Tbs purpose OF the defense to cur.
tall cfon.examination ~ much n pos
eiblo was shown when Districi AttOf-
ney Barnes asked the first quest on.
Dutrsnt gas asked II he was not torn
at Toronto, Canada, on Ami ~, ISL.
Attorney Dsuptey objected TO the ques-
ton. He said thst Durrant could nave
no positive knowledge on that subject.
aud any belief that he might nave
would b.. hrsst % haH,t. The court
over ulsd tn o o lon and the prisfns
gave MI nui.u'.,...s ..us"sf. several
other equally uuiinpofIant questions
were obI.ot,d TO by tue de.onHe. Tao
bjeollons In most cases were over.
ruled.
The examination OF DuTrant was be.
gun with questions relative to his age
aud his early lite In this CITY. Coming
down To tho day upon which Blanche
Lamont was murdered, tho prisoner
was asked TO relate his movements
from the tins he .e't mis- home In tue
morning until no returned nj night. He
said no met Miss Lamont on nsr way
10 school and rode with her on n street
car until he reached Cooier Medical
college. He said he remained ut tho
college until 10 O'Clock, when he and
another student named Ross went for
walk. Whom he returned m hour
later lie went to the library, where he
was engaged In his studies until noon.
Then no went 10 luncheon with n stu
dent named Dlgginr, anu returned nj
| o'clock. After luncheon Durrant re-
mained In the library until $3.50 O'Clock,
when lac attended DR.. Cheney's lecture.
Ho said he was present at tao roll call
At the close OF the lecture, nnu ans
weted TO his own name.
Al tue o CSC OF tue lecture Durrant
said ho boarded street car and rode
TO Emmanuel church for tho purpose
OF repairing the sun-bnrner. lie de-
MED that he was accompanied by
Blanche Lamont or anybody else.
Upon entering tho church he said no
lett hia coat anu vest In tho library,
obtained the necessary tools aud M.
cended to tho gallery. A blackboard
was provided, anu Durraut drew n
rude sketch OF the church and Its tall
spirs TO illustrate the manner In which
no made thu rspalrs. He said TO make
the repairs II was necessary for MIN to
lie at full lsngth on u plAnk, with his
head much lower than bie feet. While
In this position he inhaled NJ much
gas that hs was made ~. To illustrate