The herald., 1895-10-23
.DURRANT'S DESPERATE CASE
Every Vestige of Defense Seems
Swept Away
THE REBUTTAL TESTIMONY
DisprOves All the Assertions of The
Defendant
The DESCENDANTS Notes of the Medical Lecture
Plainly Accounted r-Deuprey
Retres From the Case
Associa ted Press Special Wire

opening of court this morning the de-
fense in the trial of Theodore Durrant
announced tnat it had finished its case.
and the taking of testim ony in rebuttal
was at once begun by the prosecution.
The testimony was the most important
given during the trial. as it con nHicted
with several vital statements made by
Durrant while he was on the stand. The
testimony of DR.. Gilbert +. Graham, for
instance, is considered by many to sweep
away Durrant's entire defense. Graham,
who is medical student and an inti-
mate friend of Durrant, told of a sensa-
tional interview that took place between
himself and the prisoner on April Goth at
the county Jail. DR.. Graham was &C
companied to the prison by ]. S. Dun
ningan, a newspaper man, who was
asked by Durrant to retire after he had
been there few minutes. Graham said
that after Dunnigan stepped aside
Durrant asked him if he would let MIN
see bis notes of DR.. Cheney's lecture in
order that he might Compare them with
his own. Graham demurred at first,
after which, he said, Durrant stated
frankly to him that he had no notes OF
the lecture. He said Duirant told him if
he had the notes of the lecture he could
easily establish strong alibi for HIM
self, and urged him to leave the notes
with Mrs. Durrant in order that she
might bring them to him at the prison.
DR.. Graham said he refused the request
and never afterward visited Durrans at
the prison.
"a a m q
any particular on cross examination.
While he was testlying the jurors
watched Durrant closely, but he gave no
sign to indicate that he considered the
testimony OF any Importance. DR.. Gra-
ham will be recalled tomorrow for further
cross examination.
The first witnesses called in rebnttal
by the prosecution were the FIVE trustees
of Emanuel church. While Durrant was
on the stand be testified that he was
asked to repair the sun burner at Eman-
uel church on April Sd by. the Trustees.
The trustees denied that they had asked
Durrant to make repairs of any kind at
the ch hurch durin 3 March or April.
Witnesses were next called to disprove
Durrants statement that on the afternoon
of April 18th he was at the ferry for the
purpose of searching for Blanche La
stranger had told him would cross the bay
that afternoon. G. W. Dodge. medical
student, said he saw Durrant at the ferry,
and the prisoner told him he was waiting
for a number of members of the signal
corps who were expected from Oakland.
G. A. Dukes, a medical student who
accom- panied Dodge, corrobOrated his tes-
timony. A. A. Hobe, an old school mate
of Durrant, testified that he saw Durrant
at the ferry the same afternoon in con. .
pany with a young woman who answered
the description of Minnie Williams. 1t is
known that Minnie Williams came over
from her home in Alameda that afternoon
and the next DAY her body was found in
Emanuel church. 1t is the theory of the
prosecution that instead of being at the
ferry to look for Blanche Lamont, Dur
rant was there for the purpose of meet
ing Miss Williams and Turing her to her
death.
Il. +. CHASER, a student at TIE medical
college, testified tnat on the afternoon of
April 10th Durrant asked him to read
aloud his notes of DR.. Cheney's lecture.
CHASER said he read his notes to Durrant,
who devoted three-quarters of an hour to
writing in his own note book.
The defense cried to show that it was
customary for students 70 compare notes,
but Glaser said that Durrant read moth
ing that purported to be his own notes.
Thomas Price, a chemist, was called to
give testimony on two or three points at
issue He was asked in what condition a
man would be who had inhaled illuml-
nati.ig gas for the length of time Durrant
said he was working over the sun burner.
To illustrate the question, which was
hypothetical in form, blackboard draw
ing made by Durrant himself was used,
IN which Durrant was shown lying at
full length on plank with his head
over a sun burner comprising twenty
four ordinary gas Jets. through which
gas was flowing under full force. The
witness said a man would be unconscious
in five minuIes-the length of time Dur
rant said he was engaged at work over
the burner.
Prof. Price was also asked about the
dark stain on the solo of Rev. Gi5sou's
shoe which was found in the PASTORS
study at Emanuel church. The defense
made fight against the question, but
the court owe rruled the objection. The
witness said the mark was only grease
spot.
An effort was made to have the wit
ness give the result of his examination of
he blood stained boards taken from the
stairs and belfry of Emanuel church, but
the court ruled that the boards could not
be introdu in rebuttal.
Charles Morrison and J. p. Cooper,
newspaper reporters told of an interview
they had with Du.rant in the CITY prison
on the night of his arrest. Botn witnesses
testified that Eurrant said that he ar
rived at the church on April Sd, between
and 80 III the afternoon. This testi-
mony conflicts with the statement Dur
raut now makes to the effect that he did
not arrive at the church until o'clock.
Morrison and Cooper, who were present
at the interview between Reporter Mar
shall and Detective Gibson, also testified
that it was untrue. rs alleged by Mar
shall that Gibson said he saw the print of
number or shoe in the belfry near
where B0lncLe Lannon'S S body was found.
From the present outlook the case will
go to the jury not later than the close of
next week. after having been on trial
since July %. District Attorney Barnes
says all of the rebuttal testimony Will be
introduced tomorrow and as the defense
has no more witnesses, the arguments
will begin on Thursday. 1t is expected
that Assistant District Attorney Peixotto
will open for the prosecution and will
be followed by General Dickinson or
Judge Thompson for the defense. 1t is
now believed that Attorney Deuprey will
not again appear in the case as his
physicians give little hope of his speedy
recovery. District Attorney Barnes will
make the closing argument for the pros
ecution and the case will probably be
submitted to the jury at the close OF next
week.