The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-18
A TRAIL OF BLOOD AT FRISCO.
1T LED FROM THE CHURCH To-
WARD DURANTrs HOUSE.

The bloody Clothing of the Murderer
Not Yet Found by the PoIice--A Ma IA
Who Looked Like Durant Seen in
the Vicinity of the Church with "a
WOman-An Attempt Once Made bS
= the Prisoner TO Get "a Girl TO En-
ter the Church TO submit to "a Pri-
waite Examination.
San Francisco. Cal. April 17-At the
coroners inquest to-day, in the case OF
Minnie Williams, whose murder Theodore
Durant is charged with, A. E. Williams,
father of the girl, testified that she had
been keeping company with Durant for
some time. He Identified his daughters
purse, found in Durant's overcoat pocket.
stating that he had given it to her last
Christmas
Miss Miriam Lord. Miss Lila Berry and
Miss Stevens testified 10 finding the body
of the murdered girl.
Police Sergeant Burke told of the search
for bloody clothing. the morning after the
murder, at Durants house, and Of the find
ing of Miss Williams purse in the accused
mans overcoat pocket.
Dr. Thomas A. Vogel, at whose house
the meeting of the Christian Endeavor
Society was held on Friday night last, tes-
I'll that when Durant reached the
house he had perspiration in his face and
his hair was over his forehead. He
washed his hands, as he said they were
dirty. He entered into the spirit of the
festivities and seemed perfectly natural
all the evening.
A statement of the witness to. the police
was read in which he stated that Durant
had suggested to a Miss Lucille Turner.
who had complained to him of an ailment,
that he should make a private examina-
ton of her. Durant had said there was
no danger of discovery, as he knew OF a
place IN the church where II could be per-
formed in secrecy. Miss Turner kept
away from Durant thereafter She had
told the witness that Miss Williams had
expressed to her a fear of Durant, to
whom he had made some improper pro-
posals.
T. A. Wolfe testified that he left DR..
Nogels house on Friday evening with Du-
rant. Miss Lord was in their company.
He saw Miss Lord home and later saw a
man IN the vicinity of the church who
looked like the prisoner.
There were several other witnesses at
to-days proceedings. but their testimony
coroner continued the hearing until Friday
morning.
The most startling feature introduced
into the tragedy to-day was the finding
of trail of blood by Patroman Hervy
on Twenty-fourth street, near Bartlett,
which led in the direction of Durant' s
house. Hervy's discovery may give a
clew to the disposition of the bloody
clothing. 1t may have been that the muir
derer carried away his bloody clothes and
that they were dripping. The condition
Of the closet makes it probable that the
clothes of the murderer were covered
with blood enough to cause them to drip
II carried in a bundle 1t is not known
that the police have made thorough
search yet of Durants premises. If the
man and woman whom Hill saw enter the
church Friday night few minutes after
O'Clock were Durant and Miss Williams.
the murderer would have had time to
commit his crime, take his bloody clothing
to the Durant residence and dispose of it
and arrange his toilet as it was when he
reached DIR. NOgcis.
The funeral of Minnie Williams took
place from the First Baptist church this
afternoon. Fully 5000 people were present.