The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-11-07
FOUND GUILTY.
A Verdict of First Degree Murder Against
Durrant For the Murder of Blanche La.

Durrant For the Murder OF Blanche La
mont
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 2.-Theodore
Durrant murdered Blanche Lamont
That was the verdict Of the jury in the
case Friday afternoon. The jury was
out 90 minutes. The verdict was re-
ceived with shout of applause from
the auditors who packed the court
room.
The closing scenes of the great
trial was full of dramatic interest,
pathos and excitement. The district
attorneys peroration was an able ef-
fort
The charge Of Judge Murphy occu-
pied little over an hour in the deliv.
cry. Before he began 1t, Gen. Dickin-
son, Durrant's counsel, formally OBJ.
jected to the portions of Barnes ad-
dress abusive in the nature, but the
court considered them proper and al
lowed them to stand.
AS soon as the court completed the
charge, Dickinson took an exception
on the ground that his honor had not
read the instructions submitted as the
defense had written them The jury
was then given in charge of two dep
uty sheriffs and conducted to the jury
room.
The jury upon reaching the jury
room selected Warren Dutton, of their
number, for foreman and then bal
| loted. The first ballot was for MUIR
der in the first degree. Word was inn
mediately sent to the court room and
Judge Murphy sent for the jury. While
this was going on, Durrant sat in the
court room beside his counsel convers-
ing with his mother and lady friends.
As soon as Mrs. Durrant learned that
the jury was coming in, her demeanor
changed from one of gaiety and look
of dread came to her face which was
not reflected in that of her son.
AS foreman Dutton pronounced the
verdict of guilty of murder in the first
degree, the large audience which had
listened in perfect silence for the
words which he was to litter, rose and
uttered yell which echoed far out
in the corridors. Most of those in the
audience were women. The cries
which went up from them fell upon
the ear of the convicted murder
er's mother like a blow, and it
seemed to bring the first realization of
the force of the words of the jury's
foreman. Her face was averted as she
had nerved herself for the ordeal; a
cry burst from her lips, followed by a
hysterical outburst of sobs. AS he lis.
tened intently to the words which
sealed his fate, Durrant partially arose
from his seat. The look on his face
was one of defiance, and it was appar'
ent that he had it in mind to address
the jury. The first cry from his mothe,
changed his mind, if he had any
such intention before that. He sal
down, turned to his mother, and took
her fondly in his arms. She rested hel
head on his shoulder and with his left
arm about her slender form, held hel
in tender embrace, patting her with
his left hand and with his right strok
ing her hair. He seemed oblivious tt
the fact that verdict which meant
death to him had been returned, OBJ
livious to everything except the weep
ing woman who had sat patiently by
his side through the long trial, cheer
ing him with words of hope. If his
display was of nerve it was marvellous
and if of callousness to any but fila
sensations, it was equally marvellous
Judge Murphy announced that mex
Friday he would pass sentence upor
Durrant, and at the same time h,
trial of Durrant for the murder of Min
ME Williams. His attorneys will taxi
an appeal to the supreme court on
bill of exceptions, the material TO
which accumulated during the trial.