The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-16
THECHURCH MYSTERY
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DOUBLE
TRAGEDY AT SAN FRANCISCO.
CircumstantiaI Evidence Strongly
Against Durant, Who Knew Both
of the Murdered Girls.

is tightening around w. H. T. Durant, the
numbering Blanche Lamont and Minnie Will
liams in Emanuel Baptist Church. Chief of
Police Crowley claims to have evidence
enough now to convict him beyond any
doubt. Durant had been attentive to both
girls. Each girl regarded him as a lover.
They were both members of Emanuel
Church and were friends. Both belonged to
the same class in Sunday school. The young
man was librarian of the church and as
sistant superintendent of the Sunday school.
He was familiar with the house and car
ried one of the few keys to its private door.
In person he is a strong, well-made young
man of pleasing and cheerful address and
devoted to his religious duties. He was
the last person seen in Blanche Lamont's
company the day of her disappearance.
Other circumstances which bear against
him are these: He had the key to the
church, was. seen conducting Miss Will
liams into private door of the church,
Friday evening, was late arriving at the
Vogel reception and arriving there
showed nervous condition and disordered
attire. There is a rumor that there was
blood on his hands. He asked to be per-
mitted to wash himself. On leaving he
passed the church again and went within.
In his overcoat pocket the girls missing
purse, part of it, is said to nave been
found. He admits that he was in the church
with his friend King Friday afternoon.
Miss Williams was to have gone to DR..
yogel's Friday evening, started for the
house, met Durant and was never seen alive
afterwards. The sleeve Of mans white
-s~r 1JaAs I'm IN n nd ac 1Oh 1e6
been stripped off the arm was found. 1t
was soiled and had blood stains on it, but
they were old. An old rusty hatchet that
the sexton used for chopping wood, and
also ssol found in the belfry, but it bore no
signs of use. The girl had died of strangu-
lation.
The finding of the ak is a circumstance
that will be followed up by the detectives.
Two weeks ago last Saturday, Durant and
his friend George King used o the tn = ak II IN ils
Durant did most of the work. The lock was
a frail affair and Durant was cognizant of
broken. He also knew that the AK found in
tne belfry was always kept on block in a
basket. Another significant fact Cts, IS that that
and carried to the church belfry, was
strangled by a left-handed man, who used
the left hand in choking the girl. Durant is
ambidextrous, using either hand with equal
facility. He can throw ball, write and do
many other things with the the LETT nanu; ;n,, vo,,
of correct habits, there is another side to the
story. From the undergraduates of the medi-
dent a different opinion has been obtained.
rThev c6lsidered him hypocritical and de-
ceitful. posing before his fellows as a gal
lant and before his church friends as a
ss.in+ Ha often hoasfed to the students of
having received favors from women. On
one occa sion Durant told his friends, in
confidence, of trips which he said he made
at intervals to Carson City, in company
WITH three railroad employees. He told of
hr1,tal treatment to Indian women in which
san nU s.sIitv au
Great i,nnortance attaches to Durant's
aats since the disannearance Of Blanche
itJa a[dto,' = colo &c that he has not attended a
iee.t,,re since the day Blanche Lamont dis
a,,ea rod when his name was called by
tna instructor in charge his friends would
a,. slrS nr = fnr hin, He has acted strangely
eirn e;,ooa tpa search for the lamont girl began
bann+ine the newspaner offices and giving
,,,t eiao fo. bar sbsence ALWAYS predicting
sSSo a., I'll. ,,J ~ M go, he found Durinu la 81
Sne S,naL at Church gatherings and their groups
Week a. :, rhu.ei IL ~ ta,Led cnrtinualiy and
OF Irienu9 ne o,,asr,hat ne ri,div nf Rianche
occaslonaly ~ solio~ ns ~ ,h ha r,ha,.eabopts HE
anndnct a1u surprsed his friends who thought
i,I nsiiaa = eino,ed ps I'D bis rees con
iiy rba az $500 mos belonping to blanche La
,,,ant aud sent 70 her amt on SATURDAY..
mont, anu ser =, ~ ,nro. mer -, ,.,hich ware
were wrapped IN paper Oh wh1SH Ie WEE W
written the names OF GsoTge ~, hing, Ghoe or
stein, who taught music Experts deciare
this Wrlting IS tnal u DuI aht, siiSiieiy
disguised. King was also Irlena OF
and is not suspected. Inc ponce thlnk t,ik
Duranl lfltu 70 s.1rtt :, ~ T ~. III =;
rected to himself. Kew George Glpson,
p, pastor ol a Tue ,nIsna are satisfiad of his on
tire innocence.
M fhar