The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-10-10
DURRANT TESTIFIES
In HIS Own Behalf, and makes FaVOra-
bio inIprosatou,

In HIS Own bbhnlfI ana makes y tRNoFhs
bio impressions,
San FRASCIsco, Oct 0. - Theodore
Durrant, assistant superintendent OF
Emanuel church Sunday school, was
placed on the stand to-day for the pur-
pose Of convincing tho jury selected to
try him that he did not murder Blanche
Lamont in the bellry OF tho church on
Aprll3 8, With the same coolnesa that
has characterized his conduct aiuCs his
arrest, no denied the principal allega-
tions that hayo been made against him
by tho most important witnesses for the
prosecution. Ills answers were always
brief aud to the point, Many were :n'
terpretod to mean that he had studied
his part well before taking the
stand. Only once during the course OF
tho direct examination did ho show any
nervousness or hesitancy. When Attor'
nsy Dickinson asked him II he took
notes at DR.. Chensy's lecture OF the after
noon OF ApTil 3rd, no cast his eyes to-
ward tho floor and for q moment was
silent. lie replied that he had taken
noteI, bat they Wefe bFief. The hesi-
fancy OF the prisoner may be under
atOod when 1t Is explained that Gilbert
+. Graham, ono OF Durrants most init.
mate friends, will testify that Durraut
asked to borrow his noteI Of the lecture.
When tho request was made Durrant
explained that hG only peeded the
noIes to establish Rgood alibi. Graham
refused tho request,
Taken altogether Durrants direct
testimony, which ended at 3 o'clock
when tho cToss.eHaminalioR began,
probably had a tendency to strengthen
his case. His demeanor while on tho
stand was certainly Intended to impress
the jury with the opinion that he was
telling the truth, Questions that would
ordinarily cause visible impression on
a guilty man were answered by Durrant
with the utmost unconcern.
a COOL WITNESS.
Even when Attorney Duprcy asked
him II on the third OF April, at any
other time, he murdered or partici-
paIed in tie numbering OF Blanche La
mont. the prisoner coolly replied in tho
negative. The purpose OF tho defense
to curtail cross-oxamination as much as
possible was shown when District
Attorney Barnes asked the first ques.
tion. Durrant was asked il hs was not
born at Toronto, Canada, April q, 1871.
Attorney Dueprey objected TO ths ques'
ton. Tho court overruled the objec.
iion and the prisoner gave an atiirma'
tive answer. Several other equally un.
important questions were objected to
by the defense. The objections in most
cases vera overruled.
The examination OF Durrant was be.
gun with the questions relative to his
age, and his early lite in this city. COM
ingN down to the day upon which
Blanche Lamont was murdered, the
prisoner was asked to relate his move.
ments from the time be left his home
in the morning until he returned at
night
MS MOVEMENTS APRIL 3,
lie said ho met Miss Lamont on her
way to school aud rode with her on a
street car until he reached the Cooper
Medical College. He said he remained
at tho college until 10 o'clock. whom he,
and another student, named Ross, went
for walk. When hs returned an hour
later, he went to the library, where ho
was engaged in his Studies until noon.
Then ho went to luncheon with a stu
dent named Diggings, and returned
at o'clock. Alter luncheon DurrRnt
remained in the library until $3.50
o'clock, when he attended Dr. Choney's
lecture. lie said he was preSout at tho
roll call at the close OF the lecture, aud
answered. to his name.
At tho close OF tho lecture, Durrant
said. he boarded a street car and rode
to Emanuel church for the purpose OF
repairing the sunburners. He denied
that he was accompanied By Blanche
Lamont or anybody else.
Mrs. NOBLE SHARES HER HEAD.
In tho Ovouiug he wont to prayer
meeting at Emanuel church. Ho saw
Mrs. Noble aud asked her il Blanche
was coming to prayer meeting. Mrs.
Noble replied that shc did not believe
her Riaca would be- present. He 70.
lated number oi other minor incidents
in connection with his conversation
with Mrs. Noble. Mrs. Noble Uvidontly
did not endorse his statements, from
tho fact that she shook her head several
times At tho close oi the services
Durrant said he went home aud re.
tired. DurAnt dOnlcd that on the
afternoon OF April he was at the cor
nor OF Powell aud Clay streets, testified
TO by Mrs. Vogpl. HO also denied tho
Of three school girls, WHO iGs'
tilud that DurranJ Rrd Blanche La.
mont boarded Il Powell street car Rt
Clay street aud todo toward Market.
lilo saii he did not rido on II wOst.
bound Valencia strout car With Blanche
Lamont, ns testified to by Mrs. Cros.
aoll. llO said ho was never in Oppcn'
hoim's pawn shop
"Did Won, on April 3, In San Fran
cisco, or elsewhere" asked Attorney
Duuproy, "inllCL any violence upon
Blanche Lamont, or did you kill or
iu killing hOr?"
Durtant replied that hO did not, aud
the direct oXamiuatUn was al an and.
The cso4S.eXamiHaiieH, which laaiCl
only ono hour before court took recess
until tomorrow, was confined to quos.
lions rclalivc TO tho Lie OF Durrant,
prior to April 8.
The Priest Numbered