The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-02
Verdict Of Murder n the FIRST De-
gree 10 the Durant Case.
Two founR Girls Butchcrcd In Cold Blood.
Their Dead bodies Mutilated-Re.
markable Instance of Ftendish
Cruclty-Sensatioual Trial.

anu SACltCIiCh1
Suppressed excitement was manifest
ed throughout the court room and the
corridors outside during the wait which
succeeded the departure Of the jury.
There was O great deal Of speculation
as to how long the Jury would remain
out. The result showed that the jury
men had already digested the evidence
and the overwhelming case which the
prosecution had piled up against the
accused had left them no option and
not even room for doubt.
The jury. upon reaching the room Sc
lected Warren Dutton, foreman, and
then balloted. The first ballot was for
in the first degree. word was
sent to the court room,
and Judge Murphy sent for the Jury.
While this was going on Durant sat In
the court room beside his counsel. con-
with his mother and several
Of her lady friends.
As soon as Mrs Durant 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. He
watched the jurymen as they
took their seats, as II to get from their
features the import of the verdict
which their early return portended.
Applause at the Verdict.
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 utter, rose and uttered
q yell which echoed far out In the cor
ridors.
Most Of those in tho audience were
women. The cries which went up from
them fell upon the ear Of the convicted
mother like q blow, and 1t
seemed to bring her first realisation OF
the force of the words OF tne jury q
foreman. Her face was averted, as sne
had nerved herself for the ordeal. But
though possessed of marvellous courage,
a cry burst from her lips, followed by
q hysterical outburst Of sobs. :.
AS he listened intently to the words
which sealed his fate, Durant partially
rose from his seat. The look on his
face was one Of defiance, and It was
a apparent that he had 1t In mind to ad-
dresa the Jury. The first cry from his
nrofher. changed his mind, II he had
sa,ch int ention., He sat down, turned
70 hts mother ana took her fondly In
his arms. She rested her head on his
shoulder, and. with hje left arm about
her slender form, NE held her IN sender
embrace, patttnt her with his left hand
and with his right -stroking her hair
He seemed obllvious to the fact tina,
4 verdict which meant death to him
had been returned; obllvlous to every
thing except the weeping woman who
had sat patiently by his side through
the long trial. cheering him with words
Of hope. II his display was Of nerve II
was marvellous. and II Of callousnesa
to any but fifal sensations, It was
equally marvellous.
TO Ne Sents need on Friday.
Judge Murphy announced that next
Friday he would pass sentence upon
Durant and at the same time he would
AZ the time for beginning the trial for
the murder Of Minnie Williams.
The verdict Of the jury meets with
general appreciation. The town II to-
night wild over It and II resembled the
Of an election. Durant him
self takes It coolly and says he has not
yet lost hope. His attorneys will take
an appeal to the Supreme court on a
bill OF exceptions. the material for
which accumulated during the trial.
The material for the Minnie Williams
trial has all ben gathered and the prose-
cution Is prepared to 60 right ahead
with 1t.
History Of the Case.
San Francisco, Nov. lon April 3
last Blanche Lamont left her home at
B.30 q. m. and went to the boys high
school for the morning session. In the
afternoon she attended the normal
school, In Powell street. near Clay, for
the cooking class, which she left about
) D. m. A. she walked from the school
In company with Miss Minnie Edwards.
q young man stepped UP to her. raised
his hat and escorted her to the car at
Clay and Powell streets. The two sat
on the east side Of the dummy and rode
In that position to Market street.
En- route to Market street Miss Ed
wards ant inside Of the car and paid
close attention to Miss Lamont and her
escort. She saw them last at Market
and Powell, where she left the car and
proc eeded down Market to Fourth
street. A. the car on which Miss La
mont and Miss Edwards rode passed
tho corner Of Powell and California,
Misses May Lanigan and Alice Pleas
ant, who attended the normal school
and saw Miss Lamont there that day.
noticed the young lads and her escort
sitting on the outside Of the car.
Blanche Lamont was never again
seen alive by any one who knew her.
She failed to return home and her dis
was reported to the po-
lice. They not only failed to find her,
but were unable to get clew which
would show whether she had been
murdered or had eloped. The latter
was the most accepted theory. 1t be-
came known that . young man had es-
corted the missing girl from the school,
but his identity was not established at
that time.
First CHASTITY Discovery.
ON the 13th Of April the mangled
Body OF Minnie Williams, who had been
murdered on the night of Friday, the
18th. was found In the library of the
EmmAnfel church. This discovery led
to an inve1tigat ation, and the finding Oi
the remaine Of Blanche Lamont on the
top floor OF the tower of the church.
Sne had been strangied to death, and
he marks of the muderers fingers were
bNaar,ly 70 be seen on the neck. It was
kvident that the murder had not oc.
arred where the body was found, but
hat the body had been carried, OF
Amer dragged. to that spot, by the
hurderer from some point outside oi
10 tower. There was q large blood
kain AZ the second floor Of the tower,
= IA other blood stalns below, which
bWed that there the murderer had
ted and permitted tf,e body to iay,
J he body had been taken to tho ton
y 4. denuded and laid out with blorks
~ FOOD ct tho head aii 4 Under the iaet,
A athlng after the method n vo1ne
y dibsecting ron Tho clothing had
- torn e Issces ;,n'i .t,,sfed into