Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1895-10-17
DURRANT IN HIS OWN BEHALF
SAYS HE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT THE
MURDER OF BLANCHE LAnONT.
His Action on the Witness Stand Tend to
Strengthen His Defense.

SAN FRA NCIsCO. Oct. 1O.-TheOdore
Durrant, assistant superintendent
of Emanuel Baptist church Sunday
school, was placed on the stand
yesterday for the purpose of convinc-
ing the jury selected to try him that
he did not murder Blanche Lamont.
With the same GOODNESS that hos
characterized his conduct since his
arrest, he denied the principal allega-
tions that have been made against
him by the most important witnesses
for the prosecution. Taken all to-
gether, Durrant's direct testimony
which ended at 3 o'clock when the
cross-examination began, probably
had a tendency to strengthen his
case. His demeanor while on the
witness stand was certainly in
tended to impress the jury with the
opinion that he was telling the
truth. Even when Attorney Deuprey
asked him if, on the third of April,
or at any other time, he murdered or
participated in numbering Blanche
Lamont, the prisoner cody replied
in the negative. The purpose of the
defence to curtail cross-examination
as much as possible, was shown
when District-AttorneyB Barnes asked
the first question. Durrant was
asked il he was not born at Toronto,
Canada, on April "A, 1871. Attorney
n1,sncfn1 fn fhn ntrnaf inn
He said that Durrant could have no
positive knowledge on the subject
and any belief that he might have
would he based on hear say.
The court overruled the objection
and the prisoner gave an affirmative
answer 1t was the intention of the
defense to recall Charles Lenahan
this morning and have him tell more
about the occasion upon which he
tried to pawn II ring at Oppenheim' :
shop. Lenahan contradicted him.
self so many times yesterday that
doubt was cast upon his testimony
and this morning he did not respond
to his name when called in court
An attachment was made out fol
I.enahan and when he was found al
hour later, he was placed in the
charge of the sheriff in order that hi
might be found when needed. In the
meantime Durrant was called to thu
stand. The examination OF Durrant
began with questions relative to hii
age and early life in this city. Com
ing down to the day upon which
Blanche Lamont was murdered
prisoner was asked to relate hil
movement from the time he left
home i'm the morning until he re
turned at night. He said he me-
Miss Lamont on her way to schOo
and rode with her on the street car un
til he reached Cooper Medical college
He said he remand at college unit
10 O'Clock when he and another stu
dent named Ross went out for (
walk. When he returned an hou
he went to the library where he wa
engaged in his studies till noon
student named Diggins and returnet
at o'clock After luncheon Duran
remained in the library until 3:3
O'Clock. when he attended Dr.
Cheney's lecture. He said he wa
present at the roll call at the clos
of the lecture and answered to hi
name At the close of the lecture h
said he boarded a street car and roa,
to Emanuel church for the purpos
of repairing the sunburners. HI
denied that he was accompanied b,
Blanche Lamont or anybody else
Upon entering the church he said h
left his coat and vest in the library
obtained the necessary tools and az
eended to the gallery. A blackboar
was provided and Durrant drew
rude sketch OF the church and 1t
tall spire to illustrate the manner i
! which he made the repairs. He sal
to make the repairs 1t was necessar
fer lin to lie at full length on
plank with his head much lowe
than his feet. While i'm this position