The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-09-26
MINISTER ACCUSED.
Rev. Mr.. Gibson Charged With
Killing Blanche Lamont.
The Counsel for Durrant Throws
Out Insinuations.
HIS HANDWR ITIN
Claimed It Was on Paper Con-
tanning BIanche's Rings.

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, Sept. 26-The
defense in the Durrant case began yes
terday with an opening statement
from Attorney Duprey. His intima-
ton that the murder was committed
not by Durrant, but by Rev John
George Gibson, pastor of Emanuel
church. made in a significant allnsion
to the resem blance of the preachers
handwriting with the lettering on the
paper enclosing Blanche Lamont's
ring, created a marked sensation. The
address OF Duprey began with defini-
tions of the duties of a juror in capital
cases. He attacked the newsE apers
for the articles written and published
concerning Durrant, and warned the
jury against improper deductions from
circumstantial evidence. Duprey then
said:
THE district attorney has present d
Z strong case of circums antiaI evil
dence which at first would create a
strong suspicion of guilt of the de-
PENDANT. We claim that beyond a
strong suspicion the prosecution has
failed to go We contend that with
ali the testimony introduced the only
Issues to be passed on have not been
arrested. Where did Blane he Lamont
her death? " no caused her death?
These questions have not been an
swered. A fourth question is the
cause of death. A fifth has not
and can rot be answered. What
was the motive of the accused
in taking the life of Blanche
Lamont? Under the testimony
thus far we a m to ask the court at
this time to instruct the jury without
one word to acquit. AS a duty to the
defendant, his parents and the com
munlty, you are entitled to and shall
know where Durrant was and what he
did OF A -ril 3, f. ON the time he arose
IN the morning until he went to bed
at night. We will then turn our at
tenton to some evidence found in the
church. We will show that The marks
upon the be fry door are the marks of
chisel and that the chisel was found
in the pastors stndy in a tool box.
We will show you, as long as they have
introduced a paper here with letters
on it as compared with letters fou I'd
Emanuel church that they are
letters written by Rev. John George
Gibson. If we are to act upon
s1spiclons we will show you that
tn re are others who have been cast
ito suspicion and worse than the
defendant We will show you that on
April Durrant wore a dark suit of
clothes of blue cloth, while the wit
ness Vogel said that he had light
trousers. We will show that the eye
sight of Mrs. Leak and Mrs. trosset
are impaired and that the reputation
of witness Quinlan Oppenheim and
Phillips Tor veracity is bad If we Ca
prove what we have outlined now, we
should have the spirit of Blanche La
mont call upon you to realize the
truth and if her spirit could come
before you it would say: Let the de-
fendant stand out, let him be free, for
he harmed me not Theodore Dur
rant is innocent; we stand for his life;
we demand his liberty"
After a recess Mrs Matilda Durrant,
mother o the prisoner, took the stand
as the first witness for the defense.
She testified that on the morning of
April her son was dressed in a blue
cheviot suit, the blue trousers of which
she identified, and the garment was
in reduced in evidence. Mrs. Dur
rant stated that her son returned
home that evening shortly after 6
O'clock dressed in the same blue chew
lot suit. He wore no Overcoat. She
testified that the trousers were made
to order by a local tailor When TheO-
dore left home on the morning of
April he kissed his mother good by
and saluted her in the same manner
when he returned at night. The family
dined that evening at els. but the
witness said Theodore had L tile appe-
tite and he did not look we'll At 8
o'clock that evening he took his moth
er to a street car and when she returned
at 1880 he was in bed asleep.
Police Sergeant Reynolds described
the chisel marks on the belfry door.
He searched for tool with which the
marks might have been made and in
the pastors study found a chisel which
Gfte1 the MARKS evaetlv