The herald., 1895-04-15

not appear to be any mark on the soft
skin TO indicate that death had come by
violence. The BODY lay On it's back, part
ly upright, the arms drawn up. The
long. thick hair of the girl was drawn
from under the head and lay along the
floor in shiny. silken stream. The muir
derer had closed the eyes of his victim
and turned her head to one side fearful
that the blood, which flowed from he's
mouth and became pool upon the floor,
might drip through to the balcony below.
Fearing even that the dead might move,
the murderer had thrust a block of
wood between the wall and the dead
girls head. The Strengthened limbs had
been kept in position by pieces of wood.
The floor of the little landing was covered
with dust. which, in the immediate vi
entity CT the body, had been disturbed as
if by the sweeping of a cloth. In many
places foot prints were visible. the marks
being such as would be left by No. or
No. shoe.'
The detective said that from the land
ing where the body was found man can
climb into the interior of the spire by
ascending a rough ladder formed by
cleats nailed across the studding on ore
this place. First he found the skirt of
the murdered girl. 1t had been thrust
down between two tlmbers with infinite
pains. The space where it was found was
extremely narrow and dark and not
trace of the skirt was visible. After find
ing the skirt in quick succession articles
of clothing. some whole and some torn.
were drawn from their hiding places in
the spire. Behind the angle formed by
two rafters the officer found a shoe. Its
mate was found an hour later behind
some boards nailed to the braces. The
stockings were together crammed into a
crack no larger than cable slot. The
lnl,. Io,t hat
supports the roof of the church and a
Story below where the body was found.
Each of the undegarments was tucked
away in different places. On some of
them slight blood stains were visible and
all were either badly torn or sufficiently
10 show the haste with which they had
been ripped from the body. The work of
and it must have cost the murderer over
an hour of careful labor to carry the
clothing up the sides of the tower beams
and hide it away piece by piece.
The Pastors Statement
J. George Gibson, the pastor of Eman-
uel church. has written statement to
the press denying rumors that he at any
time sought to have the finding of the
murdered body of Minnie Williams kept
quiet; that he slept in the church or
that he was in hiding. He also tells how
he came to find the body in company
with lady members of the church. He
says he refused to see reporters beause
he wanted to aid the police and prepare
a statement.
No Sign Of Guilt
WALNUT CREEK, Cal. April A.
Eleven young men connected with the
signal service arrived here at noon yes
terday. They left for Mt Diablo soon
afterward. Officer Anthony of San Fran
cisco folle we'd them today, in company
with Sheriff Palmer. from here.
They met the men on their re-
turn trip at Fred Moses place. seven
Anthony remaining few steps behind,
enquiring of Lieutenant Boardman, who
was in command, if Durant was amongst
the men. Durant at once stepped up to
the officer. Anthony then informed him
that he had come to arrest him on sus-
picion. Durant was not moved in the
least, smiling at both officers, and said {:
How can | have done it? was here last
night When it was explained to him
that the murder had not been committed
last night, but night before, he said: ''It
is strange. | am only sorry for my poor
mother. | can easily clear myself of this
serious charge. Three of my companions
festival and they will stay by me-"
Lieutenant Boardmun here stated that
he could not give up Durant, as he had
taken ten men with INN and he must re-
turn that many. He thought the Off
GERS had no right to any men belong
ing to a company of soldiers.
The other militia men took the same
view, but the officers insisted and Dur
ant expressed a willingness to 60.
The officers took him TO Walnut
Creek and shortly after left on
the train for San Francisco. Deputy
Sheriff Palmer states that Durant showed
not the least sign of guilt. The men
knew that one of their men would be ar
rested, as they had received signal flashes
from members of the company last night,
although they had no idea that officers
would follow them.