The morning times., 1895-10-26

San Francisco, Oct. 25.-Gen. Dickinson,
of Durrant's counsel, made his opening
address to the jury to day occupying five
hours in its delivery. His points were num-
erous and he frequently repeated himself,
dwelling upon the character of the ac-
cused. which he said had been above re-
proach and against which no evidence had
been introduced. He regarded the college
roll call the pivotal point in the case.
He asserted that not only was there no.
ground for the insinuations against the
defendants character, but he had the en-
tire confidence of the mothers of all the
young ladies of the church and OF the
young lady for whose murder he stood
cha rged. The counsel said there was
with Miss Lamont on the morning of April
3, and his escorting her to school.
DID NOT DENY THE MEETING.
He had never denied that meeting, but,
on the contrary, had told Miss Lamonts
aunt OF IL that night, had told reporters
OF it when he was arrested, and had testi-
fled to il on the stand, and his statements
had been consistent throughout.
Counsel said the roll cail which showed
Durrants presence at the college was abso
| there. He denied that anything to show
its unreliability had been produced.
Though the testimony of Durrant's class
mates had been referred TO as negative, he
regarded it as very positive and couvinc-
Ing. Nothing in that testimony disputed
the statements of the accused.
The counsel presented the note book
which Durrant alleged he used at the lee
ture and compared the notes with those
safS nrf lns
within a few days after the lecture.
Glaser had read his notes in Durrants
presence. aud 1t was contended by the
prosecution that the accused had copied
from them. Counsel contended that this
was shown to be untrue by the difference
in the notes.
He rcaa I. number OF notes from Glaser's
book with parallels from Durrant's book.
The difference in them was altogether in
the language. In nearly every case Dur
rants explanations were apparent abb
breviations OF Glaser's.
DURRANT'S LECTURE NOTES.
In some instances Durrant's notes made
no mention OF parts OF the topic to which
Glaser referred. As read it WAS difficult
to see the material difference counsel
said existed He submitted both sets OF
notes to the jury, expressing the certainty
that they would see that one could not
possibly he copy of the other.
Graham, he said, was mistaken. He tes-
titled that when he visited Durrant in
prison the accused asked him for his
notes and said he had none that he
needed GrahanI's notes TO prove an alibi.
AT this time the accused had his book of
notes in the hands of his attorneys. What
Durrant had done, counsel said, was to
ask Graham for his notes for the purpose
of comparison.
..r.NI
had seen him on the way to church with
the girl, they were laboring under an
hanucination, caused by having read too
much about the case
Counsel then referred at length to Dur
rants alleged experience in the church.
He gave the jury the result of a compu-
tation he had made by which he showed
that Durrant would have inhaled only
enough OF the gas to nauscate him, about
36-l00 in quantity. He contended that
nausea invariably caused paIeness and
that flushing of the face wouId not have
resulted unless he had inhaled enough gas
to poison him.
VISITED BLANCHE LAMONT'S AUNT.
After leaving the church, Durrant went
to his home, ate his supper, and in the
evening adjourned to the church to attend
prayer meeting. There lie saw Mrs. Noble,
Miss Lamonts aunt, and he spoke to her
about the girl He told her of b is morning
ride wsSh the girl and said he had promised
her book. which he would bring TO the
aunt's house on the Friday following the
murder
He did bring the book and inquired for
the girl whose body was then in the church
beifry. Why would he have done this if
lie bad been guilty, unless to get himself
deep into net TO convict him of the murder?
Counsel argued that all his acts in this con-
nection were those OF an innocent man
He paid particular attention to Mrs Leak,
of all the identifying witnesses and strongly
intimated that she was not even mistaken.
Dickinson asked to be allowed to complete
his argument Tuesday morning and the re-
quest was granted. The court adjourned
until that time.