The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-21
THEODORE DURRANT CASE,
Published Statements Con-
corning His Defense Were
Merely Guesses.
HE HAD A BANK ACCOUNT
Some Of the Points the Prisoners
Attorneys VIII Try to Make
in His Behalf.

There is much speculation being in
! dulged in. now that the case of the people
| in the Durrant trial is nearing it's close,
| relative to the manner of defense that will
| be made by the prisoners attorneys.
Numerous guesses at the probable line
that will be followed have been published,
some of which will doubtless prove to
| have been shrewd ones when the defend
| ants case is presented, but as yet they are
guesses in every instance, with but few ex-
ceptions, the attorneys for the defense
| having been exceedingly cautious about
| talking of their case.
No effort is made, however, to disguise
| the fact that an alibi will constitute the
| main feature of the defendants case, and
| few points that will be made can be stated
| with reasonable certainty of their &C.
| curacv.
1t has been decla red that at least two
| with esses will be brought forward to swear
| that they saw Blanche Lamont alive after
| the hour in which she is supposed to have
| been murdered. This is one of the guesses
| and may have some foundation, as Attor-
ney Deuprey when seen yesterday concern
| ing it declined to either confirm or deny
| the report.
! Another point which it has been stated
| the defense would endeavor to establish is
the statement that George Maine walked
across the City the afternoon of April 3,
with Durrant. from Cooper College to the
| Mission. This, it has been learned, will
| form no part of the case, and although it
| is believed the defense will try to show
| that Durrant did walk across the City, it is
| known Maine will not testify to having
accompanied him.
! Another feature of the case to be pre-
sented by Mr.. Deuprey and his confrere
will be an argument that Durrant could
with little reason have been the person
who offered to sell the chip-diamond ring
| to Pawnbroker Oppenheimer, since Durrant
| had an account at two different banks,
and, therefore, had no need of the paltry
! sum the sale of the ring would have
| brought. This argument will be offered in
| view of what is considered an accepted
| theory that the necessity of money was
the motive prompting the attempted sale.
Durrant is in possession of bankbooks
showing that he had accounts at the
| Hibernia Savings and Loan Society and
the San Francisco Savings Union.
Still another matter that will receive
urgent attention at the hands of the de-
tense and from which Durrant's attorneys
expect their case to profit largely will be
an effort to impeach the testimony of the
witnesses Quinlan and Clark. Detective
Harry Morse has devoted himself assidu-
ously to probing the records of the two
men, and claims to have gathered evil
dences in each case of career calcula ted
to reflect most seriously. upon their yer.
acity. If this evidence is admitted the de-
Tense expects to easily impeach the two
witnesses. 1t is also stated that much the
same tactics will be adopted with reference
to the testimony of Adolph Oppenheimer.
The information that these details will
form part of the case for the defense may
/ H. L
but further than this there are no reliable
indications as to what steps Durrant' s
legal talent will take.
Adolph Oppenheimer will resume his seat
on the witness-stand at Mondays session
of the trial. He will be followed by the
gasftters who repaired the fixtures at
Emmanuel Church Just previous to the
to discountenance the likelihood that Dur
rant had any need of visiting the church
loft for the purpose he has stated.
Unless something lntervenes in the
meantime to change his plans, District
Attorney Barnes will then rest the case
for the people, reserving his remaining
| witnesses for rebuttal.
Durrant has consented to the publication
of the letter he received Thursday from
Aurora, Ill. 1t follows verbatim:
September the Is, 1895.
| Friend Mr.. Durrant: thought that would
write a few lines this morning and let you
| know that feel bad for your dear mother
and her family and for you, and if you
are not guilty of the crimes spray to
Christ that you may get out OF your
| trouble, and I hope that you pray to
God to have mercy on your soul, for he knows
all about u.s. have seen you on the street
| and hardly believe that young man like
you would do any thing like that Frankly
| trust in Christ. l pray that Jerry would get
| out of his trouble If he was innocent. and
| pray day and night for you for your dear
| mothers sake that you may get out of your
| trouble. Ged bless you and keep you. Answer.
| MRS. L. PANGBoRN.
| Just who the "Jefry'' referred to is is
uncertain, but it is quite evident the author
| was overcome with desire to communi-
| cate with the noted prisoner and doubtless
| feigned the illiterate style lest her identity
| should be discovered.