The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-25
THE DURRANT TRIAL.
Prosecution Finishes Its Evidence
Defense to Open To-Day.


SAN FRANCISCO. Sept. 4-Ths case of
the prosecution In the trial of Theodore
Durrant closed this afternoon. To-day was
spent in putting the finishing touches to the
testimony against the accused. Witnesses
were summoned to strengthen the entire
case by illing in the weak places. The chief
point which the prosecution sought to es-
tabiisl to-day was that Durrant had said
that the last time he had seen Miss La
mont was when he parted with her on the
mornins " April 3-she going to school, he
to tht cooper Medical College. In all his
state.sess,s. regarding the disappearance of
Blanche / lniont, the defendant has stuck
to ,his- oeci tiation. Detective Anthony, VINO
ere, 81 4 Diirrant, testified to-day that Dur
iraft T. "a made that statement TO HIM when
retufnng te the city after the arrest
DR.. II oIaas A yogel, member OF the
Emantsi giiurch,s stated that sDurrant had
to hin' Tfe Sunday after the disappeararice
of Afiss lament, made the same statement
about ne ias. time ne had seen her. The
prosecute .rspects to score strong point
by dssI.onstIating TO the jury that the
pI isonsr8 made false statements regarding
HI movements and the associations VIII
the glsl he is charged with having muir
decsd The district attorney, il was said,
VIII use this as the basis of an argument
th.,r Gurrants first statements were IN
spis "a BY sinister motive. III he had noth-
ing 10 ll'se. IL is argued, he would nave
told tBie ti,it5a. about his last meeting with
W..le,n Sterling. gas filter. explained
the work he performed In putting new tips
on the gas burners He said that on April
?. when he left the church, no gas was es-
Gazing. On April he returned TO the
chlrr.l and no escaping gas was nouced-
Attorneys for the defense cross-examined
this Witness at length, the intention being
To show that an immense quantity or gas
escaped while repairs were In progress, the
object being to justify the assertion made
by Dur-ant that he was overcome by the
gas fumes in the belfry.
DIR. c.. II. Barnum. demonstrator OF anat-
ony at Cooper Medical College, TESTIFIED
that thA blocks placed under the dead body
of Blanche were laid in the same manner
as under a subject in a dissecting room.
Harry Partridge. fellow-students or Dur
rants swore that about a week after
Blanche disappeared Durrant told him that
the girl had either met with foul play or
been led astray.
prof. Charles Sherstein and ,organist
name on slip of newspaper inclosing Miss
Lamontss rings, which were returned to
Miss Noble, aunt of the dead girl. Allen
Church., "A former janitor or Emanuel
Church.f said Durrant had a key which
would unlock all rooms in the interior OF
the church.
The prosecution then rested and the de-
fense asked a continuance until Tomorrow.
Durrant.s attorneys will ask a few ques-
tions OF several witnesses who lhave al
ready testified ard promise thereafter 10
proceed with the defense Immediately. The
opening statement of the defense Is awaited
with interest Owing TO the refusal OF the
dents o. Cooper College relative to Dur
rants attendance at the lecture on the af-
tcrnoon of April g. a number OF witnesses
summoned to testify were not called.