The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-09-24
A A.RETENTIVE MEMORY
Pavnbroksr Oppsnhsim Is a COrker
on Details and No Mistake.
HE'S A FlRST.CLASS WITNESS
The Tenth Week OF the Durrant
Trial Has Begun-There VIII
Soon Be Rest on Pros
ecution Testimony.

San Francisco, Sept. 23.-The tenth
week Of the trial of Theodore Durrant
commenced to-day. The prosecution
now has its case substantially before
the jury. Adolph Oppenheim, the bro
ker, who stated that Durrant had, In
the middle OF last April, tried to pawn
ring with a clipped diamond. identi-
fled by Oppenheim as one belonging 10
Blanche Lamont, was recalled for
further cross-examination. The witness
was questioned at length by the de-
fense regarding Durrant's visit to his
shop. in order to ascertain the possi-
bility OF q mistake In Identification.
To test his memory, he was questioned
concerning other persons who had WIS.,
tied his pawnshop on the day Durarnt
Ii charged with having tried to sell
the ring. Oppenheim said only two
other persons had called. Both were
strangers, yet he described them mi
nutely and recounted the particulars
of their visits. as II they had occurred
yesterday. Oppenheim was asked re-
garding other specific days. answering
promptly. In the minds OF some spec
tators in the court room. he was too
good a witness, remembering events
on special days. months back. with ex-
traordinary vividness. Counsel for the
defense tried to confuse Oppenheim by
showing him a number OF silver arti-
cles and inquiring II he had ever seen
them before. In many cases the pawn
broker replied In the affirmative and
described the persons who had tried to
sell or pawn them. The defense evil
IDENTIFY considered Oppenheim's testi-
mony Of great Importance. and tried
hard to break 1t down, but without
marked success.
w. ]. Phillips, a cigar manufacturer.
testified in a positive manner that he
had seen Durrant coming out Of OPP
penheim's store In the early part Of
last April. He had no doubt OF the
identity of Durrant. A sensational
scene followed when the district attor-
ney requested the witness to step down
and indicate the man he saw coming
out of the pawn shop. Phillips rose,
| walked from the stand to within three
feet of the prisoner, and, with pointed
finger and a steady gaze. said In POSI-
tive tones. THAT Ia the young man."
Durrant did not finch under the or
deal. He returned gaze with gaze, and
not a muscle Of his impassive face
twitched. He neither betrayed guft
nor flashed back the glance of injured
innocence. The witness was cross-ex-
| amined regarding his business enter
prises and his family history. with the
apparent intent of discrediting his tes-
tlmony. He said when Durrant's por-
trait was first published ne remarked
that he had seen him some place. When
Oppenhelm's picture was published.
the scene at the pawnshop flashed
across his mind. and all the details
came back to him. Phillips said he
came into the court room a week ago
to see II he could identify Durrant,
which he did without a moments hes
itation. The witness said he did not
know Oppenheim and had never bowed
to him. although he had frequently
seen the pawnbroker standing In the
door of his shop as the witness went to
his Office. He had avoided speaking to
| Oppenheim since Durrants arrest, as
he wished to prevent any suspicion Of
collusion between them.
Leigh II. Irvine, newspaper man.
said that he interviewed Durrant on
the evening Of April IA in the city pris-
on. Durrant's statement was made In
the presence Of Judge Thompson. who
was then Durrants attorney. It was
as to his whereabout on April 3. Dur
rant then said he left home about 5
o'clock on that morning and met Miss
Lamont at Twenty-frst and Mission
streets. She invited him to accompany
her to the college on the day the con-
versation about the "Newcomes" took
place. He went to the church at 4.3O
| o'clock and took of his coat and hat
and went up stairs to fix the gas. He
stated that he met King in the church
and left It with King. He said nothing
about having seen Miss Lamont in
the afternoon.
Mrs. A. B. Berry Of Alameda. who
was visiting Mrs. Crossett on April 9,
corroborated Mrs. Crossett as to her
| trip to the Mission on that afternoon.