The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-25
The Durrant Surprise an Effort
to Cast Suspicion on His
Pastor.
DEFENDANTS CASE OUTLINED.
Mistaken Identity and Perjury of
Witnesses Are FeatureS-A
Threat to King.

=
Deuprey and Thompson, will take an
anxious public into their confidence this
morning when the trial of Theodore Dur
runt for the murder of Blanche Lamont is
resumed in Judge Murphy's court.
They will show their hand, however, in
a very guarded manner. Mr.. Deuprey, it
is believed, will only impart such informa-
ton in his opening statement as he deems
necessary to the proper opening of the
case for the defense.
The exceeding reticence of Durrant's
legal talent renders it impossible to make
complete synopsis of their case, Of which
Mr.. Deuprey will inform the public to-day,
but sufficient information has been gath
cred from an undoubtedly authentic source,
upon which to base an outline.
There can be no doubt that he will state
that complete alibi is expected to be
proven for Durrant, and while it is not
thought he will indicate what witnesses
will be called in support of his claim, yet
his statement, which it is supposed will be
brief, will show in all probability that an
effort will be made to prove mistaken
Identity IN some instances, notably those
of Mrs. Elizabeth Crosett and Mrs. Caro-
line Leak, and perjury IN others in the
cases of those who have testified to having
seen Durrant in the company of Blanche
Lamont the afternoon of April 3.
What is undoubtedly the great surprise
promised by the attorneys Tor the defense
is the evidence which others claim to have,
proving that another than the defendant
sent the package containing Blanche La
mont ring to the belfry victim aunt Mrs.
Noble, or rather that the address on the
package and the two names, George r.
King and Professor Schernstern, which
also appeared written on the newspaper,
were not the production of Durrant.
They claim to be able to prove by a COM
parison of these inscriptions with several
specimens of writing which they have in
their possession, and of whose authorship
they claim there is no doubt, that the adj
dress and the two Eames on the news
paper that inclosed the rings when they
were received by Mrs. Noble were written
by the Rev. ]. George Gibson, though this
claim is not readily accepted by those who
are familiar with the case. THE CALL
does not believe this theory can be estab-
lished.
On the 18th of April last there was pub
lished in THE CALL a statement by the
Rev. J. George Gibson, which was signed
with fac-simile of his signature, and on
the same day there was published in the
Examiner a c-simile reproduction of the
address on the package of rings and of the
two names mentioned. A comparison of
these writings was made by George. W..
Monteith an attorney, who has made a
special study of handwriting, and he be-
came strongly convinced that they were all
the work OF the same hand.
Subsequently he called the attention of
the attorneys of Durrant to this theory,
and on his suggestion the Rev. J. George
Gibson, when on the witness stand during
the preliminary hearing of Durrant, was
requested to write the names of King and
Schernstern. 1t will be remembered that
the witness was at first averse to comply
ing with the request, but eventually did so.
The claim is now made that the writing
obtained from the pastor of Emmanuel
Baptist Church, when he was on the
witness-stand, is remarkably similar to
that on the newspaper that enwrapped
Miss Lamont's rings. Such is the opinion
gwen by an expert, though the ordinary
Individual may fail to discern it.
In order to further strengthen this ex-
traordinary theory, which is difficult to be-
lieve, other writings which the defense
claims it can prove were executed by the
Rev. J. George Gibson, were secured and
compared with the print-like letters OF
Mrs. Mobiles address on the ring package,
strongest ground for this scarcely credi-
bic theory is said to lie.
In the address on the package occurs the
following on one line: ''209-2lst St..
and in the writings claimed to be those of
the Rev. J. George Gibson, occurs: 200
21st Street." The similarity of the char
acters "21st' In both of these is claimed to
be SO remarkable that one might be taken
for almost Photographic reproduction of
the other.
The word "city" also appears in the adj
dress, and among the specimens of what
are alleged to be the writings of Mr.. Glib
son are said to be numerous letters that are
faithful in every detail and characteristic
to those that compose the word city"
1t has been definitely ascertained that
the theory will form no part of the case
for the defense which has been current for
several days to the effect that it would be
attempted to be shown that Blanche La
mont was seen alive after 4:30 o'clock, the
time she is supposed by the prosecution to
have been murdered.
1t is said the defense has competent
witnesses and plenty of them, to establish
the assertions that Mr.. Deuprey will make,
but who they are 1t is impossible to learn.
1t is likewise impossible to make an ac-
curate surmise as to what account will be
made of Durrant's actions that day, once
he is shown not to have been at the places
where he Is alleged to have been seen.
Whether or not he will take the stand in
his own behalf is not definitely decided.
General Dickinson and Mr. Deuprey
held their final consultation last evening
preparatory to opening their case. They
burned the night lamp until far toward
morning before they had gone over all the
testimony, digested it in all its possible
bearings on the case and decided just how
much Mr.. Deuprey should say and what
he should leave unsaid.
At the City Hall Captain Lees was busy
all evening considering details of evidence
that will come up in rebuttal. He sent for
Janitor Sademan and for Quinlan and
Clarke and held long interviews with them.
With the former he discussed the gas
meters of Emmanuel Church to determine
whether they were out of order in any
way, or whether the indicators showed
more gas had been consumed than would
ordinarily have been burned, and which
must therefore have escaped.
The idea was to be prepared to combat
the statement that Durrant was overcome
with gas according to his statement.
When seen last evening Mr.. Sademan said
that, calculating on the average amount of
gas burned, the meters did not show that
SUFFICIENT had escaped to have asphyxiated