The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-23

Judge Conlan. Later Chief Crowley ar
rived, and during the forenoon session re-
manned an interested observer of the pro-
C eedings.
Durrant looked pale and somewhat bag
gard as he feebly shook hands with his
placed for him by Captain Douglass. There
was not, however, the slightest indication
of nervousness, and the remarkable self
possession which has characterized all his
actions since the day of his arrest did not
desert him now. 1t was kind of self-pos-
session that borders closely upon stolid
indifference. Not once during the day did
he relax his rigid attitude to catch the
answer of low-voiced witness. Not once
did he speak to his attorneys unless first
spoken to. When an insane woman forced
| her way TO the witness-stand, and by her
cratic maneuvers put the crowd on the
qui vive, bringing the attorneys to their
feet, and unnerving for the moment the
Judge himself, Durrant sat calm and I'M
concerned, without so much as fitting
expression of interest, gazing blankly at
the black-robed figure on the witness
stand, with about the same degree of inter-
est that is manifested by the Sphinx as it
gazes over the sands of Egypt
About the table near which the prisoner
sat was scattered a Heterogeneous collec-
ton of gruesome things to be used in evil
sanctuary where two young lives went
out into the darkness by the hand of an
unspeakable monster.
There was the library table with its sick
ening evidence of the awful crime, the
study door with it's shattered lock, bit of
soiled lace. purse found in the possession
of the accused and the pieces of an ordi-
nary table knife, mute witnesses all OF one
OF the most atrocious crimes ever recorded
Il L. -
At seven minutes after eleven the bailiff
yelled for order and Judge Conlan called
the case.
Both sides answered ready and District
Attorney Barnes opened for the people.
Stewart Merrill was the first witness
called. His examination was conducted
by Attorney Barnes.
Where do you resideP" was the first
question asked.
In San Francisco, at 613 Clay street."
"What is your business2'
photographer"
Did you take these pictures" exhibit
ing two or three photographs of the in
terror OF the blood-stained ediice on Bart
lett street).
Il did; yes, sir"
The witness then identified each one
separately.
Where did your camera stand when
you took photograph No. 2 of the library P'
lnterfered General Dickinson.
Three or four feet outside the room
from the threshold of the door. 1t may
have been three and half feet
Among the exhibits were photographs of
the floor and north and south walls ofthe
library In the church, and one of the VIC
tim, Minnie Williams, after the autopsy.
ne latter gruesome picture represented
the dead girl in horizontal position the
BODY being nude from the waist up, show
ing the knife wounds in the breast and
delicate neck, and also the stitches taKen
from the breast down the entire length of
the abdomen after the autopsy.
"Where was that picture taken ?n asked
Mr.. Barnes.
SIN the receiving vault at Laurel Hill
Cemetery on the morning of April 10.
Nothing further OF Importance was clio
tied.
Mrs. Susan Morgan was next called.
Before her examination began General
Dickinson asked that she be instructed bv
the court to answer all questions only so
far as she could within her own knowledge
and not to give any information from hear
say:
Alameda, on Pacific avenue" responded
the witness in answer to Prosecuting At
torney Wakeman's opening interrogatory.
"Where were you residing at the time of
Minnie Williams murder?"
tAt 1925 Versailles avenue"
"Did YOU know Minnie Williams?"
eyes, sir"
"Did she ever live with your"
eyes. sir; about one year."
"What was she doing with your"
''Making her home with u.s."
"When did you see her lastY'