Evening journal., 1895-04-20

Minnie Williams was murdered they saw
Durant lettering about the ferry at the
foot OF Market street and talked to him.
They said Durant told them he did not
expect to be at the armory that night. and
he asked them TO respond to his name at
roll call
DR.. BARTLETT, who conducted the autop-
sy. testified that Minnie Williams died Of
asphyxiation as a result Of having part OF
her clothing forced down her throat by
the murderer, and that the knife wounds
found on various parts of her body were
inflicted after her death. He also testified
that the girl had been outraged, and that
previous to the time Of the tragedy she
had led a blameless life.
Several other witnesses were examined
on minor matters. and the coroner an
nounoed that he had no more testimony
to offer, though he called Durant to the
stand, and the latter left his seat as IL to
present himself for examination and then
looked toward his attorneys, who advised
him not to speak, and no further effort
was made to question him.
The jury did not occupy an hour In de-
liberating and returned a verdict before
noon charging Durant with the murder
Of Minnie Williams 1t was the case OF
ed The case Of the murder of Blanch La
mont viii be taken up later
The Coroner's Verdict.
The ooroner's jury returned the follow
Ing verdict:
We the jury summoned and sworn to
Inquire into the facts attending the death
of Minnie Williams, and by whom the
same was produced, and In what manner
and where and when tho same Minnie
Williams came to her death. do find that
the name Of the deceased was Minnie
Flora Williams; her age 81 years; nativ-
ity, Canada; single; residence, Alameda,
Alameda county, state Of California; that
she was found dead on April 10 in EmRn-
uel Baptist church. BARTLETT street, be-
tween Twenty second and Twenty-third
Streets city and county of San Francisco;
that she came to her death from hemor-
rhage due to lacerated wounds and asphyx-
la due to strangulation.
I'VE further find from evidence that the
murder was committed by one Theodore
Durant, and we charge him with the
crime
In witness whereof, we, the jurors,
have to this inquisition set our hands and
seals on the day Of date thereof -
When Durant was shown the verdict
after his return to the city prison, his face
flushed for the first time since the terrible
crime Of which he is accused was discoV-
cred.
Miss Gertrude Taber. a stepsister Of FL
mer Wolfe, the young man whose name
has been frequently mentioned in the case
within the past few days, has come for
ward and identified the pocketbook which
was found on the San Bruno road by a
clam digger and which contained some pa
pers, among which was a business card Of
Dr. Vogel on the back OF which was writ
ten the name Of Miss Williams
The Pocketbool Identified.
Miss Taber says that she missed the
pooketbook some time ago while out rid
ing near the Taber ranch on the San Bru-
no road, and explains the presence OF a
card with Miss Williams name on it by
saying that Miss Williams visited her some
weeks ago and wrote her address on one of
Or. Vogel's cards.
Elmer Wolfe's testimony at the inquest
was slightly mixed. and some of Durant's
friends thought he knew more OF the crime
than he wished to tell and pointed TO the
finding of the pocketbook to substantiate
their claim. It is peculiar coincidence
that the pooketbook should have been lost
by one so closely related TO Wolfe and
found at this critical time.
Mrs. Durant, mother Of the accused,
says that she has evidence for the defense
which will go to upset the bearings Of
the statement Of Witness HILL who testi.
fed before the coroner's jury that he had
seen couple answering the description
| Of Durant and the dead girl standing near
the church about 80 on the night and
who afterward entered the churohyard.
Mrs. Durant says that a young couple had
| come to her and stated that they entered
the churchyard about the time Hill claims
20 have seen couple PASS into the FRONT
gate.
The police received information from
laundry that q pair Of bloody trousers had
been ivft for cleaning The police say