The record-union., 1895-04-26
sneeIal to the RncoRp-UNIox.

Special to the HECORD-O MON
SAN Francisco, April 25.-Rev. John
George Gibson, pastor of the Emmanuel
Baptist Church, was again on the witness
stand to-day in the preliminary examlna-
tion of Theodore Durrant, charged with
the murder of Minnie Williams. The de-
fense believes that it has case against
the clergyman, and will try to show that
he, and not Durrant. killed Miss Williams
and Miss Lamont.
On the Wednesday preceding the find
ing of Blanche Lamonts body her aunt,
Mrs. Noble, received a paper containing
the rings worn by the missing girl. On
The paper were written the names George
X. King and Professor Shernsteln, the
apparent object being to connect these
men with the girls disappearance. Tx
perts declared the writing to be the dis
Ruised penmanship OF Durraut.
in court to-day counsel tor the defense
requested Mr.. Gibson TO write the names
of King and Shernstein. The minister
complied, but asked twice how to spell
Shernstein's name. Gibson was calm
and collected on the stand, and was
good witness. Nothing tangible against
him was developed by cross-examina-
uon, and his testimony was concluded.
Albert .. McElroy, aged is, testified
that on Friday evening, April 18th, he
observed a man resembling Durrant
waiting on corner near the church.
Soon a young woman came along. The
man approached her and shielded her
with his shoulder from witness obSer-
vatiou. Soon atterward the witness,
VINO had passed on, noticed light NOV
ing in the church.
This testimony was corrObOrated by
Bert Minnere, McElroy's companion.
The other evidence adduced was repeti-
ton of that given at the inquest.
Durrant has secured a desk and an
easy chair in his cell, and spends his
time in studying his notes for his medical
examination.
DRAWING TO A CLOSE.
SAN Francisco, April % The prelim-
mary examination Of Theodore DurranI
Tor the murder of Minnie Williams is
about over. District Attorney Barnes
announced to-day that he would close
the proseuution's testimony tomorrow
morning, and the defense will not, it is
said, make much OF tight in the Police
Court, but will reserve their strength
until they go before the jury that Will
finally determine whether or not there is
proof enough to hang Durrant
To-day's examination was principally
taken up with a continuation OF the
cross-e1amination OF Rev. John George
Gibson, which was concluded shortly be-
fore noon.
The preacher returned to the stand ap-
parently irritated by the treatment he
had received the day before. The law
yer's pretense Of delerential courtesy was
so thin that at times IL was lmperCepuble.
They locked horns at the outset. Gen.
eral Dickinson questioned the pastor
sharply about his study and his poses
sessions. He politely, but no less cer-
talnly, accused the minister of telling
falsehood about a statement made last
Thursday in his study.
Then the attorney asked for some of
DR.. GiDsou's handwriting. by this time
the witness was aggravated enough to be
dlsobHgIng, and refused to give the writ
ing. a few minutes later the same re-
quest came up, and DIR. Gibson, alter
complaining that there was no pen to
suit him among the dozen boxes handed
out by the clerk, wrote everything they
asked. And he did II apparently with
out the slightest recollection that it was
the same request he had denied few
minutes before.
The writing they asked him for con-
sisted OF the names that were on the
paper III which the rings of Blanche La
mont were wrapped when they were re-
turned to her aunt. They produced the
samples of the minister's handwriting-a
black board from the church and mem
Orandum from lim-and the obvious in
tenklOn was 10 SNOW lDaL the pastor
hand had written the names on the bit of
newspaper.
DR.. Thomas \. Vogel also testified It
was at his house the Christian Endeavor
Society of Emmanuel Church met the
night of Minnie Williams murder. The
important part of his testimony referred
to Durrants cOnditlon-disheveled soiled
and perspiring-whe he arrived there
an hour and a half later than was ex-
pected.
DR.. Nogeps statement has varied con-
Biderably since he first made it.
II Durrant goes on the witness stand
with the alibI he outlined when he was
arrested he will be confronted with the
statement he made TO his friend Nogel
about the horses and the Signal Corps,
and the more doubtful DR.. Nogel is on
this subject the better it will be for Dur
rant
The young ladies who found Miss Will
iams' body ih the church on Saturday
morning told their stories, and the Dep
uty Coroner and the undertaken ex-
plained 10 the court the condition of the
church and of the dead girl when they
arrived there.