The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-26
PASTOR GIBSON NOW IN PERIL.
THE DEFENCE TRYING TO MIX HIM
Up IN THE CHURCH CRIMES.

He Is Reluctant to Give a Specimen
of His Handwriting When Asked TO
Do sO-A Supposed Varnish Stain on
the Casing of His study Proves TO
Have Been Made with Human
BIood-Duranfs Word Again Dis
proven.
san Francisco. Cal. April 25.-Dr. Glib
son was again called to the stand on the
resumption of the Durant examination
this morning. He was asked for a speci-
men Of his handwriting, but declined to
give it.
After some tilt with the counsel for
the defence, however. the witness final
ly wrote his name on a piece of paper
and at the request of the counsel he also
wrote the names of George King and of a
professor which were on the newspaper in
which the rings of Blanche Lamont were
enclosed. 1t was evident from this that
the defense were trying to connect
Dr. Gibson with the Lamont tragedy.
The witness identified the chisel and
hammer introduced by the defense as his
property. He testified that they were
kept in drawer in his study.
on being questioned as to his connection
with ST. Andrews Baptist church, Scot
land. the witness stated that he could not
remember he name of the street upon
which II was situated, although he had
lived there three years.
He was asked to give the location in the
Emanuel church of the wash basin in.
which the blood stains were found, and
replied that is was very close to his study.
He further stated that ne supplied the
towels that were used and that they were
kept in an unlocked drawer in the study
The microscope has shown that a sup
POSED Narnish stain on the door casing
of the Rev. Gibson's study was made by
human blood.
Dr. Cheney of Cooper college, said last
night that he had found nothing to es-
tablish Durant's statement that he at
tended the lecture on the afternoon of
April 3. Durant always took notes at
lectures and was careful in transcribing
them, hence his note book was in great
demand It cannot now be found by the
police, and it is either in his own or his
attorneys possession. DR.. Cheney believes
the character of his notes themselves
would demonstrate their genufneness. 1t
would be impossible, he says, for a stu
dent to write fictitious notes of a lecture,
which would not be Inaccurate on their
face
Yesterday officer Dennis Welch of Ala
media called at police headquarters and
frequently visited Miss Williams in Ala
media. During the holiday season about
I
them together on several occasions. Of
ficer Welch will be an important witness
for the prosecution, as Durant emphatic
ally denied TO Chief Crowley after his ar
rest that he was acquainted with Miss VIII
liams.
The defense believes that it has a case
against Rev. Dr. Gibson, and II Will, II IS
said, try to show that he and not Durant
killed Miss Williams and Miss Lamont.
1t was in support of this theory that Dr.
Gibson was asked to give Durants counsel
irasa snf
George Montieth a well known attorney
discovered what led to this line of inVesti-
cation. On the morning after the finding
Of Minnie Williams body, the Can pub
lshed a fac-simile of the names written on
the margin of the paper sent around the
rings returned to Miss Lamonts aunt,
handwriting and says he discovered pc
culiarities in the writing which shoWei
that both were by the same hand' he
reported his discovery to Durants S coun-
sell and it is said their Investigations have
satisfied them that Durants case mas re
ceiVed a great deal of strength from II.
Montieth was in court this morning when
Rev Gibson submitted his specimens OF
writing and says that the additional
specimens make the TeseIl9lalIloes tllcs
between the preachers writing and that
on the paper wrapper more remarkable.
II is said that the defense will accept the
police theory that the murder was COM COM
mitted at a different time from the mutlla-
ton should it follow this line of defense.
The idea has been that Durant wrote the
names found on the paper wrapper dilu
that in doing so he tried to initiate the
writing of Organist King. The alleged
discovery of the defense puts this IN
different light.
DR. Vogel at the examination THIS AFTER
noon repeated his testimony taken at the
inquest He testified as to the meeting
at his house on Friday evening, April ~
and the condition of Durant on his ARRIVAL
about $3.50. The witness saw him when ne
entered. When he got to the TOP Oh me
stairs Durant was perspirlng. me VIII
ness did not remember exactly what was
said, but Durant asked to be allowed 70
wash his hands. On cross-eXanllnatlon ne
was asked whether he saw anything un-
usual about Durant's request to wash MS
hands. DIR. Nogel said he did not except
that Durant looked heated.
Dr. Gibson closed his testimony by
corrected statement from that made yes
terday to the effect that the library door
was locked with the old lock on MS nrst
visit before the discovery of the BODY. lie
had stated that it was unlocked.
W. McElroy. another new witness, tes-
titled that he saw a man meet woman at
$50 o'clock Friday evening near the
church. The couple stopped at a gate
leading to the side entrance of the church
I)urant seemed to be a little shorter than
the man he saw. While waiting for
friend, Bert Minna. he saw lght IN the
rear of the church moving as II from
candle or lantern. Minna corroborated
McElroy'S statement
District Attorney Barnes expects to con-
Crude the examination tomorrow