Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1895-04-20
THE WORK OF A FlEND
Body Of Blanche Lamont Found
in Emanuel Baptist Church.
THE SECOND IN "a HOURS
San Francisco STARTLED hy n Mystery
Of Jack the Ripper
order.

San Francisco. April 1.-THE Eman-
uel Baptist church has been the scene
Of two OF the most atrocious murders
ever committed in the state. Yesterday
the mutilated body OF Minnie williams
was found in the library OF the edihce.
Today the nude pouy of Blanche La
mont was found in the tower uf the
same church. The same hand. the au-
thorities believe. slew both girls. and
W. ii. #. Durant, the young man sus-
pected Of both crimes. Is now In GUS
tody.
Blanche Lamont and Minnie williams
were members OF the Emanuel BAPTIST
church and members OF the same sun
day school class. The former was a
pupil at the normal school in this city;
the latter was a companion in family
in Alameda, across the bay from the
city. Both We're n years old. brunettes.
and pretty and modest girls. Both had
been the recipients of attentions from
a young medical student named W. IL.
L. Durant, who is also the librarian OF
the church and the secretary Of the
young peoples society of the church.
on April Miss Lamont disappeared.
Diligent search failed TO reveal any
trace OF her. and her aunt, Mrs. Noble.
with whom she had been living. was
unable 10 throw any light ON the aiIair.
Miss Lamont came from Dillon. Mont,
several months ago, having been sent
TO San Francisco for her health ana at
the same time TO attend the normal
school 20 perfect herself as "A teacher.
The last person seen In her company
was W. II. 4. Durant. who. 1t appears.
had been on friendly terms with the
missing girl.
on Saturday morning the mutilated
body OF Minnie Williams was found in
she library OF TIC Emanuel Baptist
church on Bartlett street. The girl had
been assaulted and her remains were
cut and hacked. the girl having evident
ly died from loss OF blood. on further
examination IL was found that she had
been gagged by the assailant tearing
on part of her Undertaking and
thrusting 1t down her throat with "a
sharp stick, badly decorating the
tongue. Two witnesses state that they
saw a young man and "a young woman.
the former answering the description OF
Durant and the latter that Of Minnie
Williams, enter the church. Follow
ing this clue, the police put the resi-
VI 11uAdAA NhA
Miss williams lived with friends in Ala
media, who gave her "A home until she
could secure a position. She had been
regular attendant at the Emanuel
church. having formerly lived in that
neighborhood. but on the separation OF
her father and mother had removed to
Alameda.
Friday morning the Morgan family.
with whom she lived, had packed their
household goods preparatory to moving
to Tacoma. and Miss Williams had te-
moved her possessions to the house OF
Mrs. Voy, near the church. Friday
evening she was to have attended q
meeting or the young peoples society of
the church at DIR. Nogcfs house AT
tbs o'clock she left Mrs. Noy's 10 at
tend the meeting. taking latch key
with her. She never appeared there.
About the same time Durant left his
house on Fair oaks street. In the same
vicinity, bound for the same meeting.
At O'Clock Durant met Philip Perkins
and asked him some questions about
the trip to Mount Diablo, which the sig
nal corps OF which he was a member
was to make the next day. At $50 he
appeared at yogefs residence. where
the young peoples meeting was In prog
ress. and none were merrier than he
during the remainder OF the evening,
At IL o'clock he left with party Of
young people and went home. The
next morning Durant arose early and
vent with his comrades of the signal
corps for Mount Diablo 80 miles away.
THE LAMONT CASE.
The two murders are so closely con-
nected that Ii is now necessary to 20
n .as..g
Mrs. Noble, the aunt OF Miss Lamont
received through the mail "A paper con-
tanning the three rings worn by her
niece the night she disappeared. on
the paper were written the name aud
address OF Theodore Durant. This. to-
gether with the fact that Miss Williams,
an intimate friend OF Miss Lamont. had
been heard 10 say that she knew
Blanche had been murdered. but had re-
fused to tell what she knew and low.
led the police to suspect that the same
man had killed Miss Williams had slain
Miss Lamont and that. learning that
Miss Williams knew OF his first crime.
attempted further concealment by com
hitting a second murder.
Late last night the detectives had
about decided that Durant had muir
dered Miss Williams. and this theory
was further strengthened this morning
when. on making thorough search OF
Emanuel church, the dead and out
ragged body OF Miss Lamont was found
concealed in the steeple. Death had
been caused by strangulation. The
body was lying just inside the door OF
the tower room. nude and on the floor.
Around the neck there were n Few
streaks. the marks OF fingers TINT had
been pressed deep into the tender flesh.
The features were badly distorted being
drawn down at one corner. and the lips
were swollen and blood-stained. The
nose was the only feature that re-
tanned It's original shape. for the checks
were bioated The girls light brown
hair was matted with dirt and hung
loosely about her shoulders The body
was In. he,flrst stages ~ decnmp position
When the officers reached the head OF
the stairs they found the daor leading
to the tower room locked They broke
in the door. II was so dark they could
not see. and one OF the officers struck
a match. AS the light fiared up they
saw before them the dead body OF the
girl for whom they were searching
The body was taken 10 the marwua
where II was placed on a slab by the
side OF Minnie Williams
A GREAT CITY EXCITED
As soon as the news became known
immense crowds surrounded the church
The chief OF police sent for Rev Or.
Gibson. pastor of the church. and the
report became current that he had been
-