The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-10

San Francisco. Oct. s.-Theodore Dur /
rant. assistant superintendent OF Ema1-
ueI Baptist church sunday school. was
placed on the witness stand today for the
purpose Of convincing the jury selected
10 try him that he did not murder Blanche !
Lamont in the belfFy Of the church on
the Sd Of April last. With the same cool
ness that has characterized his conduct
since his arrest, he denied the principal
allegations that have been made against
him by the most important witnesses tor |
the prosecution. His answers were al
ways brief and to the point. and by many
were interpreted 10 mean that he had
studied his part we'll before taking the
stand Only once during the course OF the
direct examination did he show any ner-
vousness or hesitancy- When Attorney
Dickinson asked him IL he took notes a I
DR.. Cheney's lecture on the afternoon cf
April he cast his eyes toward the hoor
and for a moment was silent. he replied
that he had taken notes, but that they
were very brief. The hesitancy OF tie pgiS-
oner may be understood when il is ex-
planned that Gilbert r. Graham, one Of
Durrants most intimate friends, will tes-
tify that Durrant asked to borrow his
notes Of the lecture. When the request
was made purrant explained that he only
needed the notes TO establish a good allbi.
Graham refused the request.
Taken altogether, Durrant's direct tes-
timony which ended al 5 O'Clock, when
the eross-examination began, probably
had tendency TO strengthen his case.
His demeanor while on the witness stand
was certainly intended 10 impress the
jury with the opinion that he was telling
the truth. Questions that would ordinar-
ily cause a visible impression upon a
guilty man were answered by Durrant
with utmost unconcern. Even when At
torney Deuprey asked him if on the 81 day
OF April or at any other time he murdered
or participated III numbering Blanche La
mont, the prisoner cody replied n tho
negative. a significant feature IF tho
testimony was the fact that while Dur
rant was telling of several incidents that
took place at a prayer meeting held on the
evening of Aprn 3. Mrs. c. G. Noble,
Blanche Iamont's aunt. shook her head
several times, as IL TO indicate that the
statements made by the prisoner. of
which she had positive knowledge. were
not correct. Durrant cid not look at Mrs.
Noble while he was testifyirg.
The purpose OF the defense TO curtau
the cross-examination as much as possible
was shown when District Attorney
Barnes asked the first question. Durrant
was asked If he was not born at Toronto
Canada. on April "a. 1871. Attorney 1cu-
prey objected TO the question. lie said
that Durrant could have no positive
knowledge on the subject, and any belief
that he might have would be based on
hearsay. The court overruled the opjec-
ton. and the prisoner gave an affirmative
answer Several other equally unimport-
ant questions were objected TO By the de-
fense. The objections in most cases were
oveTruled.
II was the original intention OF the de-
fense to recall Charles T. Lenahan this
morning and have him tell more about
the occasion upon which he tried TO pawn
a ring at Oppenheim5 shop. Lenahan
contradicted himself so many times yes
1
mony, and this morning he did not re-
spond 10 hts name when called in court
An attachment was made out for Lenahan
and when he was found an hour later he
was placed in charge OF the sheriff in or
der that he might be found when needed.
In the meantime. however. Durrant was
called TO the stand.
The examination Of Durrant was begun
with questions relative 10 his age and his
early life in this city. Coming down TO
the day upon which Blanche Lamont was
murdered. the prisoner was asked TO re-
| late his movements from the time he left
his home in the morning untn he returned
at night. He said he met Miss Lamont
on her way 70 school, and rode with her
on a street car until he reached Cooper
medical college. He said he remained at
the college until 10 O'Clock. when he and
another student named Ross went for A
walk. When he returned an hour later
he went 70 the library. where he was en-
gagged in his studies until noon. Then he
went TO luncheon with a student named
DiEglns. and returned al I o'clock. After
1 luncheon DurTant remained IN the libra
~ until $50 o'clock. when he attended DR.
Cheney's lecture. He said he was present
al the roll call 1T the close Of the lecture
and answered 70 his own name. Ar the
close o. the lecture Durrant said he beard
81 a street car and rode 20 Emanuel
church. for the purpose of repairing the
sunbuvners. He denied that he was ac-
Companied by Blanche Lamont or any
body else. Upon entering the church he
said. he LEFT his coat and vest in the libra
Ty. obtained the necessary tools and as
ceuded 20 the gallery. 4 blackboard was
provided. ana pUr~ant drew a rude sketch
/ o. the church ard its tail spire. 70 illustrate
the manner in which he made the Tepa r.
lie said that 70 make the repairs Il was
necessary for him 70 lie az fllll length on a
uIa0k with his head much lower than his
feet. While IN this position he said he in
halci 81 much gas that he was made III.
To illustrate tie manner IN which the gas
/ ESCAPED. DurTaut took a burner. and. de-
! sreadin inC 10 the Jury box. explained the
I construction OF the burner 20 the jury.
/ After repairing the burner. Durrant said
re descended 10 the auditorium. where ne
found George King playing on the organ.
King remarked that DurraDt looked pale.
nurraut replied that King would be i1 the
same condition X ne had been nearly
overcome by escaping gas A. Durrauts
request King brought some brorno-seltzer
which he prisoner drank. The medicine
made him feel better, ard az o'clock Dur
rant left IRE church in company with
King He went out Of his vay TWO blocks
- converse with King. after which they
se0avated and Durrant went home 20 din
rar pUrrant said he stlll feit m. ari ste
hut little. In the evening he went 20 pray
er meeting AZ EmapueI church. he saw
Mrs Noble and asked her X Blanche Nas
coming - The PRAYER meeting Mrs. Noble
~enl - that she q 4 NOT believe her niece
would ~ present He related a number
AZ other minor incident. 81 connection with
HIS converse tion with Mrs Noble. who
evidently dl3 not indorse his statements.
froua the fact ;A2t she shook her head sew
e-ai times Al IRE close o. the service
uurraat Sal1 ne went bcE1e and retired.
TAe story of DuTTauts movements 90
April having heer tcld. Attorney peu-
prev called the attention - the witness
q the extra lock on the library aco- 20
which cnly DurrGrt and King uad KEYS
Du-rsut said ne piace9 the lock on the
door 70 protect the library as the other
lock Was defective. lie Ssta ne never
knew uut!i after his arrest that there was
q box OF rools u Pastor Gsfhscrs study
When shown the hatchet found ir the be-
srev beside Blanche Lawo1Ts body. he
sad he had never seen X before. IN re-
FsrfaefN~s ~ fha statements 81 9aWn~4E agir-