Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-04-16
THE GUILT OF DURANT
Considered Beyond All Doubt In
Minds of San Francisco Folks.
Posed as Lover to Both Un-
fortunate Women.
chaIa Of Evidence Connects Him Closely With
the Double Murder

DAN IHANNioCOS APfii iO- W. - -
Durant has been attentive 60 both Blanche
Lamont and Minnie Williams. Each girl
regarded him as lover They were both
members Of Emanuel church and were
friends Both belonged to the same class
in Sunday school. The young man was
librarian OF the church and assistant
superintendent Of the Sunday school.
Durant has been attentive to both girls.
Each girl regarded him as lover. They
were both members OF EMANUEL
church and were friends Both belonged
70 the same class In Sunday school The
young man was librarian OF the church
and assistant superintendent OF the Sun
day school. He was familiar with the
house and carried one Of the few keys to
It's private door.
He was tho last person seen in Blanche
Lamont's company on tho day or her dis
appearance Other circumstances which
bear against him are these: He had the
key to the church; was seen conducting
Miss Williams into private door of the
church Friday evening; was late arriving
at the Vogel reception, and upon arriving
there showed a nervous condition and
disordered attire. There is rumor thar
There Was Blood on His Hands.
church again and went within. In his
overcoat pocket the girls missing purse,
or part of 1t, is said TO have been found.
He admits that hc was In church with his
friend King Friday afternoon. Miss Will
Jams was 60 have gone TO Dr.. VogePs Fri
day evening, started for the house, met
DuranU and never was seen alive after
ward
Another significant fact is that Blanche
Lamont, who was murdered first and car
ried to the church belfry, was strangled
by ft-handed man, who used the left
hand in choking the girl. Durant is am
bidextrous, using either hand with equal
facility. He could throw ball, write,
and do many other things with the left
hand.
AS to Durant's reputation as a pious
youth of correct habits, there is another
side to the story. From the undergradu-
ates at the medical college where Durant
was also a student different opinion has
been obtained. They considered him hypo-
critical and deceitful, posing before his
fellows as a gallant and before his church
friends as saint. He often boasted to
the students OF having received favors
from women.
On one occasion Durant told his friends
In confidence of trips which he said he
made at intervals to Carson City in COM
pany with three railroad employees He
told of'brutal treatment to Indian women,
In which he took part and of indulgence
In Gross Sensuality.
He has ac-ed strangely since the search
Tor the Lamont girl commenced. During
last week, ut church gatherings and To
groups of friends he has talked continu-
ally, and occasionally somewhat wildly,
of Blanche, and spcculatcd rs to her
whereabouts. His conduct surprised his
friends, who thought perhaps his love for
Blanche had temporarily affected his rea-
son.
The three rings belonging to Blanche
Lamont and sent to her aunt on Satur
day were wrapped In paper upon which
were written the names of g. r. King, or
ganist Of the church, and Professor Sheen
stein, who taught her music. Experts de-
clare this writing is that OF Durant
slightly disguised. The police think
Durant tried to throw suspicion on these
two men that attention might not be di-
rected to himself.
Another young lady, also member of
the same church, says Durant told her
she had female complaint and gave her
medicine which benefited her. After
wards he advised her to allow him to
make personal examination. She In
dignantly refused. Durant continued to
urge it, saying there was room In the
church to which he had a key, where the
examination could be secretly and safely
made. 1t is surmised DuranJ may have
lured the murdered girls into the church
on similar pretext
About = o'clock yesterday morning the
police heard rumors of a threatened at
tack on the prison to lynch Durant.
Extra precautions were taken The rela-
tives of the Lamont and Williams girl
believe Durant killed them.