The Indianapolis journal., 1895-10-08
DURRANT TO TESTIFY
ALLEGED MURDERER OF BLANCHE
LAMONT WILL TAKE THE STAND.
Attorneys for the Defense Deny the
Statement that Durrant Asked DIR.
Graham for Lecture Notes

SAN FRANCISCO Cal, Oct. 7.-On the
opening of the eleventh week of the Dur
ran trial tomorrow, the defense will make
final struggle to break down the testi-
mony of the prosecution-a process which
is expected to last three days longer. A few
more students will be called to the stand.
several additional citizens will testify to
Durrant's excellent reputation, and then
the defendant himself will be called to the
witness stand 1t is the intention of the
defense to have Durrant recount the history
of his adventures on April 3, from the time
he accompanied Blanche Lamont to school
until the hour when he retired to rest In
his fathers house 1t is understood that
the defendants testimony will be guarded
ly given, for the purpose of shutting of
cross-examination by the district attorney.
Under the law, as laid down by the Su-
preme Court of the State. a witness can
not be cross-examined except on actual
matters brought out on direct examination.
The defense intends to leave no loopholes
for the attack of the prosecution. A sched-
ule of time for the close of the trial is
as follows:
On Thursday attorney Duprey will close
the case for the defense; Friday and Mon
day will be occupied by District Attorney
in further rebuttal: on "Wednesday the
opening argument of the prosecution Will
be made, and Thursday, Friday and Mon
day the closing efforts of the defense Will
be made The next day the district attor-
ney will close for the prosecution. 1t is
confidently expected that Judge Murphy
will charge the jury not later than the
morning of Wednesday, Oct D.
Naturally the subject uppermost in attor-
ney Duprey's mind to-day was the daYnag-
ing statement made by DIR. Gilbert F. Gra-
ha inst pf W.
to-day. The knowledge that Durrants
classmate had announced his intention to
the accused had confessed TO him that he
had notes of DIR. Cheneys lecture net
tied the attorney not little although ne
declared he was confident of breaking Gra-
ham down on crOSs-examinat tion-
What do / think of Graham's state
ment?" said Mr.. Duprey. II am amazed at
it. cannot understand 1t, really. nave
talked with Graham and he has never men,
toned such thing TO me. In fact. he de-
MED in the presence of four witnesses that
Durrant had ever made an improper propo-
siton to him. l had heard that he was
likely to make such statement, and asked
him point blank regarding the matter. He
declared positively that nothing out of the
way had taken place during his interview
with Durrant / was very favorably i'm
pressed with Graham, and believed-and
believe yet, as far as that is concerned
as being quiet, intelligent young fellow,
who could not be led to say anything he
did not mean. But the statement he now
makes to the police surprises me-"
Now. want to tell you something,
continued Mr. Duprey. as he shook his
finger impressively. I'VE have simply
landed DIR. Graham in uncomfortable
place. He says now that Durrant told him
he had no notes of that lecture. and wanted
to borrow his (Graham's). presumably to
copy them, in order to bolster up an alibi.
Now, the fact of the matter is. Durrants s
notes of Dr. Cheney's lecture were in the
possession of General Dickinson and my
self long before Graham ever called at the
jail. We had them in our possession almost
from the time of Durrants arrest. What
will Graham's testimony amount to as
against that? What need would Durrant
have had for Graham's notes?'
During your int terview with DIR. Graham
did he not tell YOU that Durrant had con-
fessed that he had no notes of DR.. Cheney's
lecture, and wanted Graham's in order to
copy them and SO strengthen his alibi?"
Never in the world" replied Mr.. Duprey
with emphasis. He never even intimated
such thing"
ssBut suppose Graham goes on the wit
ness stand and testihes that such was the
case?'
'sThen will say that he testified to some
thing which is untrue. cannot understand
why he should have made such statement
TO the prosecutiOn'