The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-11-20
DURRANP FOUND GUILTY.
Convicted Of Murder'ng Blanche La
mont in San Francisco.
JURY OUT ONLY FIVE MINUTES.


and Applauded by 4 Great Crowd---Pa-
thetic Scene in Court---Ris Mother Be.
comes Hysterical, Hugs and Kisses
Film, Shrieking All the Time.
Theodore Durrant was found guilty at
San Francisco, CAL. OF numbering Blanche
Lamont. It took tine jury only five minutes
to render decision.
The verdict was surprise to the .stolid
young prisoner, his relatives and counsel.
His mother, who sat with him every hour OF
the time since the trial began. had hoped to
the last moment that one, and perhaps two
of the jurors would vote for acquittal. The
District Attorney. on the contrary, said pri'
vately before he began his three days adj
dress, that he was satisfied the jurors had
each DECIDED on conviction when the evil
dence was all in and before the argument
began.
District ATTORNEY Barnes closed his argu-
ment for the people with a powerful and elo-
uunnt appeal for justice. Superior Judge
D. J, Murphy delivered an elaborate charge
TO the Jury touching the law OF clrcumstan-
tial evidence and matters OF legal presump,,
tions in the afternoon. Tho charge occupied
an hour and half.
ATTORNEY Dickinson. for Durrant. made
formal exception to the charge. the Jury
retired at twenty-siX minutes OF four O'Clock
in charge OF two deputy sheriffS. They went
across the crowded corridor to the rooms Oh
the Grand jury. which had adjourned to ac-
commodate them.
The Jury took sixteen minutes to settle it
self. and promptly at ten minutes OF tour
o'clock deliberaton began. Exactly nve
minutes thereafter rap on the door sum.
moned the deputies to learn the Verdlc1
agreed upon.
AS the Jury fled into the court room the
prisoner turned around in his chair, az dla
his mother, who sat next to him. Both
ware pa,e. and Mrs. Durrant seemed on the
verge of collapse. Foreman Warren Dutton
rose. wiped his tear dimmed eyes. adjusted
his glasses and read in a'clear voice:
"We. the jury find the defendant. William
Henry Theodore Durrant, guilty OF murder
! In the first degree"
The prisoner made a oonvulsive start and
half rose AZ II TO address the Court. his
mother, with cry that began in a mutled
shrek and ended in deep sobs, threw her
arms about his neck and pulled him oacs.
From the densely packed court room came
at the same moment sound that was thrill
ing in the last degree. It was the fierce cry
Of the crowd. Women laughed and cried,
and all struggled for better view OF the
prisoner. He sat. pale, but seemingly un-
moved. while his mother pressed her cneek
against his. with her arms about his neck
and wept pitifully. Durrants father. VINO
had been smoking cigarette In the corridor
pushed his wav in and helped comfort the
sobbing woman.
r,.I ,;oI.1 I mr.
nounced that on Friday, November 8. SEN
tence would be passed, and that on the same
date the trial of Durrant for the murder OF
Minnie Williams would bs set on the calen-
dar, The deputies then began clearing the
court room, and, In the wake OF the croWc,
Durrant and his stalwart guardian. hleu our.
The prisoners pallor had vanished, and ne
was twirling the end Of his small mustacae.
A sensational incident was the demeanor
Of the murdered girls relatives. Her sister:
Maud Lamont. a mera school girl, lumpea
to her feet when the verdict was announced,
beat her black gloved hands toSetner ana
Mrs. C. G. Noble likewise clapped her hands.
Briefly stated the prosecution charcedtnat
Durrant deceived Blanche Lamont into the
Emanuel Baptist Church. in Bartlett street,
probably assaulted her. strangen her,
stripped her body and laid it out carefully
in the belfry. hid her clothes and scnoot
books in the dark. dusty corners OF the loIt
and steeple and then helped in the searcn
for tho missing girl. Miss Lamont was
school girl, and attended the Sundav-sch0ol
in which Durrant was a leading spirit. She
was en- route from school when young man
Joined her. They were seen in street
car by her schoolmates. but that vas
the last time she was seen ahVe
by persons VINO knew her. Later
man and Girl were seen to enter Emanuel
Church. The dead body OF Minnie VIII
Jams, another acquaintance OF Durrant,
was found in the Emanuel Church
library on April 10. She had been mur.
dered the night before. A search OF the the
church was then made. and in the
belfry was found the body OF Miss
Lamont, Suspicion pointed to Durrant, as
be was conspicuous in the church WORK. s., was rs
acquainted with the girls and had access TO
ths church. He was arrested. and for several
weeks the trial has been in progress. Mucn
circumstantial evidence was introduced ana
the positive evidence was strong.