Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-11-07
DURRANT FOUND GUILTY
AFTER A LONG TRIAL.
.FRIsco's SHOCKING CASE.
Prisoner to Plead Next to the Charge
OF killing Minnie Williams Also
History of the Terrible Drama
which Has Shocked AN Christen'
dom.

i las LlllS ITOun July --i w liidlu IaSV-
dore Durrant has been found guilty
Of the murder of Blanche Lamont, a
pretty young school girl. He Will
hang, but perhaps not for year as
the case now goes to the supreme
court. Durrant's mother was pros
trated by the verdict. He will now be
placed on trial for the murder of Min
ME Williams, whose body was found
in the church where Blanche's re-
mains were discovered.
The crime of the century is what
the Emmanuel Baptist church murders
are called In san Francisco, and Ger
tainly the student OF crime wall find
1t hard to find anything to equal in
horror this double tragedy. Here
two young, pretty and innocent
girls, Blanche Lamont and Minnie
Williams, We're murdered in the most
abrocious manner within the very
walls of the church of which they
We're devoted members. And the man
guilty OF those murders, William
Henry Theodore Durrant, was the
exemplary young man of the corgTp-
CATION. He was assistant superin-
tendent Of the Sunday school, an
earnest member of the Christian En-
deayor society, and the trusted con-
fidant of the pastor. He was bright
young man, who acted AS electrician
and handy man around the church,
and he was studlous young man,
preparing himself for the medical pro-
fession by study at the Cooper medi-
cal school in san Francisco. He was
a member of the national guard and
in all outward ways il model citizen.
Durrant is small, fair haired, snllb
nosed fellow of insignificant appear
ance but considerable muscular
strength. He is remarkable for his
dapper appearance. Like Carlyle
Harris and Harry Haywood, he has Il
devoted mother.
On Saturday, April 10, the women
of the congregation of Emmanuel
building for the great festival Of
easter, found in the library of the
sunday school the body of Minnie
Williams, member Of the church.
She had been stabbed and stlangled
to DEATH The horror caused by this
discovery was in full force, when a
second one raised 1t to frenzy. on
easter Sunday a searching party PEN
etrated to the belfry of the church
and there found the dead and naked
body of Blanche Lamont. Minnie
Williams had been killed not earlier
than the previous Friday, but the
other had lain there two weeks, in
fact, as is universally believed, since
the disappearance of Blanche La
mont on April 3. Both had been out
ragged. In the library was found
Blanche Lamont's library clad, and
this fact appears first to have sug-
gested connection between the two
murders. Durant, the model young
man of the church, was the last per
son seen with Minnie Williams, ON
Friday night, April II, He was the
last person seen with Blanche Ia
mont, on April 3. On the night OF
the Sunday when uae latter's body
was discovered in the belfry Durlnnt
was arrested while on dur with the
militia signal service corps
In September, 1894 Blanche la
mont, a girl of some 20 years, came
California on account Of her delicate
health. She lived in San Francisco
with her aunt and uncle, Mr.. and
Mrs G. G, Noble, and pursued her
studies for the profession Of school
teacher. Her sister, Maud, lived with
her. She was home keeping. studi-
Gus aud religious Airl. she never
Went to places Of Ell ertainment. TO
parties or to balls. except in company
with her uncle, her aunt or her sister.
She was n member of the Emmanuel
church, and Went there on Sundays
and attended the services, prayer
meetings and Socials held there. She
was also diligent member Of the
Christian Endeayor society.
Durrant. the assistant sunday school
superintendent and handy man
about the church, was unusually Well
placed to II AXE the acquaintance OF
this religious girl He was in the
habit OF accompanying her from the
church to her home, Of being with
her when nobody else was. He had
been with her on the only occasion
they know of when she had made "A
trip of any distance without a mem
Der Of her family, namely. on an ex.
cursion 10 Golden Gate park one af.
iernoon He knew her habits and her
ways; how she came and how She
went
Upon the morning Of April 3 Blanche
left her nome for the boys high
school. whore she was pursuing a
course Of study. purrant Mis- with
lieg At that early time Of the morning
IN that trip, When her work was
done at the school she Went e a nor
ma school where she had lessons e