The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-22

save Rurrant from being hanged. He was
convicted entirely on circumstantial evil
denc<. and In such case there Il always
room far doubt of course. bur II was so
strong and the links 50 closely united that
there seems to be no reasonable doubt as
TO his guilt Now that the time Is APP
preaching when he must pay the penalty
there might be some excuse for his reIa-
,ives urging ciemency on the part of the
executive: but not much attention need
be paid to the statements of weak-ninded
men who see in the excitement an oppor-
funity TO make themselves conspicuous.
or who have been wrough. upon by in
terest in the case until they have become
morbidiy irresponsible.
Not long ago man confessed that he
was the murderer. but very little inves-
tl9ation was needed to show that there
was not even ingenuity in his story. II
was faisehood from beginning to end.
The story now told by the old soldier at
Monte Vista In not entitled to any more
credence. He In said to have made an
affidavit that he was In Emmanuel Baptist
church on the day OF the murder OF
Blanche Lamont, and saw Pastor Gibson
carrying her body to the beifry. A man
who would witness such a deed and re-
fraIn from saying a word about 1t until
an innocent man was likely to be hanged
for the crime. should be very closely ques-
toned, and be Endorsed by very strong
corroborative testimony. before he Is be-
lieved. IL was noticed at the time of the
triad to be rather unfortunate that Gibson
did not have an opportunity to prove his
innocence. but he was not on trial, and
the rules OF evidence forbade his yoiun-
teering through the prosecution such tes-
timony as would have clearly exonerated
him. The fact that Durrant's counsel
avoided giving Gibson that opportunity
made IL very evident to anybody reading
the testimony that 1t was the policy of the
defense TO avoid certainty on the subject.
and so leave doubt In the public mind.
During the trial there were many occa-
sions on which attorneys defending an
innocent man. and with any reason TO
believe that Gibson was guilty. could have
strengthened their case.
The course taken by purrant's sister Is
not only natural but eommendabie. Her
contribution TO the plea that he Is inno-
cent IL Of very unsubstantiaI charac-
ter. however. She insists that her brother
could not have committed the murder
because he was such good young man.
Durrant may not have committed the
murder. but there is not the slightest
doubt that he was indecent In his rela-
lions with men and depraved In his rela-
tons with women. His depravity was OF
a mean and sneaking kind; such deprav-
ity as he would be very unlikely TO mani
fest In his sisters presence; bat such a
depravfty as not infrequently Is TO be
found In young men Of very pious pre-
tensions.
II would be, of course a deplorsbie thing
II nurrant should prove after death to be
Innocent. but both Blanche Lamont and
Minnie Williams were innocent of any
crime, yet they died. The conclusion TO be
reached In such a case fs that II Durrant
IL not punished. then hanging is never
10 be permitted In case OF circumstantiai
evidence, for evidence can hardly ever be
more convincing short If the presence of
eye witnesses The victims are being for
gotten. the strong points In the convicting
testimony are overlooked. and the tinisst
flaws are being mcnstrously magnified I'M
der the intense interest which always
rnansfests itself as the day approaches
for the execution OF a man convicted of
murder under highly sensational eircum-
stances.