Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24
Confession of i Man Who Committed
Suicide While in Jail.
CLAIMED he KILLED BLANCHE LAMONT
San Francisco. Police, However, Dis
credit Blanther's Story.
WILL BE USED BY DEFENSE

SAN FRANCISCO. November 24.-No
credence is placed by the authorities here
in the alleged confession OF Blan.her. or
Forbes, made in the Meridian, Texas, Jail.
that he murdered Blanche Lamont and
Minnie Williams, in addition to Mrs Lang
feldt 1t is recalled. however, that at the
time OF the killing of Mrs. Langfeldt, about
eighteen months ago, the suggestion was
advanced that Blanther had murdered all
three. 1t being claimed that there were GER
tain points of similarity in the three muir
ders.
Police Sure of Their Man.
At the time or the Langfeidt murder
Durrant had already been in Jail Tor a year,
and the police secuted at the idea of any
one but the prisoner having committed the
crimes. The police are confident that the
Emmanuel Church murderer Is still alive
and in San Quentin prison. While recos-
niz1ng the possibility of error, the author
tues are nevertheless convinced that they
have the right man in the person Of Dur
rant.
The alleged confession of Blanther will
probably prove a powerful weapon of de-
rense In the hands, OF Durrant's attorneys.
who are utilizing every available pretext
for delaying the execution of their client.
Blanther's Confession.
Joseph E. Blanther, alias Forbes, COM
mitted suicide in the Meridian, Tex, jail,
March last. He was accused of the muir
der Of a Mrs. Langfeldt While Blanther
was incarcerated, fellow-prisoner named
Pitts, who had been arrested on some
minor CHARGE occupied the cell adjoining.
Pitts is farmer. and is known to have
conversed with Bianther during his two or
three days confinement. In a letter to
Word, Diliar & Word. attorneys, of Mer-
1dian, under date OF November -, Mr..
Pitts fncloses letter from Blanther, and
says:
l have been looking through some papers
that had on file in Jail at Meridian and
l ma the inclosed sheet, which speaks for
itself The papers alluded to here worked
through hole in my pocket hence the
delay in not discovering them sooner
well remember that Forbes, or Blanther,
asked me the evening he took the poison
which coat was mine of several that were
hanging in the cell he occupied l never
thought further of the question he asked
until l found the letter he wrote / send
IT to you for the reason you best know who
to notify in California. l hope it may be
worth something to you in the way of saw
ing Durrant of California, who, 1 under
stand, is sentenced to death for killing Miss
Lamont.
Following is the Blanther letter: ~
~ Meridian Jail.
To Mr.. Pitts: AS this is my last day on
earth, wish to Say that cannot die with
out telling truth. I murdered Mrs. Lang
1eldt also Blanche Lamont and MinnieWill-
Jams. l put this in your coat pocket, and
hope you will find It in time to save the
life Of Durrant,s Tt may also be of service
to Mr.. Womaek, i'd, getting his reward
money. l want younto have my watch for
your kindness to me. You have my best
wishes. and l hope your troubles will end
but not as mine. BLANTHER FORBES.
The letter written by Blanther was com
pared with letter written by him 10
/ County Treasurer RandIe. while he tCBlan-
/ ther) was teaching school at kopperl, this
/ county, and the identification is pronounced
to be beyond doubt. -.