The San Francisco call., 1897-05-28
BUDD NOW HAS
THE STAR PART
The Majors Case Cited to
Him by Durrant's
Attorneys.
Ex-Convict Bryant Comes to the
Front With Another Weird
Story.
This Time 1t Is a Yarn of Bribery
By Two Women TO Testify Against
Pastor Gibson.

There is plenty OF speculation going on
about the proba BILE action OF Governor
Budd in the Durrant case. Chief OF Po-
lice Lees and District Attorney Barnes
feel confident that he will not interfere TO
delay the execution, which is set for two
weeks from to-day. Attorneys Deuprey
and Dickinson declare that with all the
facts they have put before him he will al
low them 10 try the Williams case.
This phase of the matter recalls the his
tory of the famous Lloyd L. Majors MUIR
der trials in san Jose some dozen wears
ago or more. The two cases are much
alike in their general outlines. Like Dur
rant, Majors was charged with two MUIR
ders. On March IL, 1883, he robbed and
murdered William P. Renowden, Dear
Santa Clara, and got sentence of life i'm
prIsonment.
There was another charge of murder
against Majors, the killing of Archibald
Mcintyre. Public sentiment against the
condemned man ran very high, and in
obedience to popular clamoI the District
Attorney resolved 10 press the second
charge. Through his attorneys q change
OF venue was granted to Alameda County,
with the result that Majors was again con-
victed OF murder and this time sentenced
20 be hanged.
To escape the death penalty Majors ap-
peaied TO the Supreme Court on the
ground that ne was legally dead man
after the first sentence and that his life
could not be put in jeopardy twice for the
same offense, the two crimes being COM
mltted at the one time. The appeal was
denied and the law laid down that the
Il Sf Hr-t
son. constitutes two offenses, for each OF
which separate prosecution would lie
and conviction CT acQuittal in one case
does not bar prosecution IN The other.
DurIan'ts attorneys are very ANXIOUS to
invoke tins legal precedent just at present.
Tney declare that they have evidence that
would clear the condemned man of the
Williams murder. The Majors precedent,
they declare, in its practical interpreta-
tiOn, forever shuts of any hope of Durrant
securing Ills freedom even were the Gov
ernor 10 commute the present death sem
tence. There would be nothing to pre-
vent the authorities from pressing the
second case, even were the prisoner par
Coned now, or in twenty years from now,
because an indictment for murder is not
affected bv any statute of limitation.
Governor Budd lett for Sacramento yes
teIday morning. Ii is probable that he
may ach decision this aiternoon-in
any event tomorrow. All the efforts of
DurTant to secure a personal interview
we're unaValhng. The Governor was
averse to visiting San Quentin, owing to
pressure OF business. Both the prosecu-
tion and defense will rest on their arms
Until he is heard from.
William I. Bryant, who from long
range has been doing his best 10 interiect
some new interest IN the case, this time
declares he was offered $4,000 by two
fO hot ho
son carving Blanche Lamont's body into
the belfry of the Emanuel Church. The
names OF these women are given as Mrs.
Henrietta Blgsby and Hester Hicks and
Bryant adds that they instructed him to
write to Mrs. John Martin for transporta-
tioa TO California. These statements he
conveys to Chief of Police Lees in a
rambling letter. which arrived yesterday.
The letter bears the date of May "a and
appears to have been written from the
Soldiers and Sailors Home at Monte
Vista, Colo, OF which institution Bryant
is an inmate. 1t is as follows:
I. W Lees, Chief Of Police. San Francisco, Cal-
DEAR SIR: In reaard 10 new witness for
Durant. beg 10 say that l have been offered
$4,000 TO swear that l was n the Emanuel
BdpLlst Church at the time the murder was
committed and that saw ii and that the muir
ereI was the Rev. j. Geurge Gibson but will
not do so for know nothing whatever about
II. l never 10 my know edge saw Rev J.
George GIBSON or Durant either but l have
had the offer from Mrs Henrietta Blgsby and
Hester Hicks do nos know either of thas wo-
men but they seem to know me very well they
instructed me to write to Mrs. Isabella ]. Martin
for transportation to California. l done so
lut failed 10 receive it. l recev-d several let
ters but no transportation tho people out
here nave been trying 10 make me swear to a
Dudget OF Stui they seem to think that have
10 do as they wish they think Durant is not
guilty Lut that is nothing 10 do with me for /
no nothing about it. Destroyed % letters
hor r~a .fsoTrv o1 4
buttl receive any more will mail them 10
you Keep this out of the papers till l can
locate Henrietta Bigsby and Hester Hicks. I
am most reSDectfulIy
The commander of this Soldiers Home seems
| b. very much interested in this affair. and
think that his interest is for money for
there's big scheme under way TO entirely
exonerate Durrant and put all the bla me on
Rev. Gibson. and Colonel S. NJ French, the
commander OF this place. is making q terrible
roar about II, aId the editor of a small pa per
that is published at Monte Vista has all sorts
of lies published regarding what know they
are IN communication with parties in San
Francisco, just who they are and what ii is
bou', cannot tell they are cor tiniously
after me 10 make afadaviJs and make them
strong, as they term il, please let me know
what 20 do and just how to work this thing
and will put all these would-be bribers into
your hands in less than a month from this
date. W. T. BRYANT
Chief of Police Lees knows nothing of
Mrs. Besby nor Mrs. Hicks, and since he
discovered that Bryant is seven times an
ex-convict the Chief is not inclined to
place anv faith in his assertions
Mrs. Martin never heard of the two
women Bryant says offered him the bribe.
On Monday last she wrote Bryant for
more details of his sensational assertions
concerning Pastor Gibson. There was no
talk of tran portation to this State in the
letter, and Mrs. Martin declares she never
thought of such a thing.
ALI in all it looks as if Bryant, tired of
penitentiary notoriety, was seeking new
avenue of fame for himself.
Mrs. Martin has billed herself to deliver
lecture in Metropolitan Temple on FRI
day evening of next week on the case.
nTIPP MTG DDICnh