The herald., 1897-11-24
BLANTHER
CONFESSED
To the Crimes Charged to
DurraDt
A SUICIDES LAST ACT
An Attempt to Save the
Man Accused
AN EXPLANATION IS OFFERED
FOR LATE PRODUCTION OF THE
LETTER
AN EXPLANATION IS OFFERED
FOR LATE PRODUCTION OF THE
LETTER
The Murderer Of Mrs. Langfeldt
Claims Also to Have Killed Both
Blanche Lamont and
Minnie Williams
Special to The Herald.


MORGAN, Tex, Nov. 23.-On March
3, 1897. note was made of the death Of
Joseph e. Blanther, the murderer Of
Mrs. Langfeldt in San Francisco. who
committed suicide in Meridian Jail in
this county, March I'd. Developments
of the past few days show there were
other crimes of which he is the con-
fessed perpetrator, but not the accused.
While Blanther was incarcerated in
the Meridian Jail there was also q pris-
oner named Pitts. who was in a cell
adjoining Blanther's. Pitts is a farmer
who now lives near Iredell, in this
county, and is known to have conversed
with Blanther during his two or three
days confinement In letter to Word.
Dillans & Word, attorneys Of Meridian.
under date of November 22d, Pitts en-
closes a letter from Blanther, and says:
II have been looking through some
papers that had on file in jail at Meri-
dan. and find the enclosed sheet, which
speaks for itself. The papers alluded
to had worked through a hole in my coat
pocket, hence my not discovering them
sooner. / now remember that Forbes,
or Blanther. asked me the evening he
took poison which coat was mine Of
several that were hanging in the cell
we occupied. I never thought further
of the question until found the letter
he wrote. send it to you for the reason
that you best know who to notify in
California. I hope it may be worth
something to you in the way of saving
Durrant of California, who is. under
stand, 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, 1 wish to say that I cannot die with
out telling the truth. / murdered Mrs.
Langfeldt; also, Blanche Lamont and Min
ME Williams. 1 put this in your coat
pocket. and hope you will find it in time
to save the life of Durrant 1t may also
be of service to Mr.. Womack in getting his
reward money. 1 want you to have my
watch for your kindness to me. You have
my best wishes. and hope your troubles
will end, but not as mine.
(signed) BLANTHER FOFBES.
The letter written to Pitts was COM
pared with letters written by Blanther
to County Treasurer Randall while he
was teaching school at kopperl. this
county, and the Identification is pro-
nounced perfect. Cashier Rudasill Of
the First National bank says it compares
favorably with Blanther's handwriting.
The original written confession is now
in the possession of Word, Dillans &
Word of Meridian, who will at once notify
the San Francisco officials of the con-
fession.
MAY POSSIBLY BE TRUE
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. %. - No
credence is placed by the authorities
here in the alleged confession of Blan-
ther, or Forbes, made in Jail at Merid-
ian before his suicide, to the effect that
he had murdered Blanche Lamont and
Minnie Williams in addition to Mrs.
Langfeldt. 1t is recalled, however. that
at the time of the killing of Mrs. Lang
feldt, about eighteen months ago, the
suggestion was advanced that Blanther
had murdered all three, it being claimed
that there were certain points of sim
ilarity in the three murders. At the
time of the Langfeldt murder Durrant
had already been in Jail for 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 Emanuel church murderer is still
alive and in San Quentin prison.
While recognizing the possibility OF
error, the authorities are nevertheless
convinced that they have the right man
in the person of Durrant.
The alleged confession Of Blanther
will probably prove a powerful weapon
Of defense in the hands of Durrant'o
attorneys, who are utilizing every avail
able pretext for delaying the execution
of their client.