The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-11
MERRIMAN ON THE MURDER.
EXECUTION OF DURRANT CLAssED
As A JUDICIAL CRIME.

The Claim Made That the California
Courts should Fully Investigate
the BIanthcr story Before Permit
ting the Hanging to Take Place.
Judge Merriman Discredits the At
lnnta story That BlRnther Was in
That City When the san Francisco
Murders Were Committed.
Little Rock, Ark. Dec. 10.--Judge r. NJ
Merriman of Little Rock, who was per-
sonally acquainted with and once repre-
sented j. e. Blanther alias Forbes. as at
torney. in this city, insists that Blanther
and not Durrant murdered Blanche La
mont and Minnie Williams in San Francis
co, and that the execution of Durrant will
therefore be judicial murder.
A few days ago a story was sent out
from Atlanta to the effect that Blanther
was in that city at the time the girls were
murdered. Judge Merriman scouts this
Idea, and to-day made the following state
ment: Since the publication of the card
through the Associated Press, in which
stated that 1 believed in the innocence of
Durrant and the guilt of Blanther, alias
Forbes have received many communlca-
tions supporting every side OF the ques-
ton. Now,as the supreme court of Califor-
mia has refused to Interfere and Durrant
must hang. and stln having an abiding
faith in his innocence, feel that the pub
lie ought to have an insight into the facts
that have arrayed themselves before me
and convinced me that a judicial murder
is about to be committed.
First, there can be no question but
what the written confession is In the
handwriting of Banther. for no effort has
been made to contradict this presumption,
and examination by experts has establish
ed 1t.
Second, Blanther confesses that he
murdered Blanche Lamont and Minnie
Williams.
Third, the entire evidence I'm the con-
viction of Durrant has been circumstan-
tial and the only possible statement that
mas ever hinged on the case is Blanthera
confession that he, and not Durrant, did
the deed for which Durrant's young life
is about to be forfeited
Fourth, Blanther, being once dead my
lips may reveal the fact that he had told
me during his troubles here that the name
of Forbes was but an alias, that he had
self. and that his life had been an event
ful one This, coupled with the state
ment of his wife, Agnes Cameron, in pub
lie print, convlnces me that he spoke the
truth.
Fifth, the trial of Durrant seems 70
have been a forced one by some power
behind the scenes the prosecuting attor-
ney being notably bitter in the conduct of
the same, and yet falling to establish
single fact by direct and positive proof,
Sixth, the theory Of the state that
Blanche Lamont was murdered on the
night of April 3, 1895. Is, and has been
throughout the whole trial an unwarrant-
ed assumption 0f Blanther's statement be
true) as well as some that she was mur-
dered at the same time Minnie williams
was. on the night of April l2 1896, or per-
haps the night previous There is no
proof that the girls were murdered in the
Emmanuel church, and more reasonable
assumption would be that they were MUIR
dered elsewhere, and their bodies carried
to the church as part of the programme.
Seventh, as to the Atlanta dispatch
that Blanther was seen in that city be-
tween the 18th and 18th OF April, 1896: This
may all be true, and he may have had all
that arranged for his purchasing agency
to believe that but does anybody know
or has anybody ever ventured to saw when
he left Atlanta? Ten days intervened be-
tween April and 13, at which later date
Minnie Williams body was discovered
Within that period of time Blanther might
have been seen in Atlanta and also have
been in San Francisco to do his bloody
work, and even had day or two to spare
If he was working under preconcerted
plan, and stimulated by a reward for
prompt and immediate action, as has been
intimated by a man named Austin.
Eighth, the theory of the state, without
anything upon which to base 1t, is that
other on April 10. Blanther says he killed
them both at the same time, which is a
more reasonable presumption when the
whole case is founded on presumption
alone.
"If Blanther was at Atlanta at the time
indicated he probably went there with a
perfected plan to return at once to San
Francisco as soon as he had established
the premises upon which to base an alibi,
acting under the advice Of some party in
whose employ he was to consummate this
dastardly deed. He could have left Atlanta
the fourth or fifth and been in San Fran
cisco In time to murder the two girls.
Finally, 1T is very dangerous to take
mans life on circumstantial evidence
alone. Agnes Cameron Forbes says she
can prove that Blanther murdered the
girls Blanther with death staring him in
the face, standing on the brink of eternity,
said Durrant was innocent and he was
guilty. Surrounding circumstances tended
to establish the truth of Blanther's con-
fession. With these facts before 1t, how
can any court avoid the doctrine of rea-
sonable doubt and refuse an appeal in the
interest of justice. humanity and right? If,
after an investigation, all this should
prove fallacious, then Durrants life could
pay the penalty and the public would feel
better satisfied that judicial murder had
not been committed"
San Francisco Dec. 10.-Papers in the
Durrant case have been filed here. 1t Is
expected the murderer Will be sentenced
for the third time Tuesday and be hanged
on the first Friday OF the newt year 1t Is
a singular fact that of the condemned muir
derers now awaiting execution in San
Quentin three-Allender, Ebanks, and Dur
rant-killed two persons each.
BURGLAR BAGGED.