The record-union., 1897-05-15
DURRANT'S LIFE STRUGGLE.
Governor Budd Listens to Appeals for
Clem0nCy.
No Truth in Convict Rosenberg'S
Statement That He Killed
Blanche Lamont.

Eugene N. Deuprey made his final
plea for the life of Theodore Durrant,
the murderer of Blanche Lamont, be-
fore Governor Budd, and it is but JUS
tice to say that the attorney was at
his best. Tragedy, pathos, sublimity
and scathing denunciation fell in show
ers from his lips as the evidence
brought out at the trial was alluded
to. A. A. Tubb was also present in the
interest of Durrant, but his was 81
lent part
From start to finish Deuprey endeav-
ored by force of argument to convince
the Governor that the identification of
Durrant as the murderer of Blanche
Lamont had not been proven. He care
fully segregated the evidence of the
Identifying witnesses and marshaled
1t before Governor Budd in a way pc
culiarly his own. His argument was
clearcut, concise and logical, and pune
tuated with suggestions and conclusions
which were all in favor of the inno-
cence of his client.
AS an Introduction to his presentation
of his case the attorney read the petit
ton which had been submitted to the
Governor and which was printed in full
In Thursdays issue of the Record
Union" The principal points in the
document were that both witnesses and
jury had been prejudiced against the
defendant by means of unjust neWspa-
per articles and colored public opin-
ion; that the trial Judge had through
out the course of the trial spoken in
derogation to the defendant, and that
the evidence had been entirely circum-
stancial and of such a nature as to
warrant an acQuittal by an unpreju-
diced jury.
Mr.. Deuprey explained that General
Dickinson, who had been associated
with him as counsel for Durrant, was
unable to be present, but that he had
written letter to the Governor. The
letter was read, and in it General Dick
inson submitted that public opinion in
the case was changing. and that the
evidence was being looked upon more
calmly than during the trial. 1t was
the belief of the writer that Durrant
had not had fair trial, and the meth
Cd of identification pursued by the
San Francisco police and detective
force was the most brutal ever resort
ed to in any civilized country.
Deuprey submitted that he had de-
manded that Durrant be brought to
trial on the charge of having murdered
Minnie Williams, but his demand had
been ignored. He believed that We're
the Williams case brought TO trial
the actual murderer would be discover
ed and his client, Durrant go free.
Mr.. Deuprey took up the transcripts
of the testimony given by several wit
nesSes for the prosecution before the
trial court, and made q careful, logical
analysis Of the evidence. Technical
points followed each other in rapid sue
cession, and the deductions We're con-
else, if not always convincing. Every
point which could possibly be brought
to favor Durrant was elected in an
interrupted flow of oratory, and the
conclusions We're always drawn with
a fineness such as Deuprey is capable
of.
The accuracy of the testimony of
Mrs. Vogle, who on the stand swore
to having seen Durrant walking in
front Of the school attended by Blanche
Lamont, was dwelt upon at length.
The attorney submitted that the mind
of the witness had been so influenced
by newspaper articles that she had
at length come to believe that her iden-
LITIGATION Of Durrant was absolutely
correct. Hers was an impressionable
mind and the accuracy of her state
ments only tended to show the unrelia-
bility of the witness.
In this relation Mr.. Deuprey called
attention to the affidavits which had
been made by persons of weak mind
who had ppY.f ified aithcr h n
been personally responsible for the
young woman's death or knew the par
ty who was. He instanced an article
in San Francisco paper of yesterday
morning in which the deponent claim
ed to be the murderer. He cited these
cases, Mr.. Deuprey said, to show the
peculiar Authorizations to which weak
minds are subject.
Mr.. Deuprey touched upon the testi-
mony relating to the clothing worn by
Durrant on the day preceding the ev-
ening Of the murder, and threw some
hot shot into the detectives camp, scor-
ing Detectives Anthony and Seymour,
in particular. He brought up the fact
that the witness Openheim had testified
that the man who offered TO sell him
the ring identified as the one taken
from the hand of the murdered woman,
had worn an overcoat, and then called
attention to the testimony of Durrant
and his mother, that the former wore
no overcoat on the day in question.
Respecting the testimony of identi-
fcation by the three school girls who
We're with Blanche Lamont the after
noon preceding the murder. the attor-
ney called attention that they had been
absolutely unable at the first inter
view, to Identify Durrant as the man
who had ridden on the street-car with
the young woman after the school had