The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-11
DURRANT NOT GUILTY
SAN FRANCISCO MURDERS DISCUSSED
BY JUDGE MERRITAN.
He Is Convinced, He Says, that BIan-
Their Killed Blanche Lamont
and Minnie williams.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark, Dec. 10.-Judge e.
M. Merriman, of Little Rock, who was per-
sonally acquainted with and once represent
ed J. E. Blanther, alias Forbes, as attorney
in this city, insists that Blanther and not
Durrant murdered Blanche Lamont and
Minnie Williams in San Francisco, and that
the execution of Durrant will therefore be
a judicial murder. A few days ago the
story was sent out from Atlanta, Ga, that
Blanther was in that city at the time the
girls were murdered. Judge Merriman
scouts this idea. Judge Merriman to-day
made the following statement:
"Since the publication of the card in which
I stated that l believed in the innocence
of Theodore Durrant and the guilt of Blan-
ther, alias Forbes, L have received many
communications supporting either size OF
the question Now as the Supreme Court OF
California has refused to interfere and Dur
rant must hang, and still 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-Tbere can be no question but what
the written confession is in the handwriting
of Blantfer, for no effort has been made to
contradict this presumption, and examina-
ton by CO pertS has established 1t.
"Second-Blanther confeSses that he muir
dered Blanche Lamont and Minnie Will
lams.
viction of Durrant has been circumStantial
and the only possible statement that has
ever hinged on the case is Blanther's con-
fession 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 maine
of Forbes was but an alias that he mad
assumed for reasons best known 10 him
self and that his life had been an eventfuI
one This, coupled with the statement or
his second wife, Agnes Cameron, in public
print, ccnvinceS me that he spoke the truth
"Fifth-The trial of Durrant seems to nave
been q forced one by some power 'hehlnd
the scenes the prosecuting attorney being
notably bitter in the conduct of the same,
and yet failing to establish single 1act
by direct and positive proof.
''Sixth-The theory of the state that
Blanche Lamont was murdered on the nlghl
of April 8, 1895, is and has been throughout
the whole trial an unWarranted Assumption,
for Qf BlantherS confession be truel we
may as we'll assume that she was murdered
at the same time Minnie Williams was, on
the night of April IL, 1885, or perhaps the
night previous. There Is no proof that the
girls were murdered in the Emanuel Church
and a more reasonable assumption would
be that they were murdered elsewhere and
their bodies carried to the church as part
of the programme.
Blanther was seen in that city between
the 18th and 18th of April, 1895. This may
be all true and he may have had all tnat
lieve that, but does anybody know, or mas
anybody ever ventured 20 say when he left
Atlanta? Ten days interviewed between April
8 and 49, at which latter date Minnie VIII
iams's 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 work
ing under a preconcerted plan, and Stlmu-
lated by reward for prompt and imme-
date action, as has been animated by
man named Austin
'Eighth-The theory of the state, without
anything on which to base it,, is that one
of the girls was killed on April 3, the other
on April Is. Blanther says he killed them
both at the same time, which is more
reasonable presumption when the whole
case is founded upon presumption alone.
IF Blanther was at Atlanta at the time
indicated he probably went there with
perfected plan to return at once to San
Francisco as soon as he had established the
premises upon which to base an allbl, fol-
employ he was, to consummate this bastard
ly deed. He could have left Atlanta the
4th or 5th and been in San Francisco in time
to murder the two girls.
Finally, it is very dangerous to take a
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
of Blanther's confession with these facts be-
fore 1t, how can any court avoid the doc
trine of reasonable doubt and refuse an APP
peal in the interest of justice humanity and
right? If, after an investigation all this
should prove fallacious, then Durrant's life
feel better satisfied that judicial murder
had not been committed"