The herald., 1897-05-22
BRYANT is
POSITIVE
In Statements Regarding
Durrant
THE POLICE; CALL HIM A. CRANK
WITH AN ABNORMAL THIRST
THE POLICE; CALL HIM A CRANK
WITH AN ABNORMAL THIRST
FOR N0ToRIETY
The Wild Stories and Fake Confess
sions Only Serve to Weaken the
Murderer's Case
Associated Press Special Wire.


DENVER, Col, May 21.-A special to
the Times from Monte Vista. Col, says:
William T. ,Bryant's statement about
the murder Of Blanche Lamont is ere
aftirms his statement. though he is
not disposed to talk much and stoutly
refuses to tell why he was in Emanuel
church on the evening of the murder.
Hc says he doesn't want to go to Califor-
mia, and If he goes he must be brought
back. There is abundant testimony as
to his sanity, though there are those
who think him a little weak-minded.
Some claim that he is seeking notoriety,
or wants to take trip to the coast at
public expense. He seems sincere, and
careful cross examination does not de-
velop any flaws in his story. He does
not remember the day Of the week or the
month when he saw the affair in the
church, but says an account Of the mur-
der appeared the next morning in the
San Francisco papers.
BRYANT EXPLAINS
MONTE VISTA. Col, May 21-Bry-
ant, the new witness in the Durrant case
here, this evening explained how he
happened to be In Emanuel church at
the time of the murder Of Blanche La
mont. He says he was occupying fur
nished rooms at 279 Jessie street, but
not being able to get work and being
out Of money, he was turned out and had
no place to sleep. The first night he
slept on woodpile. The second night
he went to Emanuel church, but it was
locked, and he unlocked 1t with wire
and went in to sleep for the night. He
was awakened by a scuff1ing noise, and
heard sounds of suppressed breathing.
On rising and looking over the tops Of
the seats he saw a,man take up a wo-
man and carry her in his arms with one
hand over her mouth to the south cor
ner OF the church. Then he heard
groans and heard the man say, THAT
kills that evidence, thank God" He
slipped out of the church unobserved
and stood in the shadows, awaiting the
coming out of the man, so thae he cGlld
be sure he was not mistaken in the per-
son. About 10 o'clock the man came out
and walked past him, and he observed
mis- features carefully and knew it to be
tie Rev. Mr.. Gibson, the rlstor Of the
church.
Bryant was born in Paris, France, but
grew up in Kent, England, and Went to
California in 1847. He was a member
of H. L. Streets company X, Second
regiment, California cavalry, also an
Indian scout.
A prominent physician who has ex-
amined Bryant says he is sane at pres
ent, though he finds by questioning him
that he has had epileptic fits, and that
this trouble was inherited
NOBODY BELIEVES IT
SAN FRANCISCO, May 21.-Of all
the wild stories and alleged confessions
which have been aired in connection
with the murder OF Blanche Lamont.
the statement of w. T. Bryant, impli-
eating Pastor Gibson as the murderer
is unanimously regarded here as the
most Improbable ever published. Alb
solutely no credence has been given to
it by the police. public or press. 1t is
supposed that the inmate of the Colo
RADIO soldiers and sailors home is either
1emented or crank with an abnormal
thirst for notoriety
A dispatch from the home today says
that Bryant still sticks to his story:
that the reason for his long silence was
disinclination to return to California
He says he does not remember the day
OF the week or In what month the mur.
det occurred, but that he saw an ac-
count OF it in the San Francisco papers
on the following day. Miss Lamont was
murdered on the afternoon Of April 3d.
ard her body was not found until ten
days after. and then for the first time
the story of the murder was published
1t As not. expected that the governor
WHY make any decision regarding Dur
rants application for clemency for some
days. There is some talk of reprieve
for the condemned man, but it has evil
deEtly been started by the friends Of
Durrant. There appears to be no foun-
dation for the rumor. Governor Budd
has been quoted as saying that he would
not interfere with the judgments of the
courts unless sufficient new testimony
was adduced to warrant giving the mur-
derer new trial or setting him free.
No such testimony has been intro
duced. The several improbable stories
advanced in behalf of Durrant have only
served to further prejudice his case
ard increase the difficulty of his plight
DURRANT STILL HOPEFUL
SAN QUENTIN, May 21-The con-
demned cell is being put in order for
Durrant, and in day or two he will
take possession 1t adjoins the large
hall where the gallows are placed Mrs.
Durrant had brief talk with her son
to OF
points which they desire the governor
to consider in connection with the ap-
plication for executive clemency. Dur
rant hopes and expects to secure per-
sonal interview with the governor He
affects to be confident that "the COVER
nor will right the wrong" as he ex-
presses it.