Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-01-12

rant was in military custody several
hours before the city detectives reached
the scene.
At first Durrant treated the matter
lightly and then settled down, but there
was absolutely nothing in his behavior
which could be construed as being indica-
tive of either guilt or innocence. The first
discriminating circumstance came with
the finding of Minnie Williams pocket
book on his person, but he promptly ac-
counted for this by saying she had given
it to him in church and he had forgot
ten to return it.
The next step was for the police to en-
deayor to connect the prisoner with the
crime, and while it was going at the task
wrong end to the authorities managed to
secure enough evidence to warrant his be-
ing held for trial on preliminary eXamina-
ton. In this connection one of the most
important points ascertained by the police
was the recollection of George r. King,
the church organist, that he had seen
Durrant in the church on April 3-the
day on which Blanche Lamont disap-
peared. King was practicing on the or
gan in the church that afternoon and
Durrant suddenly appeared. This was
not unusual, for he was the librarian and
had keys to the church. But on this
occasion he staggered into the auditorium,
white and trembling, and begged King to
get him drink of bromo settler. King
ran out to fulfill the mission and on his
return Durrant told him he had detected
an odor of gas and had gone up into
the attic to see whether the pipes lead
ing to the main chandelier were not leak
ing. While there, he said ne had been
almost overcome by escaping gas Dur
rant quickly revived and went away. The
incident passed out Of Kings mind until
he learned of Durrant's arrest.
1aTiua6 of IL,
lice led to the formation of the following
theory, which was mainly corroborated
by circumstantial evidence, and which
was followed in his prosecution:
Durrant met Blanche Lamont on the
afternoon Of April 3, and under guise of
wishing to give her book from the
church library induced her to 90 there.
He then assaulted her and met with re-
sistance SO great that he was compelled
to strange her to prevent her outcries
Knowing the belfry was seldom visited.
he dragged the body up the winding
stairs. The removal of the clothes was
undoubtedly for the purpose of prevent
ing identification, for he presumably sup
posed that the remains would be entirely
decomposed before anybody would have
occasion to go up to the tower.
Next in sequence was the motive for
the murder of Minnie Williams. The lat
ter knew Durrant had been making love
to Blanche Lamont, and after Blanche's
disappearance, remarked to q friend that
she believed Durrant knew something
about il, though she doubtless had no
thought that the girl had been murdered.
This remark reached Durrant'S ears, and
he quickly sought an appointment with
Miss Williams, who, on account of diff
ferences between her mother and father
had left the family home and gone to live
with a family in Alameda, across the
bay. Durrant was unable to arrange a
meeting, but learned that on Friday even
ing april 12) she was to come over to
attend church social to be held at the
home of DR.. Vogel in the vicinity of
Emanuel church. Durrant watched the
ferries from 5 p. m. until 6, but failed
to see Miss Williams, for the reason that
she had come over early in the afternoon
and gone to visit Mrs. Voy. She left
there at 7:15 and was not seen again
until her body was found in Emanuel
church the following evening.
1t is supposed Durrant met Miss Will
liams just after she left Mrs. Voy's,
lured her to the church and there MUIR
dered her, hoping to find a chance to
leave it with that of Miss Lamont. At
$3.50 p. m. he appeared at DR.. Vogels
perspiring freely and hair disheveled He
asked permission to wash, stating that he
had hurried from the armory, a state
ment which was subsequently diSprOved,
for it was found he was not at the ar
mory that evening.
Witnesses were found who had seen
persons corresponding in description to
Durrant and the girls on the evenings of
April and II and this and a mass of
other circumstantial evidence formed the
states case
On the trial, which began July %,
1895, the defense set up a general denial
and sought to prove alibis. Durrant's
appearance on the stand was such as to
win a jury unless the twelve men had
already been fully convinced of his guilt.
He was calm and collected and told
straightforward story. But the jury, aft
er deliberation of but half an hour, ad
judged him guilty and in due time the
death sentence was passed. With the
legal technicalities which have operated
to save his neck until today the public is
familiar.