The Anaconda standard., 1898-01-07
DURRAkT'S CRIMES.
Story of the Murder of Blanche Lamont
and Minnie Williams.

On April 3, 1895, Blanche Lamont of
Dillon this state. was living with her
aunt, Mrs. Noble. in San Francisco
She was in person pretty. rather tall
and slight, and weighed about l.0
pounds. Her age was Il years She
was school girl attending a High
school, and upon the morning of April
3 left her home. with her strap of books,
to join her classes. She was at school
during the days session, and at its
close, about p. m. left with the other
pupils. She did not return home and
never after that day was she seen alive.
shortly after o'clock upon the morn
ing of April IA two police officers and
the janitor attempted to open the door
leading TO the belfry of the Baptist
Emmanuel church. They We're prose
cutting a search for Blanche Lamont.
The knob of the door was gone and the
lock mutiated 50 that the ianitor's
key could not open it, They forced the
door and one of the officers ascending
the stair found the body of a girl lying
on the top landing in the southeastern
corner of the belfry. 1t was that of
Blanche Lamont. The body was naked.
lying upon its back, the feet close to-
gether. the hands folded upon the
breast. the head inclined little to the
left. there was two small blocks. ap-
parently employed to hold the head in
an upright position. Decomposition
was well advanced. and by medical tes
timony life had been extinct for about
two weeks. An examination and au-
topsy Of the corpse revealed several fin
ger nail ineisions upon the left side of
the throat and five upon the right.
Strangulation was the cause of death.
A search brought to light the clothing
and apparel of the girl hidden in and
about the rough underworld of the bel
fry. and also her bookstrap and school
books. Durrant was arrested and
charged with this murder. At that time
he was young man "A years Of age,
student Of the Cooper Medical college of
Sen Francisco. and member of the
signal corps of the National Guard of
the state. He was interested in relig-
ious work. was an attendant of the Bap-
tiSt Emmanuel church. was a member
of the Christian EndeaYor society. was
assistant superintendent of the Sunday
school and was librarian OF the church
library. He bore the esteem of his fell
lows as jealous. earnest and upright
young man of commendable character.
and sincere Christian life. When ar
rested he was upon service Of the sig
nal corps to which he was attached.
Durrant declared that he had. seen
Blanche Lamont in the morning of
April ,. when she was on her way to
school, but never again thereafter: that
he himself had gone to his medical col
lege. and there had attended a lecture
at the time when. by the claim of the
prosecution. the girl had been murdered
by him in the church,
Upon the part Of the prosecution ii
was shown that Blanche Lamont was a
regular attendant of Emmanuel church
and belonged to the Society OF Christian
Endeavor of which Durrant was also a
member. The two were we'll acquaint-
ed. Indeed, they seemed To have
friendship. They met at social and re-
ligious gatherings. to or from which
Durrant frequently escorted the girl, In
company with her sister and others Of
their social circle. Durrant had key
to the side door of the church and was
thoroughly familiar with the building
and premises.
BY a strange freak of fate, of which
Durrant could not have even dreamed,
il so happened that his footsteps were
traced from the time he met Blanche
and girl friend after school. The
three boarded a car and when the friend
left there We're other witnesses TO teS-
tify to the couples getting off at Ger
tain corner and walking toward the
church. Then il chanced that Mrs
Caroline Leake. who is a member Of
Emmanuel church and lives across the
street. saw Durrant and Blanche pass
into the church by the side door She
knew both the murderer and the girl.
and her testimony VAS fatal tp his alihi
That vas about . or 1 30 y. m. Another
strange thing happenedn when Organ.st
George King went To- the church AT >
p. m While ~ was playing Daffalt
came in. pale a death. his hat and coat
off ana his hair disheveled lie toll
King hs had been fixing the Leak IN the
gas pipe ana had been overcome. lie
sent King uut for some bronze settler.
After moving small organ from one
room to another. In which operation
DIrsant appeared weak aS a child the
two LETT the church and walked ta-
fheT some distance before separating
on the morning of April ls. rae day be-
lsra the finding gf the boiE. Mrs Noble