The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1898-01-13

Ives of two young women, who We re
mem ers OF the church TO which he
belonged While Durrant was con
victed of bat one murder under the
law, he was held responsible by
public opinion for the murder OF
both Blanche Lamont and Minnie
Williams
Durrant's crimes were peculiar IN
their atrocity- He WAS reared IN 4
Christian home, and until the time
of his arrest was regarded as a
model young man of industrious
habits, was trying TO work bis way
through "a medical college. He bad
been a prominent member Of the
Emanuel Baptist Church for several
years. and for year previous to his
arrest had been assistant superin-
ten dent of the Sunday school. In
this capacity he made the acquaint-
ance of Blanche Lamont and Minnie
Williams, both CT whom were des-
tined to be murdered by him in the
church where they worshiped to
gether.
Blanche Lamont disappeared on
April 3, 1895. and was never seen
alive afterwards. Theodore Durrant
assisted in the search for her He
was the first to suggest that she had
joined the ranks of fallen women.
After 10 days had passed the ladies
of Emanuel church made discovery
which led 10 the finding Of the girls
dead body. They found the corpse
OF Minnie Williams. 1t was almost
naked, in the church library. Rags
had been forced down her throat,
and a number of CHASTITY knife
wounds showed the cause of death.
In the ensuing search Blanche La
mout's dead body was found in the
church belfry. She had been stran
gled. Worse than murder had been
done in both cases. Both women
died defending their homer.
Durrant had been seen in the
company of both shortly before they
disappeared. It has always been
believed that Minnie Williams was
killed because Durrsnt feared she
would implicate him in the murder
of Blanche Lamont
When Durrant's arrest was decided
upon he was at Mount Diablo with |
the National Guard Heliographing |
Corps. A message was flashed on |
the sun s rays from San Francisco, |
and Durraut knew of his approach |
ing arrest even before the officers |
arrived.
His trial for the murder of Blanche
Lamont began July %, 1895, and
the case went to the jury November
/. A verdict of guilty in the first
degree was returned in 20 minutes.
Nearly 1900 tslesmen were examined
before jury was found.
Then DCrrant's counsel began a
fight for kis life that seldom has
been equaled For 20 months they
postponed his execution by employ
ment of every possible legal point.
Their fight was in vain, however
The evidence, though circumstantial,
" as conclusive
murder of Miss Williams, hut the
evidence of his guilt was as conclus
We as in the Lamont case. On the
afternoon she was murdered Durrant
vas seen to meet her at the ferry
and board a west bound car She
came to this city for the purpose Of
attending an entertainment, and it is
supposed that when Durrant met
her he made an appointment before
going TO the entertainment. At any
ate, Miss Williams went to the
lone of friend in this city, and at
80 O'Clock started for the entertain
nent Half an hour later she was
seen standing in front of Emanuel
Baptist church talking TO Durrant.
She was never seen again alive. At {
$50 that night Durrsnt arrived at
he residence of Mrs. Vogel, where