The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-07
HISTORY OF THE CRIME.
Durrant Was Tried For But One of
the Two Church Murders.

William Henry Theodore Durrant
who was hanged at the state prison at
San Quentin today, gave his life in eX-
change for the lives OF two young Wo-
men, who were members of the church
to which he belonged. While Durrant
was convicted of but one murder un-
der the law, he was held responsible by
public opinion for the murder of both
Blanche Lamont and Minnie Williams,
and it is felt that his death eXpiates
one crime as much as the other.
Durrant'S crimes were peculiar in
their atrocity, from any point of view.
He was reared in a Christian home, and
until the time of his arrest was re-
garded as a model young man OF lnduS-
triOuS habits, who was trying to work
his way through a medical college The
only characteristic that seemed marked
in his nature was his piety. He had
been a prominent member of the
Emanuel Baptist church for several
years and for a year previous to his ar
rest had been assistant superintendent
of the Sunday school In this capacity
he made the acquaintance of Blanche
Lamont and of Minnie Williams, both
of whom were destined to be murdered
by him in the church where they WOr-
shipped together
Blanche Lamont disappeared on
April g. 1895, and was never seen alive
afterwards. She left the home of her
aunt, Mrs. G. G. Noble, on that day to
go to school, and for ten days no trace
of her could be found. Many members
OF Emanuel Church assisted in the
S6aTGh Tor the missing SlIl, anu dIllO1iS
others was Theodore DUrrant, who had
often acted as Miss LamOnt's escort.
He seemed greatly distressed on ac-
count of Miss LamOnt'S disappearance,
and at length expressed the belief that
she had joined the ranks of fallen WO-
men. This theory. seemed plausible to
the police, and q search was made
among the places where it was believed
the missing girl might be found. Dur
rant assisted in the inquiry which came
to naught. Ten days had passed since
Miss Lamont disappeared, and her
friends had almost given up hope of
ever knowing her fate, when a discovery
was made which led to the finding of
Miss LamOnts body.
The ladies of Emanuel church were
Engaged in decorating the edifice prep
aratory to the celebration of the Easter
Sunday services, when the mangled
body of Minnie Williams was found
almost naked, in the library. A num-
Der of ugly knife wounds and some
rags that had been forced down the
young woman'S throat told of the un-
equal struggle she had made to protect
her honor.
Miss Williams body was discovered
in the afternoon, and late the same
night the first clue to the murderer
was obtained. From some of the young
wOman's friends it was learned that
she had been seen the evening before
with Durrant and although there was
nothing else to show that he had any
connection with the crime, the police
decided to arrest him Durrant's home
was visited late at night, but he was
not there. His parents said that he
had left at midnight with the signal
corps of the National Guard, to which
he belonged, to make some heliograph-
ing experiments on Mt. DiabIo. The
next train carried two detectives
toward the mountain. and, after com
pleting their journey by stage, Durrant
was found late in the afternoon and ar
rested. But the news that he was
charged with the murder of Minnie
Williams was not first impaired to him
by the officers. A message was flashed
on the rays Of the sun by the hello
graphers in this city who were taking
part in the experiments OF the signal
corps, and Durrant knew that he was
to be arrested before the officers arriv-
ed.
While these events were taking place