The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-08-12
THINK THEY HAVE THE FIEND
OSCAR DURRANT rs LOCKED UP
IN THE CITY JAIL.
Is Charged With Criminal Assault
on Little Pearl Gardner-He De-
MES His Guilt.

A young man who is supposed to be
the one who made a criminal assault
upon little Pearl Gardner Thursday
afternoon. was apprehended and placed
under arrest about o'clock last night.
The man, who gave his name to the
police as Oscar Durrant. was seen
wandering around in the vicinity of
Mr.. Gardeners residence about $50
O'Clock in the evening. His descrip-
ton MT that given by the little girl, and
Mr.. Gardner Immediately telephoned
for the police. Officer Johnston and
Patrol Driver Cannon, in the patrol,
started on the run for the place.
In the meantime Durrant continued
walking down First West street, close
ly followed by Mr.. Gardner and a
number Of neighborS. Durrant walked
leisurely along the street, and the pa
troll overlook him on the corner of First
South and First West streets. He Of
fered no resistance, but quietly sub
mitted TO the officer.
He was taken TO the station, and
shortly afterward little Pearl came
with her father and positively identi-
fed the man as being the one who took
liberties with her
Durrant's description in every par
ticular correspOnded exactly with that
given by the girl.
When she saw the prisoner she said
that he was the man, and pointing to
his mouth said he had a gold tooth
there. An examination proved her
statement correct.
Durrant remained quiet until they
started to search him. He then de-
clared that he was innocent of the
charge against him. He had not been
told what charge was against him, but
when asked what charge he referred
to, he said the one the little girl makes.
In reply to another question as to
what charge the girl could make
against him, he said: "Oh, guess she
says 1 took her down to that clump of
bushes" He gave his name as Oscar
Durrant, and his age as % years. He
said he was originally from Illinois, but
what town he refused to tell.
When he was searched several cards
and papers were found which would
indicate that Durrant was not his cor
rect name.
One receipt from A. c. Graves EN-
ployment company in Denver. issued
April 2, bore the name of o. D. Faux
ner. The receipt was Cor an amount
paid them for securing him position
z, 1900, for 81 paid on bicycle, bore the
name of o. D. Faulkner.
He had a monthly working card is
sued by the Cooks and Walters union
of Colorado Springs, issued March %
1900, bearing the name of Oscar Dur
rant. A Denver & Rio Grande Express
companys bill of lading, issued al
Grand Junction, bore the name of Os-
car Durrant. The bill called for one
telescope valise. This, Durrant says
is in the express Office now.
DurraHt says he is a hotel hand and
claims that he has worked in restaur-
ants in Colorado Springs. He says he
has been in this city only three days
but has not been able to get employ
ment. and has spent his time lounging
around the street. He StrenuOusly de-
MES, though, that he had been in the
neighborhood where he was caught al
any time before yesterday afternoon.
Durrant says he comes from a good
family in western Illinois, but refuses
to say what town they live in, claim
ing that he would rather die on the
gallows than have his family disgraced
by hearing of his present condition.
The police are confident that they
have the right man, and it is under
stood that one or two other cases ir
d IlcH ndS lIlGQ 10 CnIlCe llLIlt
girls away from their homes will be
brought against him.
George P. Winsness, general store
keeper of the Rio Grande Western, re-
ported to the police yesterday that g
man of Durrant's description was
around his residence at S39 West Sec
ond South street Friday. Ethel Wins
ness, the S-year-old daughter of Mr.
WinSnesS, was out in front of hel
home when a man whose description
fits that of Durrant, came along anc
told her the same story about rabbit:
that was told the little Gardner girl
The child said the man asked her Il
go with him, but she told him that She
couldn't and ran away.
Mr.. Winsness thought nothing OF thu
matter until he saw the account Of
the Gardner case yesterday morning
Mr.. Winsness called at the station las
night and said he would bring his lit
tie girl up to identify Durrant today
Durrant was locked up in the city jai
and will have a preliminary hearing
today