Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-02
DURANT ON DECK.
Midnight Assailants Did Not Injure the Attorney---The Mysterious Affair is the Talk
 of the Town.

of the Town.
 The most startling occurrence Inat came to public notice in Wareroury since Saturday night was an assault made upon Prosecuting Attorney Dur ant on Holmes avenue directly oppo- site the side entrance to the Secono Conversational church, shortly arter 12 o'clock last night The details or the affair as gathered from various sources are that about Il O'CLOCK Aast night MT Durant was called Dy pnohe from the pay station in the lopDy of the postoffice and informed that he was wanted at the po- lice station. The prosecutor inquired who was talking and was told that ar was Barney" Believing the person at the other end of the wire to be Ser geant Cahey, MT Durant, who was about to retire for the night, hastened to the station and on entering found nobody there but Captain Ramon and couple of newspaper men, none of whom knew anything about the tele- phone call. Then the prosecutor took it as joke and tried to have the news paper men admit that they were at the bottom of it, but they sbouly denied any knowledge of he incident and H. nally convinced MT Durant that he was planning the wrong parties.
 After a chat at the station for proba- bly three-uuarter of an hour, MT Du- rant started for his home, and when turning into Holmes avenue from West Main street he noticed a man standing on the curbing. The stranger turned his head slightly and said "Good night Durant," and then commenced to whistle a tune. MT Durant spoke to the man and passed on. A little further up the street a man came staggering down the way and after muttering something which the prosecutor did not quite understand, he asked him what lime 1t was The prosecutor reminded him that 1t was might time," at the same time stepping to one side. This brought him close to the storm door of the church building, and the next thing he knew he was struck on the head from somebody concealed behind the storm door. He was stunned but was not rendered unconscious, and while two or three parties kicked at him he managed to save himself from much Injury until he got hold of his revolver and aimed at fellow who was stoop- ing over him. The fellow threw up his hands and feH backward morta1lv wounded as MT Durant supposed Thinking that he was sure of this man he then turned his gun upon man who was flying across West Main street, and then sent a couple of bullets after the fleeing form of a man who was making his escape through the lawn of the church rectory. When MT Durant turned to pick up the man he supposed he had shot he noticed the joker crossing fence at top speed. After the assailants had disappeared Mr Drant sat down on the steps of the church and was turning the whole matter over in his mind when some one spoke to him from the other side of the street The man had heard the shooting, but was afraid to approach foo near until MT Durant called him. Then the man walked across the way and after looking over the scene of the struggle picked up the the remnants of MT Durant's spectacles, which were kicked off his eyes. A derby hat was also picked up with a bullet hole in it. The ball entered the hat close to the brim and then took an upward course and made it's escape at point near the top Of it. The hat and another one of the same kind which was found there later are now on exhibition at the po- lice station. There was good light at the scene of the assault, but no win dows were raised and nobody was at tracted to the place. Dr Davenport heard the report of the revolver and saw reflection of the fire on his bed room window. When Mir Durant and the man who had come to his assist ance had collected such wreckage as they could find, they headed for the pc 5 h. -L-LI LI.-sf I~,.L |. .-A R.m as.the corner of West Main street and Holmes avenue, a short distance from where Mir Durant was held up, they met Captan Ramon walking westward at. a rapid gait turned him over the battle scared hat and put him in pos session of such information about the assault as they had. MT Durant's hat was also badly dented where his as. sailant came down upon him with what is supposed to have been 8 sand bag. The crystal on his watch was broken, his spectacles smashed and he received several kicks on the head and in the ribs. He has a wealth of strong hair and this saved him from serious injury. There were a few bumps or his head, but not sufficient size to be noticeable even at close range.
 The police are working on the case and while there is no clue, still 1t is thought that at least one of the at lacking party was hit and must now be under the care of physician, and witt this to work upon there is hope of dis covering evidence which will bring the offenders into the court. It is safe tc state that anybody convicted of this or similar orrtrages will get the full ex tent of the law. The man who asked nr1Sson& xrbo4 4{y1oa r. ~rxoe xxr-rS q cap and had smooth face.
 Mfr Durant was seen in his office to day and looked just as handsome as ever He said he had nothing specfa bo say about the affair. but thought perhaps, that he ought to state that Int was not scared when attacked and &R.n4 I,.c. dc>nss Y,anA hoIfovo r1aIu fthat tfl