The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-06-28
THE DURANT TRIAL,
GIRL WITH AUBURN HAIR IN
TRODUOED TO COURT.

by state Attorney williamsburg
Strong Points Brought Out-COlonei
Burpee,s Letter-Case May be Fin
ished To-day.
AT the opening of yesterday morn.
ing's proceedings against Attorney
\ Durant in the superior court, the nrst
witnesses called were George M. Egan,
! former chief of police; DR.. w. L. Lo-
peg and Miss Nellie Louise Bergen,
who testified as to Mrs. DelkescaImp, $
character as regards veracity IheT
testimony that they had never heard
anything against her character rebuilt
ted that offered by witnesses late
Tuesday afternoon.
Following this testimony Attorney
Durant himself took the stand ana oc-
cunied it the rest OF the morning un-
Idergoing cross-examination. He tod
OF meeting Murphy, the detective IN
response to Mr.. Williams questions ne
stated that Mrs, Lathrop never tod
him she wanted to get divorce prior
to the employment of Murphy. he mad
heard Mrs Lathrop say she was
against getting a divorce from her nus
hand unless there was evidence to sup
port charge. He, himself, was not
anxious that Mrs. Lathrop should have
a divorce. He understood that she de-
sired support from her husband ana
later asked for more support. To his
lno Wedge he was not the first person
to suggest infidelity on the part OF her
husband to Mrs Lathrop. He did, how
ever. speak Of her husbands int1dellty
to her. He denied that she resented It,
Ia letter written by Durant to Detec-
tive Murphy bearing the date OF Au-
gust 3, 1903, which told Murphy that II
his terms were reasonable, he could be
furnished with much business was in
troduced. Murphy came to Waterbury
shortly after this letter was written,
probably August 10. 1t was at this
time he presented card from New
York police officer. He then went TO
work on the Lathrop case under the
Joint direction OF Mr.. Durant and 9TH
ers. They told him to follow d. u.
Iathrop in Waterbury and discover
what transpired between him and any
women. Murphy always made daily
reports, but he (Mr. Durant) didn't al
WAYS see them. What reports he had
The turned over to u. G.. Church, MEM
Der of the grievance committee, on Mr..
lChurch's demand. He also turned over
a letter fror Mr.. O'Neil to Mrs, Lath-
rop to Mr. Church. Murphy worked
on the case about a month, and report
ed that he had nothing against Lath-
?op. but intimated that If he could get
into the Leland apartments in the
Plat block on East Main street he
might be able to discover some evil
dence
AT this point State Attorney Williams
asked Mr.. Durant If he did not know
the Leland woman. Mr. Durant said
he knew by reputation a woman who
was said to frequent the Leland house,
meaning Mrs. Corey, but didn't know
Mrs. Leland. Mr. Williams asked him
why he didn't try to find out if he
heard the place had a reputation
whether it was frequented by Lathrop
land Durant replied that he didn't con-
! SlQ6I lliLilSOIL q IChSOl VI publiS lAIul
ais In reply to State Attorney Will
Hams questioning Mr.. Durant stated
that 1t was November 10, 1898, that he
first considered himself under obliga-
lions to Mrs. Lathrop. He thought of
bringing Mrs Delkescamp into the case
when Murphy spoke Of the Leland
house and his idea that he could get
evidence there
He told of a conference between
Judge Lowe, Mrs. Lathrop and himself
at which Murphy went into details re-
garding what he knew about Lathrop
J He at that time believed Murphy s
story. He had never changed his mind
fully, although he later didn't believe
the whole story as related by Murphy
When asked when he changed his mind
he said after Murphy made the lying
deposition in New York about him in
March, 1904.
State Attorney Williams asked that
that answer be stricken out, but Judge
Shumway ruled that the word lying be
stricken out.
Mrs. Delkescamp never stated posi-
lively that she had committed adultery
with Lathrop, but did by inference
Afterwards he invited Mrs. Lathrop tc
, hear the story of these people. He ad.
mitted that he asked her if she was
satisfied. He was asked why he ha6
Invited her to hear these things, ant
: said he believed it to be his duty to sc
, inform her,
why didn't you prosecute LathroI
if you believed he was guilty of adul'
, tery?" asked State Attorney Williams
with Burpee on the bench?" replied
, Durant. There was smoker in tht
court room.
, "Are you asking me a question: de-
3 lmanded Mr.. Williams. Isn't it fac
that Burpee would have been disquali
Ef1ed?"
81 didn't feel that Burpee would b,
disqualified"
How many other persons are eligible
to sit in that court?" asked State AT
torney Williams.
/ Judge Cowell and Judge Peasley,
replied Durant.
Mr.. Durant was asked what his pres
: lent business was, and he stated that h
twas manager of the Waterbury base
:. ball team and held one share in TIL
:. waterbury Baseball corporation. H
was asked if he didn't instruct or re
Iouest President Edward L. Maloney, o
: the City League park, to keep Delkes
camp, of the Merrimac team, off tn
: State League park. He admitted tina