The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-18
FAMOUS DANCER
PROVES SISTER
OF DURRANT
Maud Allen, Who Has Captured
London by Storm, Is
Murderer's Relative
Girl Whose Brother Committed
Awful Crimes in Church
Reveals Identity
Winning PIaudits of Royalty,
Danseuse Writes to Former
Friends of Triumph

Startling in its suddenness was the
information received here yesterday
that Maud Allen, the mysterious dan
seuse az the Palace theater in London,
who has captured that great city by
storm, whose tiny, twinkling feet have
drawn forth vivas from royalty and
who nightly receives the adulaton ac-
corded alone to London's darling. is
none other than Maud Durrant OF
San Francisco, sister of Theodore
Durrant, one of the vilest rnurderers
of the nineteenth century.
In letter to a girl friend who at
tended the Polytechnic school with
her, she reveals her identity. Hitherto
all that was known of the wonderful
dancer was that she was an American
Her success was as sensational as her
art her past as elusive as her grace
Then, having reached the heights for
which she struggled, she wrote TO
friends here, telling them of herself.
and adding a fitting chapter to a life
already surrounded by sensations.
FROM TRAGEDY AND SORROW
When San Francisco last knew her
by an entire countryside. one linked
by blood to 8 murderous degenerate.
Her name was blazoned forth as such
and, in the flood of lies, accusations
and scandals that developed in the trial,
her girlish skirts were besmirched, her
name fou1ed. Thirteen years -agc--she.
was one in tragedy Of gloom, sorrow
and death. Today she steps before the
world magnificent symbol of love.
life and beauty, a bewitching imper-
sonation of joyousness and youth. In
those Is years she has broken from the
dreadful past. and under the name of
Maud Allen, danseuse at the Palace
theater in London, is recognized as the
rival of Genee and the latest London
craze.
Theodore Durrant, her brother, was
hanged for the murder of Blanche La
/
! bodies were found in the Emmanuel
Baptist church 19 years ago. That of
Minnie Williams was in a closet and
the other in the church belfry. As
both were young girls, and as the mur-
derer was palpably a degenerate, the
utmost indignation was aroused Theo-
dore Durrant, who attended the same
church as did the murdered girls, was
arrested, and, after a trial replete with
sensations. paid the death penalty.
ADoLPH sUTRo's PRoTEGE
His sister was then in Europe study
ing music and singing. Inasmuch as
her parents were by no means wealthy.
her father being a shoe msker the
! general impression was that The girls
expenses were being paid By Adolph
Sutro. the late millionaire. who had
taken an interest in her while she was
attending the Polytechnic school. Her
! parents denied this, declaring that Miss
Durrant was paying her own expenses
by selling a patent corset. Though
she took no part in the trial Miss
I
public and she was subjected 20 a series
of vile accusations, all of which since
then have proven to be unfsunded
Following the trial her father
adopted the womans maiden name of
Allen, and until two months ago was
employed in the shoe factory of Buck
ingham & Hecht. The gill. in the
meantime, was working toward her
goal As musician and singer she
did not succeed, and. recognizing her
failure. left Paris. journeyirg to Lon
don, where she learned darcing. Then
came success. London suddenly awoke
some months ago to the fact that an
American girl Maud Allen by name.
was dancing at the Palace theater and
that by her art and beauty she rfyaled
London's dancers. London saw and ad-
mired.
APPLAUDED BY ROYALTY
Royalty witnessed and applauded.
The admiration grew. The critics
heaped their encomiums on her The
thunders of applique swelled in vol
ume and Maud Durrint, sister of Theo-
dore Durrant thk murderer, once
daughter of shoelmaker in the Mis-
sion, rose TO the glttering heights set
apart for London favorites
Her first act wal to share her good
fortune with her mother and father
! Two months ago hey left their home
at 2s2 Chattanooga street and told
their friends that thev were going tn
live with their Daughter in London.
Ii is in the "vifion of Salome that
Maud Durrant is # her best. When she
strips herself of Fhe seven wells her
body upward frdn her waist hidden
solely by strintwork OF jewels. she
reaches the clinAx of her sensation
aIism; but, unlilk other dancers, she