The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 18, 1895, Page 5

» THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1895. 5 CLEWS STILL LEAD TO THEODORE DURRANT, He Tried to Entice An-| other Girl Into the Church. TOLD AT THE INQUEST.| Cries Heard in the Structure the Night of Miss Wil- liams’ Death. FOOTPRINTS IN THE DUST. Impressive Scenes at the Funeral. | The Prayer Meeting—New Theorles. | catch the last car. 1 | | | although not a member. | ments. | upon_his art marked that he thought it would rain. 1 hope not,” said Durrant, “because I have to go to Mount Diablo at 4:30 A. M. with the Signal Service Corps.” Q—Whatdid you do after that? A.—I took Miss Lord home, and then went to my room and changed my clothes, preparatory to going to the ranch. I wentto the cor- ner of Twenty-fourth street and Orange alley, thinking my horse would be there; but, suddenly remembering [ had not rid- den in, T ran toward the electric line to On the corner of Twenty-fourth and Bartlett streets I saw a man standing whom I thought was Theo Durrant. I didn’t pay any particular at- tention I was in a hurry, so Iam not positi was Theo. —Where did you see Durrant first on Friday evening? A. t Dr. Vogel's, 2602 { Howard street. I was the business meeting of the Christian Endeavor Society g Miss Marshall acted as secretary in the absence of Dur- rant. Dr. Gibson was there when Larrived and Durrant came after the business meet- ing was over and joined in our am.use- He arrived at 9:30 or 9:45 o’clock. He was cheerful, and entered into the s of the thing. Q.—Did he enter the parlor at once al? A.—He did not. He The mystery that was born in the crime- stained church on Bartlett street, and the monster who was its father are still the topics that crowd all others in the publi mind. Durrant still regarded as the central figure in the awful crime, but there are many who believe that if he sinned he | did not sin alone. The police are still toil- ing indefatigably on this case that was ted before it was twenty-four hours The blood-stained tabernacle has is | on been searched from foundation to roof for | more evidence, but more was not found there yesterday. Stalwart policemen guarded the structure, and Pastor Gibson and Janitor Sademan went in and out. Sademan had little to say, and the minis- ter would not talk. He tried to have the police keep reporters out of the building, and failing in the attempt refused to talk to the newspaper men. The policeman who sat at the door thought with a sinking heart of the long hours of the night that he would be com- pelled to spend in the deserted building, and deplored the fact that the Police Com- missioners would not permit their subordi- nates to gather courage from the exhilarat- ing glass. Among the important developments of the day was the finding of a woman who says she heard shrieks in the church at 10 o’clock on the night of Miss Williams’ murder. At that hour Durrant was at Dr. Vogel's house, and if the girl was mur- dered then he is innocent of her death. A policeman was found who measured the ts on the dusty floor of the beliry where Blanche Lamont’s body was found. He said that the prints of ar and a woman's shoes were found there, and the I of the former of a No. 8 , and is not Durrant’s size. Minnie Williams’ body was taken to Laurel Hill Cemetery and placed in a vault. Prosecuting Attorney Barnes will have the coffin opened and the face of the dead girl phed this morning. Rlanche La- body was sent to Dillon, Mont., to iried there. The Coroner’s inquest was resumed, but was not concluded. PILING UP EVIDENCE. Some Strong Testimony Which Was Given Against the Prisoner. ; I W. H. Theodore Durrant was not present | whe the Coroner’s jury was called to order | 3 ¥ morning. Dr. Hawkins was a | little indignant, and at once issued a sum- mons to appear and bring the body of the prisoner with him. The Chief at once obeyed the order, and in a short space of | time he accused was in attendance in the ody of the Chief himseli. He was | and listened to the testimony erable interest. When the statement of Dr. Vogel in regard to his| pr 1 to Miss Turner was read the pris- oner on the floor for a considerable time there- | after | He did not s were not disarranged. | a good g | door. ed, and kept his eyes fived | Li ey . | woman The Rev. J. George Gibson was recalled | Shurch the night ie about five minutes. One of the jurors wanted Durrant to put his hat and coat in order that Wolf might identify him as the man hesaw remained outs | standing on the corner of Twenty-fourth and Bartlett streets, but the Coroner said it was not necessary. Dr. T. A. Vogel, 2602 Howard street, knew both Theodore Durrant and Minnie Williams. The last time he saw the latter ive was two weeks ago at a reception in the church. At that time she was mostly in the company of Miss Lord. Q.—When did you last see Theo Durrant? t a meeting of the Christian En- avor Society at my house. Durrant was appointed secretary about three months ago, but he was not present at the bu s bout meeting. He arrived at the house a 9:30 P 3., and his face was then wet with sweat and his hair was hanging down over his forebead. He went into my office, hed his hands and brushed his hair then joined the party in the parlor. em excited and his clothes After the meeting Durrant, I and some others went out to- gether and at the corner of Twenty-fourth and Howard about 11:30 P. M. we parted, Mr. Wolf and Mr. Durrant going uj Twenty-fourth, while Miss Lord and went down Twenty-fourth. Q.—Did Miss Williams get an invitation the party? A.—I don't know. Mr. rrant attended to that part of the busi- As she was a member I think she anc to did. Vogel’s statement made to the police was then read to him. It was practically the same as the foregoing, and he admitted that it was correct. % The Coroner—Please pay attention to this, doctor. The Coroner then read the pril 14, at 1 P. M., sa on Mr. Durrant accompanied 3 usin from church about a ago. While in conversation Dur- oachied the subject of Miss Turner i ailment and g 1 a gentlemanly manner that would pre: 3 | ,and that he had some sure-cure medicine, which she ced to She took the medicine and the effect was beneficial. On a si one Sunday after- noon ch, Durrant asked her if s had ever been examined. She was t surprised at his question and 8 no. Durrant then said she u d that he could doit. She told him indignantly that she did not desire to be examined and that her folks could attend to that. He then told her there was no fear of detection as he knew e in the church where no one d find it out. She was somewhat sur- prised at his statement and closed the door of her house in his face, as hy that time they had reached her home. Since that time Miss Turner avoided his com- pany. £ The Coroner—Is that correct? A.—Yes, sir, except that she closed the door in his i ce. She simply walked in and closed the I know mnothing against Durrant except what I have told vou. I entered the church before the deputy Coroner and saw the knife on the dead girl’s breast. I don’t know whether I touched the clothes or not. On the second occasion I saw the gag and the stick. He recognized the girl by the dress and skirt and a mole on her neck; also by her teeth. Q.—Were you ever out with Durrant? Only on one occasion. When Blanche amont disappeared I went with him to oble to offer our assistance. C. L. Hills, 203} Bartlett, saw a man and enter the Emmanuel Baptist Minnie Williams was to the stand. Asked by the Coroner if he | murdered. After stating that he knew irders, he answered emphatically “no.” | ed if he had been up there since, he | on g the beliry, and never knew that | sit connected with the church since 2 ¥ November, 1894, perintendent of the Sunday he Coroner—D« farther about the ibs riation. In my te the clothing on touched before rived. I was 3 the clothes down a drew them down stil know it was Miss Minn chood. t » Corone ken. deputy ar- | lliams at the | time. I only met her three times in my life, and the last tim Friday, March 23, last. On that occasion I saw her in the Sunday-school room, but did not know she was there until she spoke to Q—Were you very with Theo Durrant? A.—Not ver Q—Is there a sleeping-room in the church? A.—No, sir; there is no sleeping ‘apartment. There is a lounge in a room off my study which can be made intoa bed, but I never used it and I don’t think any one else has during my term as pastor. 1 never had a confidential talk with M Williams as has been stated. After identifying the knife, rags used as-a gag and a piece of wood used to push the cloth into the girl’s mouth the rev- erend gentleman was excused. Mrs. A. B. Voy of 1707 Howard street, to | whose house Miss Williams went on her arrival from Alameda, testified in sub- stance as follows: “I never knew her to be lled anything else but Minnie. The last time I saw her was on Friday, the 12th i She left my house before 8 o’clock, stating that she was going to Dr. Vogel’s on: the corner of Twenty - second an Howard. She didn’t say that she was going to Dr. Vogel’s, and it is only surmise on my part that that was her destination, Inever heard of Theodore Durrant and never heard Minnie mention his name. ‘When she left my house she was dressed in a blue skirt and a silk waist. She was a splendid girl. One of the best I ever knew.” Miss Florence A. Voy's testimony was similar to that of her ‘mother. The last time she saw Minnie alive was a few min- utes before 8 o’clock on the 12th inst. Min- nie said she was going to a Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor social and would ask to have her name taken off the books. She owed a bill for dues, but while 1t did not amount to much, still she came tothe conclusion that she could not bear the expense. In answer to a question put by a juror, the witness said Miss Williams arrived at their house shortly before din- ner, They had that meal about 6:30 ». M. A. Wolf, an accountant, 630 Twenty- third\street, was the next witness. He did not know anything at all about Miss Wil- liams. He may have met her, but did not remember. The last time he saw Dur- rant was at a_ quarter to 12 last Friday, at the. corner of Twenty-fourth and Capp streets. They were returning from lgo party at Dr. Vogel's, and the witness re- heard or knew of Durrant | of Bartlett stains had been found on_the stairs. | opposite to me. n According to his recollection Durrant had | and met a short girl, and the_ pair started No- | off as quick as they could walk. The ber, 1892, and he became pastor in | woman came from the direction of Twen- Durrant was assistant | ty-second street, and they met near the s | lamppost. 0 u know anything | on, which went to his knees or a little be- | then went away. | they could get into the church from the | alley or not. | until the police officers took me through | it. X | person, and at first I thought it was my | straight. had ever been in the belfry prior to the | neither Minnie Williams nor Theodore Durrant, he testified as follows: *On the evening of April 12 (Friday) I came out of Monday, the 15th | my house at8:15, and stood on the corner and Twenty-third streets. There was a man standing on the corner He went down the road The man had a dark overcoat low; his trousers were neither light nor n—I would like to make an expla- | dark—more of a dark—and I think he had esterday I said | a soft hat on. y had not been | round crown. The hat, I think, had a “The couple seemed very friendly. When Mrs. Nolte drew | they met he took her by the arm and they and Dr. King { walked rapidly over to the church, and I did not | passing_through the gate went down the I waited there a few minutes and I don’t know whether ally I never was in the church The woman was_a_small, well-built wife. Idon’t know what her clothes were 1i She wore a cape and her skirt was of some dark material.” A.G. Williams, father of the murdered girl, was the next witness. The last time he saw his daughter was on Friday, April , at about 11 o’clock. She came over early in order to bring him some flowers and keep i an appointment at Thors’, where she was | to ave her photograph taken. ‘What was your daughter's name? —Her true name was Minnie Elora Wil- Did your daughter ever speak of rant?—A.—Yes, she spoke of him sveral times. She was on friendly terms Wwith him. They were what you might | call keeping company. His mother ob- | jected to Minnie for some reason or other. | At a social | Minnie and Theo went upstairs and had a | pleasant chat | Durrant like | innocent one, for Minnie was as innocent. given in Durrant's house and I it. on’t think Mrs. The escapade was an and guileless as a baby. Later Minnie told me that Durrant ‘was not altogether A girl had told her something that aroused her suspicions. Minnie’s purse was shown the witness and he at once identified it. He gave it to her last D&cember as a Christmas present. Miss Miriam Lord of 846 Capp street said she had known Minnie Williams for three or four years. The last time she saw her was when they went together to the recep- tion tendered the Rev. Mr. Gibson by the Young People’s Society of Christian® En~ deavor. Q.—What do you know about the finding olte, Miss Berrfl, of the bodv? A.—Mrs. N, Miss Stevens and myself met in the chure| The door was open, as it generally ison a Saturday. We went into the library and opened the closet door to look at the books. We didn’t recognize the body and were 50 scared that Miss Stevens and I ran home, ““I don’t know anything about the death of Miss Williams,” testified Miss Catherine D. Stevens of 2726 Howard. “Mrs. Nolte and I went to the church to see about the decorations for Easter Sunday. Mrs. Nolte is not a member of our church and she wanted to see ourlibrary. When we got into the 1oom she looked around and said: ‘It’sa nice enough place, but it’s funny you've got no books.’ I said, ‘Here are the books,’ and opened the closet door. I then saw the body and did not stop an in- stant, but ran out.” Harry E. Snook of 2429 Mission, in an- swer to questions, said he had known Min- nie Willlams about three months and The- odore Durrant about three years. He never saw them in company. Q.—What do you know about the finding of the body? A.—The Rev. Mr. Gibson and Dr. King came to me and wanted to know what they should do in the circum- stances. Itold them the only course open to them was to notify the Coroner and the police. I telephoned for them and then went to the church. The body was lying on the floor. One leg was bent under the other, the dress was up to her knees, her bodice was riiped open and a broken knife ‘was lying on her breast. Q.—Could you tell if there had been a scufie? A.—I could not. There were some marks, but not enough to account for a struggle. At this point Chief Crowley came in and took a seat near the prisoner. James Sademan, the 15-year-old son of the janitor of the church, was the next wit- ness. It was while he was cleaning the church last Saturday that he noticed the lock on the library door was broken. The lock was put on so as to keep the witness and others from meddling with the books. The door was open about an inch, but the closet door was closed. Q. —Who have keys to the church? A.— My father has a key and I use his. Mr. Gibson has one and Mr. Durrant has an- other. Isaw Mr, Durrant many times in the church. He was there the Saturday before Miss Williams was kiled. George ing was with hifn. Mr. Durrant was as- sistant superintendent of the Sunday- school Q.—Did any women come alone to the church? A.—-Miss Turner used to core there to fix flowers for the following Sun- day. When the body was found the young ladies came out screaming. They asked me if I had put a wax figure in the closet and I said no. They then warned me not to go near the place or I would get a big scare. I didn’t hear any noise in the church that morning at all. Sergeant W. F. Burke told a straightfor- ward connected story: *“Saturday last be- tween the hours of 1 and 2 I received a DR=T.A-VOGEL did not wait for an introduction to those around them before asking questions and expressing opinions. In the little knot of women in which the young lady hagpened to be was a middle-aged woman who told those about her that at about 10 o’clock on the night the murder happened her servant girl went out the back doorand came in uickly, saying that she heard screams. 'he woman went out and at once heard two or three sounds that appeared like stifled shrieks of agony in the direction of the church near by. Then all was still. “To think,” the woman bad said, “that I should have heard the screams!” The girl who told Dr. Townsend of what she ha§ heard described the woman as one of middle age, rather large, with a pleasant face and wearing a plush cape. ferred from what the woman said that she had a son and a daughter. Dr. Townsend reported the young lady’s story at police headquarters that day, but the police have not found the middle-aged woman. X ‘Who the lady is who told this interesting story on the sidewalk could not be learned in the neighborhood last night. Itis but natural that vague rumors about screams should get started, and one lady was found who said that some strange woman had told her that she had heard a girl say that - : 7 M15s MIRIAM 4 .LORD LMER A WoLF g SEETCHES AT THE INQUEST. a young wo:.an in his office,” said he. thought it was some holding an autopsy. {‘ lett street and saw a crowd around the Em- | manuel Baptist Church. I went in, exam- ined the body, saw the wounds and the gag and noted all the circumstances. “On Sunday morning I went to Mrs. Durrant’s house in company with Shanna- han and Josephs. We examined all his clothing, and having orders from the Chief took possession of his overcoat and hat. Mrs. Durrant wanted to )io through the pockets first, but I said I would do the senrchin%. In the inside pocket on the left side I found a purse, and opening it found a car ticket. That is the purse I found in the pocket.” The purse in question is the one that has been identified as belonging to Miss Wil- liams. Lila Berry of 512 Twenty-seeond street the body. She described the broken lock, the position of the body, and told how she screamed, ran out and went home and told her mother. Clarence M. Wolf of 630 Twenty-third street has known Durrant for five years. The last time he saw him was between 6:30 and 7 A. . last Saturday. “Durrant said something about an article in the Examiner about Blanche Lamont. I don’t remem- ber what it was. When I saw him first he was coming along the street.”” Q.—Was he coming from thejchurch? A.—I don’t think so. I think he was coming from the blacksmith’s shop. He seemed anxious to get his horse, as he had to_join his comrades at the armory. \killium A. Frodsham, assistant in the armory at 25 Page street, said he was at the armory from 7:30 Friday night until the signal corps left, and he did not see Durrant except when he was going away. The whole battery was drilling, but Dur- rant was absent. - Still he might have been there and the witness not know it. At this point an adjournment was taken until to-morrow at 9 A. M., when the in- quest will be completed. STORIES OF SCREAMS The Police Looking for Women Who Heard Faint Shrieks in the Church. The police are trying to find the women who on the night of Minnie Williams’ murder heard agonized scregms that came faintly from within the church. The report that screams were heard that night is one of the bits of evidence that the police have but are not saying anything about. This was one of the things fol- lowed by the detectives during the last three days, but they do not appear to have jound anything of definite importance concerning the interesting report. They are still looking for the women who heard the screams. Dr. John Townsend, whose office is at Twenty - first and Valencia streets, re- rted this matter at police headquarters ast Monday. His information came from a young lm{y living in that neighborhood wKose mother is one of his pattents. When he called at the house of his patient last Monday the young lld{ told him that she had heard a 'woman who was a stranger to hertelling about hearing screams, The young lady had stopped with the crowds that collected on the street about the church last Sunday, and conversation was naturally lively in the crowd. People was another of the quartet who discovered | message that a Dr. Gibson was dissecting | screams had been heard on Friday night. “I | The young lady whose story went to the hysician who was | police is one of rehability and culture and went along Bart- | there is no doubt that the woman she de- scribed told the story she repeated, what- ever it may or may not amount to. Another interesting story is told by Mrs. William Minear of 325 Twenty-fourth street, who heard that Mrs. McGreevy, wife of the police officer who lives next door to the church, heard a sound between 8:40 and 9 o’clock that was like the break- ing open of a door in the church. This is about the hour that thelibrary door is sup- posed to have been broken open and Min- nie Williams murdered. Mrs. Minear's story is as follow: On last Monday I aan over to see Mrs. Mc- Greevy, who is the only woman I know about there,” and Mrs. McGreevy told me thatshe heard a noise that sounded like somebody bursting open a door. It was about half-past B or 9 o'clock, I believe, and she was in bed then. The house is right next to the church, and Mrs. McGreevy’s bed and window is on that side of the house. She said she didn’t know what it was, but somehow or other it made ner nervous, and she broke outintoa strange perspiration, She said she didn’t say anything about it to her husband, because he would say that she was superstitious. Mrs. McGreevy, however, last night told a different story. “That wasn’t what I said at all,” she said. “I said that I heard something that night that sounded like a knock and ap- peared to be a strange noise, but it was after 1 o'clock in the morning and my husband had come home. There is noth- ing in the story.” IN THE BELFRY DUST. Footprints . Made by No. 9 Shoes—Durrant Wears No. 6. It has been said, and again denied, that when the officers found the body of Blanche Lamont they also found footprints in the dust on the beliry floor and they measured them. A police officer who is in a position to know, but whose name for obvious reasons is withheld, said yester- day: “The officers did find those footprints. They measured them and found, as stated, that they were made by a man wearing a No. 8 or a No. 9 shoe. As Durrant’s shoe is a No. 5 or 6 it will not fit the tracks, and for that reason those fellows down at the City Hall are subordinating that circum- stance. They know they have got to catch and hang somebody for these murders. I don't believe Durrant_is the guilty man, Don’t use my name, though, for if you do I’ll lose my job.” THE FUNERAL. An Impressive Sermon by the Pastor of the First Baptist Church. At no time in the history of the First Baptist Church was there such a congre- gation as assembled there yesterday after- noon at 2 o’clock to take part in the ser- vice held over the remains of the unfortu- nate girl, Minnie E. Williams. Long before the appointed time a crowd of men, women and children, all eager to gain admittance into the sacred edifice, assembled on Eddy street, and it required She in- | the police to keep them from forcing their way into the building. Finally one of the doors was opened and the people went in until every seat was filled. - Then the door was closed and the announcement was made that there was no more room. Still that did not satisfy those who were on the sidewalk and the street. Many women at- tempted to force their way over the railing in front of the main entrance to enter by the side. So persistent were they that the officers were placed on the defensive and were forced to push back the crowd. ‘When the funeral cortege, consisting of a white hearse, containing the flower-covered white casket came in the police had to clear the crowd and open a passageway to atlow the pall-bearers to enter the church. The pall-bearers were: Dr.Vogel, George TUnderwood, Clarence Wolf, George R. King, W. 8. Bowker and Truman Cald- well. They placed the casket on trestles in front of the altar. The church was strewn with hundreds of callas. 5 Shortly after 2 o'clock the organist in- toned a sweet melody and the Rev. M. P. Boynton, acting pastor, followed by the Rev. J. George Gibson appeared on the platform. Rev. Mr. Boynton read Psalm LIX, com- mencing, “Deliver me from mine ene- mies, O my God; defend me from them that rise against me,” and this was fol- lowed by the reading of the fourteenth chapter of the gospel according to St. John. The prayer that followed moved many of the congregation to tears. Mrs. King, mother of Georze R. King, the organist of Emmanuel Church, re dered, *‘I am nearer my home to-day than ever I've been before,”” as a solo, in a most impressive manner, her son pre- siding at the organ. Rev. Mr. Boynton then said: This is & most unusual crime. It is to be hoped that a lesson may be drawn from this terrible tragedy. It is not my purpose to en- large upon the horror that has shocked the city. There has been a fearful period ot terror in this city. In the dead of night an unknown fiend entered a drugstore and stabbed to death the young man in charge. That crime, so horrible, shocked the city to the very center. An officer was shot down by & bandit on a commonwealth highway. Who were their murderers? The echo answers who ? A citi- zen from the interior visits this city and on one of the public streets is attacked by two highwaymen, and because, like the courageous man that he was, he resisted and jcame near paying with his life for having made that defense; two men meet in a A.E.VWILLIAMS crowded street, and having had a quarrel, one is fatally shot down. A schoolgirl leaves school and disappears. A search was made for her, but no one could teli where she was. We know now. Another young lady leaves her home for the church to which she belonged, but she neve‘r reached her destination. Her remains are here, Every effort that can be made shounld be made to discover and punish the perpetrators of these horrible crimes, and no stone should be leit unturned in the effort to discover the murderer. We should back the authorities, and every citizen should make the officers feel that he is their friend and help them in every way. There have been reigns of terror, but San Fraucisco has her reign of horror. We hold our breath and the heart almost ceases to beat when we think of £l this. Yet, while we con- template all this, we should remember those who have been afflicted. We shoula remember the mother of Blanche Lamont, the relatives of Minnie Williams and the mother of the man who is charged with these awful crimes and pray that God protect them. He then said that this was a time of physical fear, and that the wife was anxious to know that the doors were locked and the mother, when she kissed her babes good night, retired with tears in her eyes and a fear that something awful might occur before the rising of another sun, These crimes, he said, were the work of the devil, who is so pywerful that no one alone could combat him. The fact that the crimes were committed in a house ded- cated to God, he said, would not affect religion one iota. He continued: Now I have a word of advice to give. Young women of San Franeisco, you cannot be too careful of the company you keep. Every young woman should say: I will not go any- where, under any pretext whatever, unless accompanied by my father or my brother. I will not enter any place where there are not others.” If they ‘would do that they would raise themselvesiin the estimation of the wkole world. “I do not lay any blame at the door of the girl whose remains are before us. She was a sweet Christian. She fought against the attack made on her and in so doing lost her physical life, but God has given her her reward.” The preacher expressed the hope that the lesson of these terrible tragedies would not be forgotton. The' sermon was followed by a prayer, and then the remains were taken to the hearse and the large congregation filed out of the church. The remains were interred in Laurel Hill Cemetery, where the remainder of the simple service was conducted. The Rev. Mr. Gibson remained a silent spectator during the service in the churen. The body was placed in the vault at the cemetery, where it will be photographed for District Attorney Barnes this morning. STILL A MYSTERY. No Trace of the Blood- Stained Garments of the Murderer. The floor of the room in which Minnie Williams was murdered is spotted and splashed with blood, but on the carpet in the library, into which the only door in the little chamber of horror opens, there is not the faintest trace of gore. The carpet is white and red ingrain and any stain upon it would be visible. There is a little camp stool in the room in which the crime was committed and it is thought that the murderer sat upon it, and after removing his shoes stepped across the blood and the body to the car- veted floor of the library and thus left no tain. 3 It was thought that perhapsthe mur- derer donned one of the baptismal robes used in the church when he fell upon his victims, but none of the robes are missing and none are stained. Aghysician who is studying the case thinks that the criminal thrust the girl into the room, undressed in the library and then attacked her. IS BRIGHTENING UP. Durrant Chats Pleasantly With Many People Who Visit Him. People who imagined that Durrant would break down in a day or two did not know the caliber of the man. Instead of showing any sign of weakness he becomes, if possible, more composed and certainly more cheerful. Yesterday he greeted his friends with a smile and chatted with them as pleasantly and volubly as if he had been in the church library instead of a cell in the City Prison. He strictly adhered to his_resolution not to speak to any one unless the permit with the name of the visitor was first submitted to him. The caller was not admitted to the prison if Durrant intimated that he did not wish to see him or her. In this way a large number of men and women had to go away disappointed at not beine able to obtain entrance to the prison. Among his callers were a lady and her daughter, Mrs. Thompson and Miss Thompson. When their permit was handed to him his face lighted up and he expressed an eager desire to see them. He was al- lowed to leave his cell to talk to them, and their greeting was eifusive. They talked, laughed and smiled for about half an hour, and Durrant seemed to brighten up won- derfully after they left him. Besides his mother they have been the oniy lady friends who have called to see him. Several medical students and some mem- bers of the Emmanuel Baptist Church were also among his visitors yesterday. They shook bim warmly by the band, each in turn, and it had all the appearance of a reception by some distinguished personage. To illustrate the devices adopted to see him, a lady and gentleman called at police headquarters yesterday afternoon. They told Detective Seymour that they lived near the Normal School, and they mys- teriously hinted that if they could see Durrant they might have something very important to disclose. The detective took them to the prison and Durrant was led | from his celT so they could have a good look at him. They shook their heads and said, “That isn’t the man.” It wasonly a Tuse to see the prisoner. Darrant still complains bitterly that Pastor Gibson has not_called to see him. “Is it not strange,” said he, ‘‘that a min- ister of the gospel, who would naturally be expected to be'the first to call and see one in my position, has studiously held himself aloof. I cannot understand his conduct. “The police are bending all their ener- gies to convict me and they are entirely overlooking the fact that Dr. Gibson was the last one in the church last Saturday before the body of Minnie Williams was discovered. ‘I had a good start of the police and if I had been so inclined I could easily have iot away out of the State before they new of the murder. Does my conduct look like that of a guilty man?” Shortly after 8 o’clock last night Durrant was taken to the detectives’ room opposite the Chief’s office by Detectives Gibson and Anthony. The Chief and all the detec- tives were in the room. Durrant was taken into an inner room by Detectives Seymour and Handley. They made him strip and carefully examined his underwear and clothes for marks of blood, but none could be seen. Then they carefully examined his body for any recent marks or scratches, | but the only one was the abrasion on his chin, which he said he got in the brush at Mount Diablo, but which Drs. Somers and Berry thought was received earlier than that. After Durrant was taken back to the prison the Chief discussed with the de- (tlecnves the different details of the two mur- ers. Durrant had just got back to his cell when his mother, accompanied by a lady friend and_Attorney Thompson, called to see him. They remained with him till 10 o’clock, the hour for all visitors to leave. Both' mother and son appeared brighter than on any previous occasion since his arrest, and their parting was loving and affectionate. Shortly aiter they left Dur- rant retired for the night. A DOCTOR’S THEORY. The Mutilation of Miss Wil- liams’ Body Done After Death. Dr. F. H. Shank of 923 Valencia street, who visited the small bookroom yesterday, is inclined to believe that the blood upon the walls and floor came from post-mortem wounds, and that the murderer mutilated the body after she was dead from suffoca- tlon. “The bleeding would have been much more profuse,” said he, “if the victim had been stabbed and hacked while living, and this small apartment would have been almost saturated, as the several arteries in the head, breast and arms would have spouted a perfect cataract in every direc- tion. “As it is, only one big splash of blood and a number of spatters can be seen on the floor, because the girl being dead and the circulation stopped there would be no more contractibility, or, in other words, the Leart would cease to pump the red arterial blood from the body, and only the plue or black venous blood would drip from the wounds. “‘And, moreover, the splashes on the walls were evidently thrown there and not ejected from the wounds in the body, and for what reason I cannot imagine, unless to leave the imvression that it was the work of a lunatic or footpad, or to make the deed as mysterious as possible. The fact that Durrant was able to appear at Vogel’s party after the murder, presumin that he is guilty, with uogerceptible blood- stains on his clothing, looks as though there was no struggle on the part of his victim, and in consequence the murderer was able to stab and stab and wrench his knife around in the wounds, that bled comparatively little, and get no blood on himself. “It is within the bounds of possibility that the murderer, after gagging the girl with a portion of her underclothing, went to the party at Vogel’s, knowing that he was due and there was no blood on himseif. It is within the bounds of possibility that Miss Williams’ assailant, after choking her into insensibility (as he had successfully handled Blanche Lamont) had left her, as | he thought, dead, either in the library or | little room. He was due at Wogel’s, and must appear there in case an alibi would be nee(}:ad. So he hurried to the dentist’: house, arriving there at 9:45, perspiring and untidy. At 11:55 the party broke up and Durrant, having left Elmer Wolf near Emmanuel Church some time after mid- night, went—where? “Who may say he did not enter the building again, and finding his victim re- viving, tinished his work with the case- knife; or, finding her dead, he attempted to carry her into the bel'fry. Havin, broken the knobs of the door, he procure the chisel from the pastor’s study and at- tempted to break open the door. It re- sisted his efforts and he returned non- lused to his little victim in the room be- low. Then the brutal idea of mutilatin, her body came upon him, and it was foun in that condition. Not knowing when death actually came to the little girl, we may assume that she had not been dead long when he attacked the remains with the dull caseknife. These post-mortem wounds would bleed venous blood, as they undoubtedly did, the streams flowing out sluggishly “as the body lay on the floor of the bookroom. Then, still intent upon his desire to make every feature of the deed more the work of a brute or madman than that of a courteous fentlemau, a member of a reflumble col- lege and an offhicer in the church, he dashed the thick, coagulating blood on the walls where it can be seen in clots. If he could have gotten through the belfry door the little, thin body of his second victim would have reposed nude by the side of her sister in misfortune. But” he had broken the lock, and was caught like a rat in his own trap, so he made what he considerd the best of a bad bargain and hence the hur- ried work of the knife. Possibly the gag was a part of this labor. In view of the fact that he was Yhysically able to choke the little weak afiir to death without an effort, and morally able to use the knife, as we have seen, why take all the trouble of ga&gmg if not for some special after effect? Until Durrant’s bloody clothing is found I must adhere to my theory that he cut and gashed Miss Williams when dead, and probably after the party ‘road from Mrs. Voy’s to Dr. Vogel’s. at Dentist Vogel’s, because if otherwise he would have been drenched with the warm thin blood of his victim, and only a bath and complete change of clothing, even to linen, would have made him presentable at the party.” ANOTHER ANALYSIS. John McNaught Gives His Idea of the Emmanue! Church Tragedies. The publication yesterday of Mrs. Dur- rant’s appeal for a suspension of judgment concerning her son’s guilt or innocence of the hideous crimes laid to his charge, did not fail to have its effect on the public mind. Calm, and almost dispassionate in nature, it wasa plain address to the justice of the community, and asked for nothing save that reesonable and impartial weigh- ing of evidence which is necessary in order that justice may be done. It is indeed time to review the case with the most considerate care. Notwithstand- ing the amount and the variety of circum- stantial evidence which has been piled up to prove Theodore Durrant the murderer of Marion Williams and Blanche Lamont, there has been nothing made public so far to justify that conclusion. On the contrary, there is much in the evidence to prove his inrocence and make it certain the police are on the wrong track. The awful horror of the tragedy has suf- ficed to excite the public mind to such a degree that everything connected with it is seen through the medium of inflamed emotions. As a consequence rumors, theories, suppositions and extraneous mat- ters of all sorts have been magnified and mixed up with the known facts of the case, until the facts have been lost or distorted in the confusion and public opinion has grown out of the mediey of exaggerations and_ perversions rather than out of the truth that has been confounded with them. The facts that are known are these. Marion Williams left the residence of Mrs. Voy at 1707 Howard street ostensibly to go to the residence of Dr. Vogel at 2 How- ard street at about 7:30 on Friday evening, and next morning her body, outraged and mutilated, was found in the library of Em- manuel Baptist Church on Bartlett street. All the conditions of the body, the clothing and the room, give evidence that she went into the building alive and that the mur- der took place where the body was found. A search of the building on the succeedin, day discovered in the beliry the body o Blanche Lamont, which also showed un- mistakable evidence of outrage and murder. On this simple statement of facts the first inquiry is, How Miss Williams came to visit Emmanuel Church that evening? It was more than two blocks out of the She did not go out of her way and walk that distance for nothing. Some purpose she evidently had, and as no other purpose is at all intelligible, we are forced to tt]e con- clusion that she went to meet some one with whom she had an engagement. A man answering the fiescripfion of Durrant was seen near the church talking to a woman answering the description of Miss Williams aboat 8 o’clock, and the two were seen to enter a gateway leading to the rear of the church. Who was that man? It is proverbially difficult to prove a neinti\'e. and the logicians say it is im- possible. Nevertheless there is abundant evidence to prove the negative in this case and make it morally certain the man Minnie Williams went to meet was not Theodore Durrant. ‘We have sworn testimony to these three oints: First, Miss Williams not only dis- iked Durrant, but she hated him and feared him; second, she had on the day previous positively refused to meet him and had told her friends of the refusal; third, Durrant so far from baving any en- gagement to meet Miss Williams that evening, was seen hanging around the ferry depot for upward of two hours that afternoon looking for a chance to meet her asshe came over on the boat from Alameda. How then can it be assumed that she went over to the church to meet Durrant? Such an assumption would require us to believe that Miss Williams deceived her friends when she said she disliked Durant, and that she spoke falsely when she had re- fused to meet him that evening. Further- more we would have to assume that Durrant having an engagement with a girl at a par- ticular place would spend the greater por- tion of the afternoon looking for her some- where else. Such assumptions cannot bg entertained. Miss Williams is reported by all her friends to have been a straightfor- ward, honest girl. Nobody doubted her word when she was alive, and there is no reason to doubt it now. ‘Who then was the man she went to meet in front of Emanuel church? Here we are thrown into the dark region of conjecture, but there are two bits of testimony in the case that ive some light to illumine it. me of her most inti- mate friends testifies that Marion had a secret. There was a man whose name she would never tell, but whom she described as about 40 years of age, with whom she had some sort of relation that troubled her. That there was nothing evilin the relation is assured by every known fact of her pure young life; but it was a relation sufgciemlv perplexing to cause her uneasiness. This man’s name she never told to any one. The import- ance of this becomes clear when we recall that the trip to the church was a secret. She told her friends she was gloing to Dr. Vogel’s; but she went two blocks in an- other direction, The secret man and the secret meeting are two straws that float together in the same wind, and that wind does not blow in the direction of Theodore Durrant. Consider next the known circumstances of the murder. The crimes were of an ab- normal character. There are just two classes of criminals who outrage women and murder them. One of these is the low, brutish criminal whose Ilust and ferocity are tempered by an intellect hard- ly sufficient to lift him above the level of a gorilla. The second is the man of in- tellect whose intelligence is distorted by a species of sexual madness growing out of some perverse diabolism of nature. All criminal history attests that only these two classes of men, the brute and the fiend, commit crimes of this kind. Abundant evidence in the case makes it certain the crime was not committed by a brute. It is then the other class of criminal we must look for. The abnormal man is not known to_his fellows, but the normal man is. Theodore Continued on Eighth Page. HAIL TO THE CHIEF! Though it’s only a cigar it de- served the enthusiastic recep- tion it got. Even though a man has lots of money in the bank he is glad to buy at 10 cents what has cost him perhaps double before. “ROBERT MANTELL” is hailed as the chief of Havana— for its fine quality and low price. SEETHATIASY,