The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 2, 1895, Page 4

ff 4 S THE FRANCISCO CALL, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 189 e S DURRANT AGAIN ACCUSED. | man walking with the girl supposed to be | i New Witnesses Convince a | Coroner’s Jury He Killed | Miss Lamont. | | | | | LOOKING FOR A LOST KEY. Miss Williams, Carried Many Bun- | dles to Mrs. Voy’s—Her | Bouquet Found. nge, now that the case for 1st Durrant on: the charge of murders Miss Minnie Wi ms is closed and the testimony for the prosecu- tion is all in that solittle account has been | y taken of the flowers which the | 1 on the nightof her deatn. | Morgan testified that Miss Wil- It appears the people Mrs. liams carried from Alameda flowers with which to decorate the chur: She had them when she reached Mrs.V lady upon th nd ex that she carried them w 3 arted for the party at Dr. Vogel's hLouse. | he theory has been that she went to the | church three blocks out of her way to leave | toe oms ther | In the pile of withered greenery back of | the church, where Janitor Sademan threw | T decorations he removed from | t Monday, is a huge bouquet, | which is posed to have been Minnie | Williams’ offering to the altar. It is a most tasteful arrangement of white flowers resembling the heliotrope. Fine grasses | and stalks of wheat spring from the center, | and a circle of vellow eschscholtzias forms | a border for the whole. The bouquet, from | top to bottom, measures about 1‘n‘u~en| | inches. The flower stems are tied together with nd it is the only bouquet in the wh of which the stems are tied | togethe If Minnie Williams carried flowers to‘ hurch they should have been noticed | ¥ those who saw her and particularly so | the flowers were white. But though Mrs. | & s d that she carried flowers, none | ho claim to haye seen her with | 0 id the | cers from Alameda, | any of the other | ve seen Durrant | dv at the ferry re- | Miss Wil- ; et. the flowers M her a large clothing and to with 1l of 3 pasteboard | ally intended for packing shirts. 1 woman thus burdened could scarcely escape special notice and surely spent no time talking to friends at the ferry or sauntering about town with dis trusted acquaintances. Itis 1 Le key to the solution e th on, “Who killed Minnie Wil- | » the side entrance ot thentic keys, plain, cast- re in the possession of | 1sers are known and are cion of implication in the (hat is, all the authentic owners 1 keys, but—there are others. introduced into the case | y who is a prominent ct was he had been handed a She brass keyato t by a companion to open that doc one occasion. Her companion did not Ty thi habitu- ally, but had borrowed it. s key, she then understood, was the key in common | use by the young people of the church. It was an u :d key—a product of ace where they de- 10t in use, and to | e of it access to asy kmanship and opened the | hurch, a uld admit man or a murderer. The it 1 a search for it is uted. posited tnis k those who had the church wa This key, ¢ being dil P Much weight has been given to- a state- D 1t and Minnie Williams ited the rooms of the State Board of pril 12, regis- | y the custodian, register for that | in been d date had si stroyed. This Custodian Jc n now declares to | have been the result of a jest. The page | was_de i himself, having Feen | rendered w by a mischievous vis- | itor. Later a number of his friendsen- | tered and the subject of the murder was | brought up in conversation. | “Why,”” said Johnson, ‘‘they may have | been in here. A young man and a young | woman were in here last Friday, and 1{ think they re Durrant and Minnie | W Suppose we look at the register | or that date?” | This was done and the page found mis z s ists were at , had regis- d killed his companion | retting that he had written, Lad abstracted the page. theory was perfect. It was pub- ished and is now a portion of the history of the celebrated case. It was but a jest in its original aspect, but now many of Cus- | todian Johnson’s friends look upon him as the American Sherlock Holm As a matter of fact, Minn when she arrived in S 3 afternoon of Good Williams, | n Francisco the day, laden with %a of clothing, an 1 the flowers for too much in- | equally large | the church decoratio; cumbered to stroll ai about with or without a companion. It is worthy of note that not one of those who saw her at the ferries or elsewhere in Durrant’s com- Eany noticed these packages, though she | ore them there and had them with her | when she arrived Mrs. Voy's house. DURRANT ACCUSED. Strong Evidence Against Him at the Blanche Lamont | Inquest. Durrant isa changed man. Close con- finement has shaken his nerve, and the air of cool indifference which he at first assumed has vanished. The Morgue seems to contain some mystical terror for him. He shudders” when he approaches it, and is ill at ease during the time he is within | its somber walls. When the inquest was being held on the remains of Minnie Wil- | liams, he had to be pushed into the room | in which sat the jury, and throughout the taking of the testimony which culminated in his being charged with the murder, he eat with a downcast countenance, and started at each movement as though afraid of an attempt upon his life. In the City Prison and in thc Police Court it was different. There his courage returned and the man accused of two of the most terrible murders in the history of | the State, was again his incomprehensible | self. When the hour arrived at which he was to be taken to the Morgue again, that he might be present at the inquest on the remains of Blanche Lamont, his nervous- ness returned, and when witness after wit- ness traced him from’ the Normal School to the doors almost of Emmanuel Church, he nearly broke down.; The testimony was not very full, but the men and women who were called did not hesitate an instant in ointing out Durrant as the man who met lanche Lamont opposite the school, boarded a car with her, rode down Powell to Market, transferred to the Valen- cia-street line, and then walked | | | | third strects | swered him no. He then told me that he | had ridden part of the way out to school | | the 3d from Twenty-first along Bartlett toward Emmanuel Baptist Church., Within 2 hundred yards of the sacred edifice they | were passed by Attorney Martin Quinlan, who positively identified Durrant as the | Blanche Lamont. Forty minutes later George King, organist of the church, testi- fied that the prisoner came down from the upper part of the church in a state of great excitement, and that he, at Durrant's re- quest, ran to the drug store on Valencia z(_reet and got a bottle of bromo seltzer for im. The jury retired about noon to consider its verdict, and it was after 2 o’clock before | they finally arrived at a decision. They | found as follows: That Blanche Lamont, age 21 years, pativity, Illinois; occupation, student; single; resi- dence, 209 Tw first street, City and County of San Francisco; found dead April 14, 1893, in belfry of Emmenuel Baptist Church, Bart lett sireet, between Twenty-sccond and Twenty- ity and County of San Francisco; | came to her death from asphyxiation due to | strangulation, end we further find that the crime of murder has been cotamitted by Theo- | dore Durrant. H. M. Fortescue (foreman), H. Mohr, J. H. Newbauer, C. A. Smith, V. J. Fell, 8. C. Newbern, Joseph Sullivan, Charles Dillon, Martin Erlenbach, Louis Hartter, A. Birdsey. | W. J. HAWKINS, M.D., Coroner. Mrs. C. J. Noble, aunt of the deceased, was the first witness called. After stating that she knew Theodore Durrant the wit- ness said: “On Wednesday evening, the day Blanche disappeared, Theo Durrant spoke to me at the prayer meeting. He asked me if Blanche was coming ana I an- with her in the morning and bhad | promised her the loan of Thackeray’s ‘The | ewcome: He said he had been unable | o get the book, but would bring it to the | house. He brought it the following Fri- and gave it to Blanche’s sister.” “Were Blanche Lamont and Durrant | friendly ?” | *“Yes, sir; very friendly. On one occasion | school to go_home 1in the company of a | his hair disheveled and very pal GEO R KING he and sister called and asked permis- sion to take Blanche to a concert in the Methodist Church. I allowed her to go. Another time he called alone and took her for a ride to the park. They met frequent- ly and Durrant was very attentive to my niece. The clothing found in the rafters of Emmannel Baptist Church was shown the witness and the gown and hat were iden- tified as those worn by Blanche Lamont the day she disappeared. Charles G. Noble, husband of the pre- vious witness, could not tell positively when he last saw Blanche alive. He thought it was Weduesday morning, the 3d of April. In answer to questions he said he knew very little about the prisoner, and had very few conversatiodfs with him. On one oceasion the prisoner called on him and volunteered to search the various houses of ill-fame for her. The offer was not accepted and he went away after ex- pressing his sorrow over the mysterious disappearance. Noble was recalled and identified the rings sent to her wrapped in a piece of the aminer. One of them, she said, be- | longed to Blanche’s sister, Maud. She also identified the piece of paper, but could not tell whose handwriting was on it. “Did Durrant ever propose marriage to your niece?” “Yes, sir. I think it wasa few weeks before last Christmas. Blanche didn’t think he really meant it and only laughed. He wanted her to take his diamond ring and w it, but she refused as she was afraid of losing it. He kept pressing her, and she, thinking he was only fooling, thought she would help him along. So when he asked her again to marry him she said, ‘H’m, h'm.’ Blanche stopped go- | ing with Durrant because she heard he was engaged to another young woman.”’ John E. West, a conductor on the Powell-street cars, was the next witness. Asked if he could identify a certain man who boarded his car on the afternoon of of Aprii last, he said he could identify one of his passengers anywhere, and was asked to see if the man in ques- tion was in the room. West closely seruti- | nized every person present, and finally his eyes resting on Durrant he said, pointing to him: “That is the man. Yes, I am positive that is the man sitting over there by the window. i know his name is Dur- rant from what I have read in the papers.” “Tell us all you know about the matter, | Mr. West.” “My car_left North Beach about 2:30 | ®. M. At Clay street that man over there and a girl whom now suppese to have been Blanche Lamont boarded the car. At Sacramento street two more | girls boarded the car and they eyed the | \oun[z man and his companion very closely. My curiosity was roused so when I went to collect the fares 1 took a good look at the man. At Pine street we stopped for a passenger to get on and as I stepped forward I overbeard the woman, whom I suppose was Blanche Lamont, say, ‘We have friends in Butte, Montana. One of them is in business and 1 have an uncle or something in the stock business. West is from Butte, and he looked closely | at the couple again, thinking he might recognize a former acquaintance. Continuing, the witness said: “I then walked to the rear of the car and did not pay any attention to them until I was giving out the transfers to the Market- street line. The girl took the transfers in lace of Durrant. They left the car at the Market-street terminus, but I did not pay particular attention to the direction in which they went. Miss Minnie Edwards,a g Normal School, also positively identified Durrant as the man who met Blanche La- mont about 3 p. ». when they left school and boarded a Powell-street car with her. She noticed the fact particularly because it was against the rules to either go to or leave the school in compahy with a gen- tleman. “I knew Blanche Lamont,” said the witness. ‘‘She came to our school about 12:30 o'clock and a quarter of an hour later 1 was introduced to her. We got out of school early that afternoon. I think about 3 p. M. I saw a man approach Miss Lamont and lift his hat to her.” After- ward they got on_the car together. The upil at the man who fiot on the car with Miss Lamont isflgha one I identified in Chief Crowley’s office.” “Do you see him present ?”’ Yes, sir; he is sitting over there by the window.”” ““Where did you see them first?”” “At the corner of Clay and Powell streets. It was either 2:55 o’clock or 3:05. They got on the dummy and I got inside the car. They rode to Market street. Miss Lamont had only been two afternoons to the school—once on Tuesday, April 2, and again on Wednesday, April3.” The witness identified the hat and dress, shown to her by Coroner Hawkins, as those worn by Miss Lamont on‘that fatal afternoon. Shecould not identify the con- ductor of the car, however. The last time Miss May Lanigan saw Blanche Lamont alive was about 3:10 o’clock on the 3d of April last: The de- “Yes. sir. He is sitting over there by the window. I was standing on the corner of California and Powell and I saw them sitting on the dummy of the car that was going toward Market. Miss Pleasant was with- me and we both took particular notice because it is against the rules of the Miss Pleasant said to me: “There goes the new girl. She’d better k:e careful or she will %;et into trouble. She’s beginning early to break the rules of the school.” The car disappeared down the hill and_that was the last time I saw Elanche Lamont alive.” | Miss Alice E. Pleasant of 323 Twelith street corroborated Miss Lanigan’s testi- mony. She identified Durrant and said the last time she saw Blanche Lamont was in his company on a Powell-street car at 10 | minutes past 3 o’clock. They were look- | Pug at an open book which Durrant held. | The witness could not recognize the books | nor hat of Miss Lamont, but she did iden- | tify the dress shown to her by Deputy Cor- oner McCormick. i < The testimony here took a jump, and in- stead of tracing the couple to their desti- nation the Coroner called the organist of the church to describe the prisoner’s sud- den appearance in the Sunday-school on that fateful afternoon. i He said his name was George R.Kingand | that he lived at 521 Cs]\{; street. After stating | that he knew Theodore Durrant, his testimony | was as follow Q. Where were yon on the eafternoon of Wednesday, April 23? A.—At what time do | youmean? Q.—Between the hoursof 4 and 6 P. M. A— At about half-past four on that dayI visited an ©0ld music teacher of mine, to get some music, and et about 5 I went into the church. Q.—The Emanuel Baptist Church? A.—Yes, sir. Q.—For what purpose did you gointo the church? A.—To practice on tle piano. Q.—Did anything unusual happen while you | were there? A.—While I was playing Durrant enfered the room f{rom the back door in the lower Sunday-school room, with his coat off, I asked him what was the matter, and he said he had been fixing the gas above the auditorium and had been overcome by the gas. Q.—What was the appearance of his clothing? 1did not notice anything s NQ Was his necktie torn or disordered? A.— 0, sir. Q.—Did he make any other statement? A.— Not that I remember; he asked me to get him some bromo-seltzer. Q.—Did you leave immediately for that pur- pose? A.—Idid. Q—How long were you gone? A.—Three minutes. entleman. ceased was then on a Powell-street with Theo Durrant. N bl “Do you see Durrant here now ?" LA Miss EDWARDS Q.—Where did you go forit? A.—At the cor- ner of Valencia and Twenty-second streets. —You say you were only gone three min- utes? A.—Yes, sir. Q.—You must have gone pretty quickly. A.—I thought I had better run. Q.—What caused you to run so? A.—Well, | he looked very faint. Q.—Did he say anything else, in asking you 1o get the bromo-seltzer? A.—Not that I re- member. He handed me a four-bit piece. Q.—Nothing else transpired? A.—I think he took the bromo-seltzer, rested a few minutes and helped me to carry down a small organ. Q.—How long did he rest? A.—I cannot say; perhaps ten or fifteen minutes. id anything else happen while he was Yo, mothing special. We just there? A.— talked a little bit. Q.—Did he make any statement when he asked you to get the bromo-seltzer? A.—He gaid he felt faint from the effects of the gas. Q—Do you know the effect of bromo-seltzer? A.—I do not. Q.—Did you ever use it. Q.—Now, Mr. King, in taking down the organ down which steps did you go? A.—Down the back stairs. Did you carry it down without any rests? No; we rested several times. Q—Why? Were you weak or was Durrant? -Durrant was weak. Q.—Do you recollect the number of times you rested—two, three, four, five or six times? A.— Ido not know. About three or four, I guess. Q.—Now, Mr. King, where did you say the drugstore was situated? A.—On Valencia, just one door from Twenty-second, on the west side of the street. Q-—Do you know the name of the store? A.—Tbelieve it is Keene’s drugstore. Q.—Are you positive you were not gone more than three minutes? A.—No, I am not posi- tive. It was about three minutes, Q.—Do you think you could go in three min. utes? A.—I think so. Q.—How far is the drugstore from the church? A.—About one block. Q.—Now, Mr. King, describe the door or the osition of the door where you first saw MP, urrant enter. These gentlemen are all familiar with the church. A.—It was a large folding-door in the rear of the lecture-room. Downstairs there was a large room divided into two by folding-doors. 1 suivpoue one was the children’s room? es, sir. You say the doors were open a little bit and he came through? A.—Yes, sir. Q.—And he stated that he had been in the room over the ceiling? A.—Yes, sir. Q.—Are you familiar with the working of the gas apparatus in the church? A.—Yes, sir. Q.—Now, Mr. King, if it was out of order, was it your place to know of it?. A.—No, sir; it was not. Q.—Who is the person who supervises the gas arrangement? A.—I do notknow. Q.—Do you know anything else of this case at all? A.—No sir. Q—Did you know Blanche Lamont? A.—I did. Q.—Did you ever see her in the company of Durrant? ~ A.—Idid. Q.—When was the last time you saw them in conversation? A.—About three months ago, Q.—Was it in church? A.—1 believe so. Q.—What portion of the church were they in when you saw them conversing? A.—I do not know. Q.—Did you ever see Mr. Durrant on the steps lhendlng to the belfry? A.—I doun’t believe I ave. ?.—Were you ever in the belfry yourseli? A. —1 was. N Q—Have you a key to the church? A.—I ave. Q.—How long have you had it? A.—Two enrs. % Q.—Who gave you the key? A.—My father. Q.—Do you know whether Mr. Durrant hada key or not? A.—Yes, sir. Q.—Do you know who gave him the key? A.— Ido not. Q.—Do you know of anybody else who hasa key to the church? A.—The janitor and the president of the Ladies’ Aid Soclety. Q~—Who is the president of the Ladies’ Aid Society? A.—Mrs. Moore, I believe. Q.—Who else has a key? A.—Icannot think of any others, .—Did you ever visit the church at any time when_itwas empty and when Durrant was A.—No. there? A.—Yes. . AQ.—\th was he doing on these occasions? ‘Q.—When was the last time? A.—Abouta ‘week before Blanche Lamont’s dmspunnmi the library? ‘A.—I don’t think they ever did. Q—Did” you ever meet Mr. Durrant “.12 mont? A.—Yes, sir. Q.—When was that? A.—On the Sunday Q.—What time on Sunday? A.—About half- past 12. Q—Whereabouts in the church wasit? A.— In the Sunday-school room. room. Q.—Who was with him at the time? A.—Ido not know. disappearance? A.—In the BSunday-school Toom, Q.—The same room? A.—Yes, ‘the service. v Q.—Did you ever see Durrant in the company not going on? A.—Yes, several young ladies. wah!“ was the lest time you saw him? xing the library books. Q.—Did any ladies ever come_and assist in thme since the disappearance of Bl after and the Wednesday after. Q.—Many people in the church? ‘A.—Yes, Q-~—Front room or the back? A.—Front Q—Where was he the Widnesday after the St e M doing? - A—Listentng to of any lady of the church while services were cannot state definitely, but I bmnlw it | said he would do all in was on the Sunday after Blanche Lamont's dis- appearance. A{.—How many ladies was he with? A.—I cannot state. Q~—Do you know the names of any of them? Ai{I dAo not. iy 4 1t —Are you positive? A.—Yes,Iam ve. Q.—Where were they standing? A2 think ghgy were in the vestibule, but Iam not cer- ain, Q—Were they there for a lon riod of time? A.—ldo not think so. o Q.—Did you ever see him when the services were not going on with any ladies that you knew ? A.—Yes, sir; with Miss Turner. Q.—How long before Blanche Lamont’s dis- appearance? A.—Two weeks. Q.—Who else did you see him talk with? A.— I cannot remember the names. Q.—How long have you belonged to the ch&xrclllll A—Three or :’gur JEIEE L .—Have you any official capacity in the church? A.—Organist. Ly Q.—Do you know the members of the congre- gation fairly well? A.—A good many of them. Q.—And you do not know these people with whom he was talking, you cannot recall their names? A.—No, sir. d&.—lhd you know Minnie Willlams? A.—T Q.—Did you ever see her in Durrant’s com- pauy in the church? A.—I do not remember. Q.—Have you ever had any conversation with Durrant in regard to Minnie Williams or Blanche Lamont? A.—Yes. Q—What was the nature of the remarks? s.—oh, Just passing remarks. I cannot remem- er. Q—Don't you know the nature of the re- marks? 1donot mean the exact words? A.— Idonot know. Ibeliecve something as to the kind of a girl she was. Q.—He gave you his opinion? A.—Yes, Q.—What did he tell you about Blanche La- mont? A.—He had a very good opinion of her. Q.—Did he ever say anything about Blanche Lamont’s disappearance? A.—Yes, he said how sad it was. Q.—Did he volunteer to searchfor the body of Blanche Lamont? A.—No. Q. Did he say he was going to or had? A.—He § is power. Q—Did he make anysuggestions as to theline to be pursued? A.—No. Q.—Do you know whether Mr. Durrant had been very intimate with Miss Williams? A.—I v.l(.:1 not. id you hearsome talk of hisabout it? A—From his talk I judged he did not care for Q.—Did you ever see them together? A.—He escorted hier home from church several times. Q as heintimate with Miss Turner or not? airly intimate. . Q.—Fairly intimate with Miss Lamont? A.—I do not know. Q.—Was he intimate with any other member of the congregation? A.—Nearly all the other ladies, Miss Upton was one, Q.—1Is Miss Upton a member of the congrega- tion? A.—When she is in the city. Q.—How do you know? A.—Bécause he has escorted her home. [ ow, Mr. King, tell us some of the others with whom he was intimate. A.—Oh, I conld mention all the young ladies of the congrega- tion, for that matter. .__Give us the names, then, of all the young | ladies you know or believe he was intimate with. A.—I do not believe I can state with any clerlmm.y that he was intimate with any of them. Q.—Do you know the names of any ladles he was in conversation with or escorted from any social or other affair? A.—I did not hear of Q.—Did you hear rumors? A.—No. Q—You have belonged to that church for three or four years and yet cannot give us the names of any ladies you think he had been in- timate with? A.—No, sir. o 5 Q.—You said that Miss Upton was a member | of ‘the congregation when in town? A.—Yes, sir. ‘Where does she reside when in town? t Mrs. Davis’, 130 Ridley street. Q.—Now, Mr. King, when she is out of town where does she reside? A.—I do not know; I am under the impression that it is somewhere in the southern part of the State. Q.—Does she live in Madera County? A.—I do not know. Q.—Do you know of any circumstance which can throw any light on the murder or disap- pienralwe of Miss Blanche Lamont? A.—No, sir. Q.—Did Mr. Durrant ever say he hed madea proposal of matrimony to Miss Lamont? A.— 0 you know of his ever having done so? Q.—ATe you positive? A.—Yes, sir. Here one of the jurymen interposed with the question—When Durrant came into the room where you were playing did he have his coat off? A.—Yes. The juryman—Could you see the doors trom the position where you sat playing? A.—Yes. By the Coroner—Were his sleeves rolled up? is pants rolled up? A.—No. Q.—How about his coat? A.—His coat was folded up and lay on a box in the library. His hat lay by the side of his coat. Q.—After you got Durrant the bromo-seltzer did you leave him in the church? A.—No; we left together. Q.—When you went for the bromo-seltzer and returned was he where you left him? A.— ‘When I went for the hromo-seltzer I left him in the Sunday-school room. When I came back he was in'the vestibule. A 2“2 man: Q.—When he walked through the ol i:g doors what did he say? A.—He sald he had been fixing the gas above the ceil- infi of the auditorium. y the Coroner: Q—THe told you he de- i'cend?d the ladder and came downstairs? A.— s, sir. Q.—Did he make any other statement? A.— Not that I recollect. Q.—How soon after he came in did he ask Yoo torget him the bromo-seltzer? A.—Almost mmediately. Q.—Was he then standingup? A.—Ithinkso. Q—Did you see anything in his hand, such as a hammier or saw or tool of any kind? A.—No. Q.—His hands were empty? A.—Yes. Q.—He made 1o other remarks about the up- | stairs? A.—Not that I recollect. A juryman asked in regard to the condition of Durrant’s hands when he handed King 50 cents. To this King replied that there was nozhmgéwcunn about them. Q.—Did you smell ias when you entered the church? A.—Yes. was under the impres- sion it came from the library. Q.—Could you smell it in the library too? A.—Yes; but on investigation I found that the gas was turned off there, Q—Have you ever noticed the smell of gas in the church before? A.—Yes; but never so strongly before. Q.—Did you see Mr. Durrant fixing his hair oAr clothes after he came into the lecture-room? —No, sir. Q.—Did you see him put on his coat and hat? A.—His hat. ,p %—Did you leave the church with him or did he stay behind? A.—No; we went together. Q—Did you see Durrant go to the looking- g}afnn 1fi.;\’ea;kin the parlor. S — ¢ make any statement after looking in the glass? A.—Hey said he didn’t look o very pale. Q.—Where did you walk when you left the chureh? A.—Down Twenty-secon an?p. . Q—Did you notice any blood on him' o Q.—When you left him at Twenty-second and Capp what did he do? A.—He turned back to- ward home. y &—Thu is toward the church? A.—Yes. i id you examine the mirror afterward. —No, § Q.—Did you notice anything under the mir- ror? A.—ilot il two L“u! afterward when my attention was called to a little spot on the ;lllel( underneath the mirror that looked like Qe Dr. Vo, Q.—What comment did he make on it? A.— Na:mg particular. e = e say that bl = said he thonghl{twn: 1t ho called your attention to it? A.— gel. Q.—~Had any person been fixing the gas bo- fore you smelt it? A.—Yes, sir, the day before. there that —Had there been anybod morning? A—Ido noxknzw. % Q.—Were you there when the plumbers were fixing the jets? A.—Yes, sir. Did you see them' turning on the gas? es. .—Well, the doors being closed, it was noth- ing unusual or !mg:)ewnlgx&u ga’l. A.—No. Frank A. Sademan, the janitor of Eman- uel Baptist Church, was next called to the stand. The last time he saw Durrant in the loft of the church was in the month of January. They both went up to fix a new battery, as the old one was worn out. He remembered the date because he asked Durrant how long the new battery would last and the answer was six months. Just for curiosity Sademan put the date down in order to see whether the thing would last that long or not. 4 In answer to a question the witness said that he looked out for the gas and fixtures and saw that they were kept in order. He had the jets fixed on January 12 last, and since that time had never asked Durrant to do any work on them. Did Durrant ever fix any electric wires in the beliry? There are no wires in the belfry and Inever saw Durrant there. Did any one, between January 12 and April :t«x, u;: Durrant to fix the gas or electric bat- ery No, sir. 1 remember complimenting Mr. Durrant upon the success of his experiment. The plumbers worked in the church for a day, but they were only tumng in patent burners and not fixing a leak. The witness next told of meeting Durrant at the ferries on April 12. He was looking for his son, who had run away from home, and ran up against the prisoner. The latter said he was following up a slight clew in the Lamont case. David Clark of 2691 Mission street was called, and for a time it appeared that his testimony was practically worthless as he seemed to know nothing about the case. Later, however, it was developed that he met a very important witness on the corner of Twenty-second and Mission streets shortly after 4 p. M. on the day Blanche Lamont was murdered. “I was at the corner of Twenty-second and Mission streets to meet Martin Quinlan,” said the witness. ‘“We were going out to see my brother-in-law at St. Luke’s Hospital. T was there about 4 o’clock and Martin Quinlan came about fifteen or twenty minutes later. I know it was April 3 on which I met him_ because I left Guerne- ville for San Francisco on April 2. After I met my friend we had a couple of drinks, and then we went out to the end of the Valencia-street car line.” Officer Eugene V. Herve described the fiudin%of the dead eirl’s books between the ceiling and roof of the Emmanuel Bap- tist Church. He had to go down head foremost in order to secure the books and Miss Lamont’s hat. Sergeant Reynolds and Detective Silvey had to pull him back up again by the legs. In order to get on the cs-.ilin%l of the auditorium he had to pass | in through the beliry. Martin Quinlan, attorney-at-law, the man who met David Clark at the corner of Twenty-second and Mission, was the next witness. Asked if he knew Theodore Durrant he said he knew him by sight. “Did you see him on April 32’ the Coroner asked. *I did; on the south side of Bartlett, near Twenty-second. A young lady was with him and they were going in the direction of Twenty-third street. It was about 4:15 or 4:20 o’clock in the afternoon. The woman I did not know. She wore a large hat and dark woollen dress I think and seemed to be 18 or 19 years old.” “Did you notice the couple particu- larly?” “Idid. They were coming toward me yery slowly. The road is torn up at the crossing of Twenty-second and Bartlett and I saw them first at that point. They were on the same side as the Emmanuel Baptist Church. The young lddy had a ackage in herhand. I'think it was books. es, I am sure it was a Eacknge of books.” “Would you know the man who was with the young woman?” “¥es, air.'? “Do you see him in this room ?”’ ““Yes, sir; he is sitting over there at the window. I am positive that that is the man.” As the witness made this emphatic state- ment Durrant crouched down on his chair and seemed to be visibly affected. In order to fix the time he met Durrant and the young lady, whom he took to be Miss Lamont, ieyond the shadow of a doubt, Quinlan went over everything he did dur- ing the afternoon in question. He left the corner of Hyde and MecAliister, where he took a drink at twenty minutes to 4 o'clock. He took the Valencia-street cars and rode out to Twenty-second. On his way to meet his friend he bought a cigar reached Twenty-second and Mission about fifteen or twenty minutes past 4. Clark and he had a couple of drinks and left the saloon at exactly 4:30 p. ». J. J. McGreevy of 137 Bartlett street said he knew neither Durrant nor Blanche La- mont. He assisted in the#search of the Emmanuel Baptist Church and found the hat of the dead girl secreted under the stairs and her corsets and skirt on the raf- ters. Louis B. Mayer, route agent of the Cary, denied having been present at the autopsy, and said he had never mads any statement as to Blanche Lamont’s condition. Ernest R. Wilson, a_letter-carrier, who was quoted as saying that Mayer gave him a description of the autopsy, denied hav- ing ever made any such statement. These witnesses were called to ascertain whether anybody save Dr. Barrett and his assistant had been present at the autopsy. Dr. J. S. Barrett, autopsy physician to the Morgue, was the next witness. He gave the cause of death as strangulation, and said the lungs and brain were con- ested. There were the marks of seven gn ernails on the right side of her neck and five on the left side. He said that the stories detrimental to Miss Lamont’s char- acter were totally without foundation, after which he gave a minute description of the body. Officer A. Anthony was called to tell what_he knew about the prisoner. “I met Durrant on April 7 in Dr. Vogel's office and asked him what he knew about Blanche Lamont and when he saw her | last. He said the last time he saw her was on the morning of April3, when he rode out on the cars with her toward the Normal School. They separated, he going to the~Cooper Medical College and she to the school. I then continued my search and discovered the three young ladies who saw Durrant and Miss Lamont together the afternoon of that day. When I was bringing Durrant back from Walnut Creek a reporter got on at Martinez who tried to interview my prisoner, but he would not talk. Finally the reporter said the body of Blanche Lamont had been found in the church. I glanced at Dur- rant and he turned red and said: ‘I’d like to have the man in my room that did it. I'd fixhim.” That was the last I heard the prisoner say about the case.” Detective Edward Gibson told all about the finding of the body of the murdered girl. The first day he was eenrchinfi the church he could not get into the belfre; because it was locked, the knob broken of and the key lost. Some one had been tampering with the door, as there was evi- dence of several attempts to pry it open. The nextday he went back with the janitor and again failed to unlock the door, 50 the, burst it open. The hodf' was on its bac and pieces of wood were placed on each side of the head to keep it from falling to one side The hands were folded across the breast and the legs drawn up. The Coro- ner was notified and the body removed. Detective A. Seymour testified to a state- ment Durrant had made to him. The pris- oner said he had been in the company of Blanche Lamont on the morning of April 3, but not during the afternoon. Deputy Coroner James Hallett described the finding and removal of the body. was carried down the stairs in a table-cloth and then placed in a receiver and taken to the Morgue. Durrant remained until the verdict was brought, but was very nervous and ill at ease throughout the long waiting. HER BODY EXHUMED. The Police Have the Stomach of Minnie Williams Analyzed. Captain Lees, realizing the importance of the omission to have the stomach of the murdered girl, Minnie Williams, analyzed, has determined to have it rectified. Last Thursday he called upon the Coro- ner, but that official told him he was un- able to bear the expense of an analysis, as the Board of Supervisors would nct appro- priate any sum for such purposes. The decided to pay &he cost outof the police ingent fund. COTDS: ggnsent of the murdered girl’s father was obtained and that afternoon the body was exhumed at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Captain Lees, Mr. Williams, Charles L. Morgan (chemist), Detective Gibson}and the undertaker being present. Yesterday Mr. Morgan sent the follow- ing report to Coroner, Hawkins, who im- mediately forwarded it to Captain Lees: 1 hereby submit my report on the caseof innie Williams: Mlxinym;o‘x}; direction and in your presence tge stomach and liver were removed from the body for chemical analysis. The bladder was found to have been perforated and its contents S it was not removed. lo'}ll'lesos! mach was found to contain about ; conte o s lufl ounces of a thick mucilaginons sub e I his was mostly food in a partially di- dition. ge,fi‘(‘ed f‘?lx:«micnl analysis failed to show the resence of any organic or vegetable poison. i vEes W made with the absence of morphine. TWw the_pharmaceutical and_ medical departmen of the University of California, who worked in connection with myself. The result of all three analyses were u]efmifl:ll, not the slightest of morphia being found. "glcien(eralopgisons W e%!‘ found in both stompch and liver, arsenic being the most notable. The presence of these poisons are evidently due to absorption from the embalming fluid use(? Further analysis of the stomach will be made in regard to the %uesnon of food, but so far the analysis shows that the girl’s aeath had occurred not very long after par- taking of food. This tends to strengthen the theory that she was murdered shortly after leaving Mrs. Voy’s house. The test in regard to morfihme was made at the request of Captain Lees, as he thought the murderer might haye drugged the girl before murdering her. A NOVEL EXPOSITION. The Merchants’ Association to Exhibit Paving Materials and Road Machinery. special object in The Merchants’ Association is making preparations for a special exhibit of their own at the next Mechanics’ Institute Fair, which will open in September. They will call it a “paving exposition,” and the in- tention is to make the exhibit an object lesson in street paving and road work, in- teresting not only to those in the City, but to people living in the country. Paving expositions have been held in several of the larger Eastern cities within the past five years and they have met with success. One was held in Minneapolis on April 1 and over thirty exhibitors, from as many Eastern cities, exhibited asphalt, stone, wood, brick and other kinds of street - paving _materials, road - rollers, scrapers and all the machinery used in street and road work. The Merchants’ Association has in- structed its engineer, Ernest McCullough, to arrange for a similar exposition at the coming fair. Mr. McCullough has corre- sponded with a number of gentlemen in d‘:g East and he says the project is favora- bly considered. It will be the first of the kind held west of the Mississippi River and the novelty will make it a success in this City. 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It Purifies the Blood as Nothing Else Can Possibly Do. As a spring remedy, Paine’s celery coms pound stands easily first in the careful judgment of the physicians of thiscountry This remarkable discovery of Prof. Ed- ward E. Phelps, M.D., LL.D., of Dartmout! college, is in fact so certainly first in t}} estimation of thinking men and women in every calling throughout the United States :o-d:}y that there can fairly besaid to be no second. ; For strengthening the sick, restoring the spent energies of those who have become nervously exhausted, for purifying the blood and making people well, Paine’s celery compound has never yet been ap- proached {Jy any sarsaparilla, tonic or nervine. It isas superior to them all as strength is superior to weakness. 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THE LATEST DESIGNS In WOCLENS.-.ROR SPRING 1895, HAVE ARRIVED. H.S. BRIDSE &C0. Market St., up. » stairs, opp. Pal. fio