The San Francisco Examiner from San Francisco, California • 3

3 THE MURDER OF MINNIE ELORA WILLIAMS; WHAT IS KNOWN AND WHAT IS MYSTERY. Summary of the Evidence Produced at the Examination, With the Subsequent Story of Alexander Zenger. THE EXAMINER. SAN FRANCISCO: FRIDAY MDRNITrO-. JANUARY 7, 1808.

-V i fit." N. I 1 day night waiting at the Emmanuel Church. The man had on a long overcoat. In a little while a short woman came and Joined the man, and he watched the two until they entered the church by the side or rear door. Albert O.

McKlroy, a lad of eighteen, was passing Emmanuel Church about 8:30 o'clock that night with a companion. He saw a man who looked like Durrant meet a girl on the sidewalk. Then as be passed through a lot In the rear of the church he noticed a light In the lower back windows. He called the attention of his companion to the light. Now, In all these stories there waa no absolute and definite recognition of Durrant as the man who met the girl and took her into the church no certainty that the girl was Minnie Williams.

But some time after the preliminary examination there came to the fore one Alexander Zenger, a Russian upholsterer employed by Friedman who told a story absolutely fixing upon Durrant and Minnie Williams as the couple who entered the church that fatal Friday night, Zenger's wife was a member of Emmanuel Church, and he had been an attendant there. He had known Theodore Durrant from his youth up for six years before the tragedies which shocked the world. He knew Minnie Williams, too had known hor before her parents separated, and bad seen ber grow Into a pretty, attractive young woman. On that night of Good Friday, April 12, 1S9S, he was passing Emmanuel Church and saw a young man and a girl standing at tho a very severe cross-examination after he had sworn, at the preliminary hearing, that ho frequently had seen Durrant walking with Minnie Wtlliajns In the Enclual city; that he knew the girl and wae certain of the young man because Durrant bad spent a night in the police office at Alameda after missing the last train. In any event, the testimony as to Durrani's visits to Alameda and his waiting at the depot seemed conclusive.

But Minnie Williams reached the home of Mrs. Voy, at 1707 Howard street, before dinner that evening. So far as was shown Durrant did cot accompany her there. She and about 8 o'clock left the house.say-Ing she was going to the Christian Endeavor Society meeting at Dr. Vogel's at 2602 Howard street, at the corner of Twenty-second.

She never reached that house. Before noon the next day her dead body was found In a closet off the library in the Emmanuel Church on Bartlett street, between Twenty-second and Twenty-third. The question then arises who was she with that evening after she left Mrs. Voy's? The testimony offered here became largely circumstantial. It was not definitely shown with whom she entered the church, but there waa much to indicate that she met Theodore Durrant near the edifice and that he and she were the couple seen to enter there.

At about o'clock that night Mary Ann McKay, a laundress, making her slow, tired way homeward after a hard day's work, saw a roan and a girl on the sidewalk by Emmanuel Church. They seemed to be quar she waa going across the bay to tee some friends that afternoon. He then berated the detective who was working on the case, accused him of demanding money for his services, and expressed an unfavorable opinion of the way he bad conducted the search for the missing girl. Now at this time Blanche Lamont lay stark and dead in that belfry tower, and the law haa since declared that Theodore Durrant caused her death and placed her body there. However, he told Sademau that he bad another mission at the ferry besides looking for Blanche Lamont, but he did not go Into particulars as to what that rtlsslou waa.

Of course, It it the theory of the officials that he was there not to see Blanche Lamont, not to meet his companion! of the Signal Corps, but to catch Minnie Williams as she came off the boat, all eager to enter her new home, all dressed and curled for the little social function of the Christian Endeavor meeting. He was still at the ferry at 5 o'clock. Adolph A. Hobe of Oakland saw him then. This time he was talking with a short, slight young lady who wore a cape.

Hobe knew Durrant, but he did not know Minnie William. But Miss Williams waa small of stature and wore a cape that day. Now, whether Durrant would have admitted all the case up to thia point, with the exception of the Improper proposal at Fruitvale no man can say. It will be remembered that he told a story of having been touched on the shoulder by an unknown man and told to go to the ferry that afternoon to look for Blanche Lamont. His at- '4 LAMONT.

llWHiyi'im p.ail, 11 .1 ,1 ,1 J. k- 1 11 i. a. ii 1 rj ii f.r. tj 1 jT 1 lit- MINNIE had walked some distance he turned and saw the pair enter the church by the rear door.

Now Zenger had heard stories floating about the neighborhood that there were strange goings-on among young people at Emmanuel Church. So he stopped and waited to ascertain how long Durrant and Miss Williams would remain in the church. He heard1 no noise, so far as bis story is known, but after a time that rear door opened. Theodore Durrant came out alone. Zenger made the mental comment that there were others In the church; that Minnie Williams had remained with them, and that there could be nothing scandalous In the association of Durrant and the girl where other young people were present.

So he went his way. After the finding of Mlnnlo Williams' body he was loth to testify, as he had been friendly to Durrant. The police, however, found him later. Zenger's story is the one definite bit of evidence of that dread night's proceedings bef oro 0 o'clock. The upholsterer was not subjected to the trials of a cross-examina tion, and never told his story under oath In his private talks, however, he was ah' solute in his identification and straightfor ward In bis statements.

Durrant did not appear at the business meeting of tho Christian Endeavor Society at Dr. Vogel's, though he was secretary of the society. At about 9 o'clock Magglo and Cella Fltzpatrlck and Emma and Louisa Struven were standing on Mission street when a young man In a long overcoat and dark soft hat passed. The young man seemed to wish to flirt or enter Into con versation with them. "Come here, Flora!" satd he.

"What?" asked one of the girls. "Come here, Flora!" he repeated, and they ran away. The young man wont on down Mission street toward Twenty-first. This may or may not have been Durrant. mere was no identification.

If a man could come fresh from a murder and try to flirt with a bevy of girls he has mental at tributes for the study of the psychologist. Though Durrant was not at the Christian Endeavor meeting during the business part of the session, when it was over be did put In an appearance at about 9:30 o'clock. His hair was somewhat mussed, persplra tion was on his forehead, his hands were enough soiled so that he aBked Dr. Vogel for permission to wash them. Otherwise be waa at bis ease.

Ho washed his hands, combed his hair and went down stairs to Join tho happy company In games and social chatter. He read a lotter from hia aister gate leading to the rear entrance. As he passed the light from a street lamp fell on the faces of the two, and he recognized them Minnie Williams and Theodore Durrant. They were so engaged In earnest conver-sat'on that they did not nt Ice him. After be BLANGHE The death of William Henry Theodore Durfant will account to the law for the mur der of Blanche Lamont.

But when all Is done when the black cap has been ad' Justed and the noose fixed, and the trap sprung, and William Henry Theodore Dur-rant has gone to meet his God, there will be many left to wonder what his soul will nay about the taking of the life of Minnie That girl was murdered long after Blanche Lamont. The town was all awry r.vcr the disappearance of the latter while Minnie Williams still walked the streets of Alameda. Blanche Lamont's body, stripped and discolored, lay lu the dread belfry of Emtranucl Baptist Church while Mlnn(o Wllllaais, virtuous, happy and uu suspecting, came to San Francisco on the afternoon of Coed Friday," April 12, 185, Yet Is wns the discovery of the murdered corpse of Minnie Williams that led to the of Blanche Lcinont Tht two were In the same church. The natural 13 that the tamo man did fceth deeds. But thoso who delight In picking testimony to pieces who insist that Durrar.t v.

as net proven guilty of any crime will go on for years declaring that the murderer of Minnie Williams never has Lccn 'ou'Jd. Ccrtiinly one man did both deeds he was a monster of an exceptional nervous organization. Knowing that the putrefying body of one victim was lying in the belfrj ojiovo him, he enticed into the church tho second girl, to dishonor her and thea to take her life. That any man could have had the nervous poise to make love 10 a girl under such circumstances is what cumulates the mystery and gives the cynics cause for doubt. Then, too, within an hour of the time Minnie Williams is supposed to have been killed Theodore Durrant appeared at the gathering of tho Christian Endeavor Society of which both himself and the murdered girl were members.

He was blithe and gay. Joined In the games, chatted with his friends, reed a letter from his sister In Germacy to the assembled company, and no one knew that anything unusual had come into his life. But all the evidence adduced at the Inquest and the preliminary examination went to show that he was with tho girl just before she was killed and that he decoyed her to her doom. Certainly tho rase presents a study for those who seek the causes that lead to crime and the elements of behavior which make for the Ucrc-ctlon of guilt. Minnie Elora Williams, sometimes called Marian" Williams, was the eldest child of Mr.

and Mrs. Albert E. Williams. Her father and mother had lived unhappily together and then separated. The good people of the Emmanuel Baptist Church took up a subscription and sent Mrs.

Williams and her younger children back to her former heme in Eeanville, Canaca. Now the etory Is tcld thpt her daughter's tragic death has crazed the' trouble-haunted incther, and that she is, moaning out her life in an asylum. The father Is still in California, interested more or less In mining ventures. When Mrs. Williams was sent away Mln-iic remained behind, preferring to rank htr own living in California to being a charge upon relatives in Canada.

She was twtr.tr -or. years of age a short, slight WILLIAMS. and left the house In company with several young people when tho party broke up. There was nothing In hla demeanor to sug- Vest guilt or the fear of hand upon tha shoulder. When he left Dr.

Vogel's house he JolnedL the doctor, Elmer Wolfe, Miss Kate Stevens. Miss Dot tie Fales and Minnie Lord. Th. party gradually separated, Durrant parting from Wolfe and Miss Lord al Twenty-fourUt' and Capp streets. After Wolfe had seen the 1 young lady home and waa hurrying to catch a car he saw a man who looked like Durrant' standing In the dark near the corner of Bartlett and Twenty-fourth streets at no great distance from Emmanuel Church.

Yet; Durrant had said he would have to rise early the next day to go with the stgnali' corps to Mount Diablo. On Saturday morning the Rev. Johtti George Gibson, pastor of Emmanuel Church went to his study In the church He had attended the Christian Endeavor Society meeting the night before and bad; seen Theodore Durrant there. He kneis Minnie Williams and Blanche Lamont girls In his congregation. As he sat in his study James Sademan, son of the Janitor, came to him and said tha lock on the church library door was broken He went to the library, looked In, saw every-j thing In order, and supposed that Durrant) or Organist George R.

King, who togethe had put tbe lock' on the door and had cata-i logued tbe library books, had forced thaj door. He went back to his study, bnt piano-tuner came and made such a racked that tbe pastor sought his home. Then came to the church Mrs. Nolte, Mlsaj Catherine B. Stevens, Miss Llla Berry audi Miss Miriam Lord.

They bore flowers wlt! which to decorate the place for the Easter services of the following day. They went to the library. Some one spoke of the lack1 of books. Another suggested that the bookj were In the little closet under the stairs. They opened that closet door.

There on' the floor lay the backed bodw of Minnie Williams. v. The frightened women fled the plae.j Mrs. Nolte sought out Pastor Gibson. Her was loth to go to look at the body and sum moned Dr.

King, father of the church organist. After they had seen the remini they sent for Dr. Vogel to Identify them tr his dentistry work, and the alarm wat spread. The Coroner's deputies and the police men found that part of the tfrl'u under clothing had been torn off and the cloths crowded far down Into her throat with stick which was found under the body Both wrists had been slashed with a knife, there was a cut on the forehead, and three. stabs at tbe heart.

A table knife broke a in five pieces, waa found 09 the body, the handle on the girl's breast, the pieces of the blade In the wounds. There were several similar knives In the church kitchen. Tbcr was much blood, but hairpins on the Coop and tbe Indecently disarranged eiotniny were tbe only evidences of a struggle. Thai autopsy showed that the girl had been car nally assaulted, and that some of the knife) wounds were Inflicted after death, sn had been a pure girt before that time. Edna Lucille Turner, a niece of Mrs, Vogel, testified at the examination tnag Durrant out asked, as a medical student, to make ahy steal examination of herself.

and that he had then suggested the Emmanuel Church as a proper place formakln the examination. She declined his offer. The day after the discovery of Minnieji Williams' body Sergeant Burke went to the Durrant house at 1025 Fair Oaks street. and there In the pocket of Durrant's long; overcoat found the dead girl's purse. Thi was absolutely identified.

Durrant satd bad picked tt up on the street. Though there were some traces 01 BI004 about the wasn cvasin ai me ccurco, 10 clothing belonging to Durrant was ever found with blood stains on It, though oca of his shoos had a splotch which night have been blood. It was argued that wtaea he assaulted Miss Williams he removed bis clothes, though there was no proof this. How the finding of the body of Mlnnla Williams led to the discovery the nude it mains of Blanche Lamont In the belfry, laid out as If by a medical man; how Dur-rant received, on Mount Diablo, the messag from his lar fellows of the signal corps, saying he was wanted for murder; how ho gave bo sign of guilt or EervouMcse, tad how he conducted himself all throogh tho long ordeal are tales many times told. But to-day will end It all so tar as William Henry Theodore Durrant Is concern kI and tt he knows who killed Minnie Wll'Jaaa, and why.

he probably will carry ale knowledge to the grave, WILLIAM HENRY THEODORE DURRANT, "THE CRIMINAL OF THE CENTURY." day of stress. Durrant had called on her In Alameda. According to Mr. Morgan's story the young man once took her at night out to Fruttvale, and there in a lonely place made an Improper proposal to her, pleading hi? love as an excuse. This she told to Mr Morgan, whom she regarded as a grand' father.

Morgan also testified that a day or two before her death Durrant called on her in Alameda, and she told Morgan he had asked her to meet him in San Francisco, as he wanted to say "something special" to her. To this she said she had replied that he could tell her then and there Jurt as well, or could sec hor at the Christian Endeavor meeting at Dr. T. A. Vogel's that Friday night.

"She seemed suspicious of him," said Morgan on the witness Btand. In any event J.Iirs Williams had arranged to. leave Morgan's home and come to San Francisco to live with Mrs. A. D.

Voy, at 1707 Howard Btrect. She got ready to make the change on that Friday, April 12. 189B. In the morning an expressman called for her trunk. At 3 o'clock she left Morgan's house, 1220 Versailles avenue, Alameda, to go to the hairdresser.

She Intended to prink a little before coming to San Francisco to attend the Christian Endeavor meeting at Dr. Vogcl's, and she she expected to catch the 4 o'clock boat. All this time William Henry Theodore Durrant was hanging about the ferry depot at tho foot of Market street. There ho was seen at 3 o'clock by Charles A. Dukes and Clarence Y.

Dodge, fellow medical students at Cooper College. To them he said he was waiting for his companions of the militia signal corps, and was to go with them to Mount Diablo. He asked that they answer his name for him at the medical lecture roll the next day. Henry Partridge had an swered for him on April 8th, when he was seen In Alameda. Tho question of whether or not he attended a lecture the day of Blanche Lamont's disappearance on April 3d was one of tho features of the murder trial.

At about 4 o'clock Frank A. Sadcman, a I lumber passer, who acted as janitor of Emmanuel Church, saw Durrant still hanging about the ferry. To Sadcman he told' a different tale. "I have a slight clew as to the whereabouts of Blanche Lamont," be said, and went on to tell that he thought I ..1 THE MOTHER OF rellng. He was pleading; she protesting.

"Oh, you are a coward!" said the man, "That's lovers!" commented Mary Aun McKay to herself, and went along. She noticed that the girl was of shorter stature than the man and that he had on a long overcoat. It was shown by others that Durrant wore a long overcoat that night. J. P.

Hodgdon, freight claim adjuster for the Southern Pacific Company, lives at 100 Eartltit street. That night of April 12 1895, ne cad eaten tils dinner, smoked a cigar and started out of his house to get sr.uther Havana when he saw a man on the I "jk who seemed to bo taking liberties rtth a young girl. This stirred him and he went near the two to enter a protest. Then he saw that the young man had taken the girl's arm and that she did not seem to be angry with So Hodgdon looked the two over ana passea on. Tney were then about 325 feet from the rear door of Emmanuel Church.

After Durrant's arrest Hodgdon was taken to see the prisoner to ascertain whether Durrant and the young man who ad seemed to be taking liberties with the girl that night were one and the same. Durrant was. dressed up by the officers as he was on that occasion, and Hogdon was asked on the witness stand whether he could identify him. He replied that he could not wear positively, but explained just hew sure he felt in the matter as follows: "I recognize him this much. Now, I ans the claim adjuster of the Southern Pacific Company, and If the paymaster should have told me, 'Durrant has a claim for J25 and It I subject to payment.

I wlrh you would take the money and give it to him," I should Lnaturally have said: 'I don't know Durrant. I cannot give him the money, because I do not know him." Then if the paymaster said He knows you and says you were looking at him on the corner of Bartlett and Twenty-second street last Friday night. He Is coming to your house for the money, and If he Is the man you were looking for you can give to him. If he had come there and I had seen him Just as I saw Durrant In jail last night I snouia nave given mm tac money. That Is Just as much as I recognize blm." T.

Hills of 203 Bartlett street swore thar be caw a man about 8 o'clock that Fi i- tornejs cross-questioned some of the wit nesses In a way to indicate tnat tney intended to give battle on the visits of Durrant to the girl In Alameda. Officer Dennis Welch of the Alameda force was put through ''4 THEODORE DURRANT. l-ty I -i 1 girl little over ninety pounds, ifer dirpo'iMon wes cheery; her bchavlo" beyond criticism. She obtained cmplovtnent as a house servant in Alameda. Thru she worked for Clark IT.

Vorfran In his casket factory ur.til he went cut of business. Thereupon she entered Morgan's heme, acting as companion to his wife and doing light housework for her board. T.r She met Theodore Durrant tt Emmanuel Baptist Church, and knew there also t.laicl.o Lamont and many of the members who had ocen so kind to her mother in her I WILLIAM A. DURRANT, THE FATHER. I.