Durant Makes A Statement

Durant was seen by an Associated Press reporter and said: "The last timo I met Miss Laniont was on the morning oí tho day she disappeared. We talkcd abouC books, and I promised to bring a book for her to prayer meeting that night. Miss Lamont did not come to the meeting and the following day, Friday, I took the book to her house and gave it to her sister. The latter told me Blanche had gone to school, evidently trying to keep the fact of her disappearanco secret. That is all I know of the Lamont case. The last timo Í saw Minuie Williams was three weeks ago." When confronted by tho evidence that Miss Williams' purso had been found in his pocket. Durant gave the following expianation: "I was going from the meeting at Vogel'.s Friday night when my foot struek a small object on theside-walk. I picked ie up and found it was a small mirror. Near by was a purse. wliich I also picked up. I took them b&th home with me, intending to teil my folks of my find. It was late, however, and I went right to bed. In the morning I was in a hurry to got away with the signal corps and forgot all about it." The pólice take exception to Durant's Btatoment that he had not seen Miss Williams for. three weeks. They say they can prove that he was seon with her on Monday or Tuesday and possibly later. In his statement at pólice headquarters Rev. Dr. Gibson asserts his belief in Durant's innocence, bnt is unable to offer any theory as to the guilty party. This much can be said for Duxant - he did not act like a guilty man when arrested, and his preparations to leave were made without concealment before the murder of Miss Williams.