The evening world., 1894-10-12

He left Auburn Prison In the most
iourlshing condition, having placed the
through the industries of wood-carving
chair-caning, manufacturing. enamelling,
brass-founding, button-mak ding and even
street-car building, which he introduced
there. He was succeeded by James c.
Stout, the present incumbent,
While at Auburn, Warden Durston
became prominent also as the first ex-
ecutioner OF II murderer by electricity,
under the New York State law. The
victim was William Kemmler, of Buff
falo. 1t was owing to the defects In the
of Warden Durston. that the execution
was not perfect success, as ne after
wards demonstratsd not only at Auburn
Mr.. Durston took formal charge of
Sling Sing Prison shortly after the no
torious escape of Murderers Rohle and
1898, and four days before the execution
of Carlyle w. Harris, the poisoner of
his beautiful ,, sehoolgirl wifeei Mary
this ordeal he found facing him "A much
mixed-up state In the prison affairs
which he soon straightened out, and In
an lndescribably short time had rivalled
ut Sing Sing his enviable record made
at Auburn.
Mr.. Durston was firm in his belief that
life prisoners ought to have place
discipline, there is invariably "A show
ing of sympathy towards the life man.
If there are any favors or easy jobs to
be given out in prison routine. there
Is a feeling that the life man ought to
have his burden lightened, and soon
these men come to be regarded as more
or less distinguished prisoners. Disci-
pline is not so strictly enforced in their
cases as with the short-term men. and
the result on the prison routine Is not
desirable With the life men out of
OF the prison could be made that would
be received acceptably not only by the
prisoners, but by the management. Mr..
lDurston explained his views in this
way:
There ought to he only one place for the exc.
cuton Of murderers. What's the use Of three
say with capacity OF $50 cells for life prison
ers. there would be central place where men
gully OF capital offences could be kept until exc
Sulion' There would be fewer chances Of blum
ders III putting men to death by having one place
ana one trained set OF men for executions
would build small prison within easy reach
ana not far from the centre OF the state ia
put wali-a very high wal-around IT, | would
make the cells roomy and comfortable and send
only liie prisoners there besides those condemned
| 70 death, 4 suitable set Of cells Tor the muir
aersrS could be built, and only one execution
| there would be no spirit Of unrest among the
prisoners OF our large institutions. and tho spirit
| OF the law IN making executions as private as
| possible ana IN keeping the condemned men as
| much hidden from the world as possible would
he more effectively carried out.
| Warden Durston was careful never IN
| crltlcise MS superior officers or the man
| agemellt OF other wardens. But he held
| that after sentence for capital cases
had been pronounced the man should be
dead to the world, IL the spirit of the
| law was carried out. y photographed
| once asked permission TO photograph a
death scene, and said II would probab ly
be valuable for scientific purposes il
several pictures of an execution were
| taken. Mr.. Durston said no, and that
II he read the law Alright 1t was to be
complied with in spirit as in letter. No
more privileges in the way of visits and
GIFTS should be allowed to the condemned
man than strict compliance with the
| law would permit, and on the day OF eN-
ecution death should be administered
with despatch and very little show OF
ceremony, but with decency and in order
TINS may explain why the condemned
man Is practically seized in the death
halfway across the narrow room, and
finds himself in the death chair before
he realizes that he Is in the room. II
he were inclined to make speech OF
to create a scene he would have little
opportunity. Mr.. Durston allowed Cor.
lyle Harris to say a few words I'm the
death chair. but that was an exceptional
case
In addition to introducing many prac.
teal reforms In the management of Sing
sing prison, War len Durston a,so i'm.
institution, It's grounds and the ap,
pr9aches and roads .eadng to H.
Warden Durston had been twice mar
ried, and leaves one daughter by MS
hrst wife. Before assuming public ifi
he was lawyer in Auburn He was q
Democrat in politics and an arden
friend and supporter OF Senator Hi.