The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1895-11-09
THEPENAL1Y IS DEATH
Dusrant Convicted OF the Muir.
der OF Blanche Lamont.
THE JURY OUT TWENTY MINUTES
when the Verdict Wss ks.A.r.A NJ.
Ssssrss Wildly. while Wems.
Wspe Hystsssealiy,

Ban Francisco. Nov. l.-Tbeodme
OoErant. assistant superintendent of
the Emanuel Baptist church SUNDAY
school, was today convicted Of the
murder OF Blanche Lamont. for which
% has been On trial since July 20 Last.
The jury WAS out 90 minutes. and ar.
rived IT the verdict on the FIRST ballot
A. there was no recommendation Of
mercy. the punishment was fixed at
death,
IL was exactly 81 minutes from the
time the jury left the courtroom to the
time the verdict was announced. but
that time was all taken up in delibsrs.
iion. In fact, there was no delibsra.
ton At all The jury had evidently
decided upon q verdict before they left
The jury box. 1t was S:Sa when they
nied out Of the courtroom into the
grand jury room which had been placed
At their disposal. II took the twelve
men until $3.50 o'clock before they set-
tied themselves comfortably. and 1t
1858 knock On the door announced TO
the anxious walters that q verdict had
besn found. Ii took just i've minutes
Ut actual time 70 elect . foreman and
take one ballot necessary.
The scene In the courtroom when the
verdict was announced will never be
forgotten BY those who were present
Judge Murphy finished his charge at
$3.50. and the jury 1t once retired Al.
though there was supposed % be little
prospect Of verdict being returned be-
fore or O'Clock in the evening, the
throng Of spectators who had remained
In the overcrowded courtroom all the
afternoon to hear the judges charge,
settled themselves back in their seats
20 await the reurn Of the jury. An-
Durrant and the prisoner talked and
laughed together as il an acquittsl
were . foregone conclusion. They
were joined by half . dozen friends,
and the conversation was becoming
animated. when il became whispered
about that the jury had agreed upon q
verdict
In an instant hush fell upon the
little circle that had gathered around
the prisoner. Durrsnt's face. always
pale. assumed = CHASTITY hue. and his
mother Was speechlesA Then the big
doors At the rear Of the room opened,
and the members Of the jury filed in
and took their seats in the box
In the intense excitement which fol.
lowed. the room. although il was filled
10 its utmost capacity. was almost rs
quiet a. IL IL had been vacant Judge
Murphy, who had retired 20 his cham.
tes. WAS summoned. and took his
place upon the bench. Clerk Norris
asked the usual question. as to whether
the jury had agreed upon q verdict
Foreman Warren Duston arose and re.
piled in the Affirmative. saying:
I'VE. the jury. ind the defendant.
William Henry Theodore Durrant,
guilty Of murder in the FIRST degree. /"
As the aged foreman. pale and trcm-
bling. read the words which fixed Dur
rants fate, q low rumblins noise like
the roar Of mob arose from the rear
Of the courtroom. The next moment,
men were cheering wildly. while
women Historically wcpt in their ex-
element The balid raped loudly for
order. but the tumult continued for q
minute before anything like quiet could
he brought out Of the disorder. Then
District Attorney Barnes arose and
asked that day be set upon which the
sentence Of death should be passed
upon the prisoner. Judge Murphy said
that sentence would be passed next
Friday. upon which day he would also
st the day for the trial Of Durrant on
the charge Of numbering Minnie Will.