Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1895-11-09
jury Found Unanimous Verdict
With Death Penalty.
The Crowd in The Courtroom Cheered
NlldtN at the Announcement, bat
Durrant Was Calm.

San Francisco, Nov. 1.-Theodore
Durrant assistant superintendent OF
the Emanuel Baptist church Sunday
school, was today convicted of the muir
der Of Blanche Lamont, for which he
has been on trial since July % last. The
jury was out 20 minutes and arrived at
the verdict on the first ballot. AS there
was no recommendation Of mercy, the
punishment was fixed at death.
The scene in the court room 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 at once retired. AL
though there was supposed to be little
prospect of verdict being returned
before Z o'clock in the evening, the
thrOng of spectators who had remained
in the oVercrOWded court room all the
afternoon to hear the judges charge,
settled themselves back in their seats
to await the return of the jury. Mrs
Durrant and the prisoner talked and
laughed together as if an acquittal was
q fOregOne conclusion. They were join
ed by half a dozen friends and the con-
versation was becoming animated when
it became whispered about that the
jury had agreed upon verdict. In an
instant /, hush fell upon the little circle
that had gathered around the prisoner
Durrant's face, always pale, assumed a
CHASTITY hue, ard his mother was speech
less Then the rig doors at the rear
of the room opened ana the members
of the Jury filed il anG cook th cir seats
in the box.
In the intense excitement that
lowed, the room, although it was
to it's utmost capacity, was almost
quiet as if it had been vacant. ~
Murphy, who had retired to his en-
bers, was summoned and took mis- pi
upon the bench. Clerk Morris asked
usual question as to whether tie J
had agreed upon a verdict. FOren
Warren DuttOn arose and replied II
Affirmative.
eve, the jury" said he, find
defendant, Henry Theodore Durra
guilty Of murder in the first degree
AS the aged foreman, pale and trt
bling. read the words that fixed l
rants fate, a low rumbling noise
the roar of a mob, arose from the
of the court room. The next mon
men were cheering wildly, while we
Wept Historically in excitement
bailiff raped loudly for order, bu'
tumult continued for minute bt
anything like quiet could be bro
out of the disorder. Then Distrlc
torney Barnes arose and asked
q dav be set upon which the sentep
death should be passed upon the
oner Judge Murphy said that sen
would be passed next Friday,
which day he would also set the da
the trial of Durrant on the chars
numbering Minnie Williams.
During the tumult that FOLLOWED
announcement of the verdict Du
and his mother were lost sight Of e1
by the few who sat nearest to then
the last words of the verdict Wer,
tered Durrant made a spasmodi{
fort to arise to his feet, but befor,
could do so, his mother, with a
sigh, half moan, threw her
around his neck and sank back
her chair. His mothers grief see.
to make Durrant forget his own
ton. and for the next few minutes
sat with his arms around her neck, I
ing to soothe her. The long strain
the trial, however, had completely Sn
tered her self-control and 1t was Sc
time before Mrs. Durrant could le'
the court room. Durrants father :,
not in the court room when the Verd
was returned. AS soon as the jury
tired he went out into the corridor,
believing that the jury would retE
for several hours, and he first learn
that his son had been convicted VIII
a cheer went up from the crowd in !
building as the news spread.
Durrant recovered his old time co