The San Francisco call., 1895-11-03
DURRANT TALKS.
He Still Declares His Innocence and
Is Still Religious.

- oSAii hSiie5 iooSs
Theodore Durrant was q very different
person yesterday from the nervous, irri-
table, crestfallen young man who was
taken from Judge Murphy's court to the
County Jail the day before, after hearing
himself pronounced guilty of a deviIish
murder and deserving death for his crime.
The weight of the jurys decree, that would
have crushed almost any other man,
seemed to have rested more lightly upon
him than his actions the evening before
indicated, for he slept soundly during the
night and arose yesterday morning as
bright as a lark. All his wonted cheerful
ness, mlidness of temper and soft tones
had returned to him.
He was, however, disinclined to talk,
either of the case just ended or of the Min
ME Williams case soon to be called, but of
himself he was not so 10th to speak
'Do [ still say my prayers? l certainly
do, although suppose the assertion sounds
somewhat grotesque to you"
This was in reference to occasions when
he lapsed into the use of profanity and OBJ
scenity in discussing various phases of the
trial, and was in response to question if
his experiences had not crushed his relig-
ious beliefs out of him.
"No, have not abandoned my belief in
Cod" he continued, "but have changed
my opinion of the good-fellowship of GER
tain creeds. The members of my church
have not shown me the consideration that
devotees to other denominations have. In
fact, about all the spiritual consolation I
have received has come from outside my
own church.
mo, I don't know that I have aban-
doned the Baptist faith, but l shall GER
tainly not return to the church of which |
am member when l get out of this"
Durrant's confidence that he would beat
the gallows and yet be a free man was
never more marked than when he deIiv-
cred himself of the last remark The tone,
manner, everything, Indicated that he
does not believe that he will ever pay the
penalty Of the crime of which he was con-
victed last Friday.
Carrie Cunningham's story was called to
his attention.
II have dismissed her and her story
broken loose from the chain and sunk by
the weight OF its own perfidy to the bot
tomless depths of the ocean of calumny.
What did l intend to say when l
started to rise after the verdict was pro-
nounced?
II was going to declare my innocence
and then and there tell the world what I
I
| | would have said some very pointed things
| If | had been permitted, but General
Dickinson thought 1 had better not say
anything yet. suppose he was right, but
wanted to talk"
| 1t was suggested to Durrant that the
Reynolds" letter to the Coroner and in
connection with it the Reynolds" an6
"Smythe" statements might have beer
part of scheme to blackmail the defense
that is, that the two statements to be of
fered to prove alibis for him in the Lamont
and Williams cases respectively had beer
first offered to the attorneys for the defense
for money, but the effort to induce the de
tense to put up money failing, the "Rey
nolds" letter was then sent to the Coronel
as an expose of the defense. Durrant re
| piled:
Eyes, have thought that very thing.
have myself been approached by parties
Offering to perjure themselves for me fo
money. could point out some of these
very persons to you, but am not allowed
by my attorneys to say anything at ALL