Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-11-02
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GUILTY OF MURDER.

San Francisco. Nov. 1.-Thcodore
Durrant. assistant superintendent of
Emanuel Baptist church Sun
day school. was today convicted
OF the murder of Blanche La
mont, after he had been on trial since
July 22 last. The jury was out twenty
minutes and arrived at verdict ON
the first ballot. As there was no re-
commentator Of mercy, the punish
ment was fixed at death. 1t was ex-
actly twenty-one minutes from the time
the jury LETT the court room to the tine
the verdict was announced. but that
time was not all taken up In dellbera-
tion. In fact, there was no deiibera-
ton at all. The jury had evidently
decided upon n verdict before they left
the box. 1t was 1884 when they filed
out OF the court room into the grand
jury room, which had been placed at
their disposal. 1t took the twelve men
until $3.50 before they settled themselves
comfortably and at 3:55 knock on the
door announced to the anxious walters
that n verdict had been found. II took
five minutes of actual time to elect a
foreman and take the one ballot
necessary.
the verdict was announced will never
be forgotten by those who We're pres
ent.
Judge Murphy finished his charge
at 1920. and the jury at once retired.
Although there was supposed to be
little prospect Of verdict being re-
turned before or s o'clock this even
ing, the throng of spectators who had
rem aimed In the cvercrowded court
room all the afternoon to hear the
judges charge, settled themselves
back in their seats to await the re-
turn of the jury.
Mrs. Durrant and the prisoner talked
and laughed together as If an acquittal
were foregone conclusion. They were
surrounded by half n dozen frieuds and
the conversation was animated when
1t became whispered about that the
jury had agreed upon Il verdict. In
an instant "A hush fell upon the little
circle that had gathered around the
prisoner.
Durrant's always pailid face assum-
ed CHASTITY hue and his mother was
speechless. Then the door at the rear
OF the room opened and tn jury filed in
and took their seats in the box. In
tense excitement followed. The room,
although filled to Its utmost capacity.
was almost as quiet as II 1t had been
vacant.
Judge Murphy, who had retired to
his chambers, was summoned and took
his place upon the bench. Clerk Nor
ris asked the usual question as to
whether the jury had agreed upon n
verdict. Foreman Warren Dutton
arose and replied in the affirmative
I'VE, the jury" said he. "dnd the
prisoner William Henry Theodore Dur
rant. guilty of murder in the first de-
gree"
As the aged foreman, pale and tremb-
ling, read the words that fixed Dur
rants fate n low rumbling noise, like
the roar of a mob arose from the rear
OF the court room. The next moment
men We're cheering wildly, while wo-
men wept Historically in excitement.
The bailiff raped loudly for order but
the tumult continued for a minute be-
fore anything like quiet could be
brought out of the disorder.
When District Attorney Adair arose
and asked that day should be set
when the sentence OF death should be
passed upon the prisoner. Judge Muir
ply said that sentence would be passed
next Friday, upon which day he would
also set the day for the trial Of Durrant
on the charge OF numbering Minnie
Williams.
During the tumult that followed the
announcement of the verdict Durrant
ard his mother were lost sight OF ex-
cent by the few who sat nearest them.
AS the last words of the verdict were
uttered Durrant made a spasmodic
tAOhN " ARISE " MS Attt, DNI DtfOGe
he could do 80 his mother with n half
sigh, half moan, threw her arms around
his neck and sank back into her chair.
His mothers grief seemed to make
Eurrant forget his own position and
for the next few minutes he sat with
his arms around her neck, trying TO
oothe her. The long strain OF the
tial however. had completely shat
iere her self control and II was some
lime before Mrs. Durrant could leave
The court room.
When the verdict was announced
Maud Lamont arose from her seat.
rlasped her hands and then cried from
Sheer excitement.
Mrs. Noble mixed smiles with tears
and shook hands with a number of
friends who crowded around to con-
graduate her.
AS soon as Durrant left the building
the crowd surged out of the room and
gathered around the door out or which
the prisoner usually came to the
prison van. Fearing that some Violence
might be offered the prisoner he was
taken out of another door and driven
by circuitous route to the county jaI:,
The case will be appealed 10 the SUI
preme court and II is expected marry
a year will elapse before a decision will