The San Francisco call., 1895-11-02

manned in silence. Suddenly there was
whisper at the door. 1t rippled through
the crowd of women, and where it passed
1t left scared faces. What they felt was
coming had come. The whisper zig
Jagged across the room. 1t reached Dur
rant. He Strengthened up, babe his mother
be brave, and waited. Every man and
woman sought seat, not too close to the
defendant, and if possible out of the range
of his eyes. The women particularly
wanted to see how he took it. but they
were afraid to crafty their desire.
The quick return of the jury could mean
only one thing: There had been no dis
agreement. Not even one man in the
twelve had had doubt enough to need a
moments argument.
Durrant's face hardened still more. His
high cheekbones seemed to stand out
under the tightly drawn skin. His lips
drew trife away from his teeth. The
slight color that months of strain and i'm
prisonment had left vanished. There
seemed to be livid bars across his cheeks
for an instant Only his eyes told OF no fear.
The self-control of the man, which has
been marveled at from the moment OF his
arrest, did not desert him.
The Judge hurried back to the bench.
Dickinson grasped a pencil. 1t was not
even sharpened, and the movement
seemed simply mechanical. He felt he
ought to do something and there was
nothing to do.
The court gave the order for the iury's
recall and after breathle.s wait, which
was really only few seconds. the solemn
|
men came in like pallbearers at funeral.
They were pale and moved slowly, as men
do who have performed momentous
duty.
Durrsnt looked at each face as they
passed him. The mother looked as hard
as he. the father. gave one sweeping
glance. Dickinson did not even turn.
| They took their seats and presently the
voiceiof the clerk broke the silence. 1t is
an old formula they went through, but it
never loses its impressiveness.
"Gentlemen of the jury, have you agreed
upon your yerdict?"
1--WE have"
Gentlemen of the jury, what is your
verdict?",
The white haired foreman rose slowly,
and slowly and steadily unrolled paper
he held in his hand. He read:
1--WE, the jury find the defendant, Will
liam Henry Theodore Durrant, guilty of
murder in the first degree
| The mother gave one cry, half moan,
half shrek. 1t was the cry Of one struck
in the breast by bullet.
From down in the courtroom came an
other cry. 1t started to be cheer. 1t
frr.
slant deputy Sheriffs sprang up from
everywhere and ordered silence. The
Judge on the bench thundered for silence
and the cheer was throttled.
It was an awful sound. that cutoff
cheer. The shrill voices of the women
were in it as we'll as the growl of the men.
1t was like the cry given by pack of
| hounds when they overtake their quarry.
| 1t seemed that every ybody i'll the courtroom
! had joined in it, and when it was over
nobody remembered uttering a sound or
recalled that his neighbor had shouted.
! It was the spontaneous exultation of the
people, and really was not meant to be as
cruel as it seemed. 1t was applause for the
! jury that had done its duty rather than a
triumph over the wretch doomed to death.
| wonder what Durrant felt and thought
when he heard it?
When the mother uttered her cry OF
anguish she lurched forward. Her son
half sprang to meet her. They were
locked in each others arms their cheeks
were together and her lips sought his.
The tears were coursing down the mother
cheeks and she rocked in her agony. The
son tried to comfort her. He patted hel
gloved hand as she strained him to hel
bosom, and he tried to speak; but words
would not come. The father, too, rested
his hand upon her shoulder. But there
was no comfort for her. The womer