Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-11-07
DURRANT CONVICTED.
WILL HANG FOR HIS CRIME.
sshe Jury Requires But Five Minutes to
Settle His Fate-He Was Unmoved but
tho People Were Pleased With the
Verdict.

the murder of Blanche Lamont, for
which he has been on trial since July
22 last. The jury was out twenty min
utes and arrived at the verdict on the
first ballot. 1t really required but five
minutes to decide the fate Of the pris-
oner. 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
$50. and the jury at once retired. Al
though there was supposed to be little
prospect of verdict being returned be-
fore Z or 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 II an acquittal were
q foregone conclusion. They were join
ed by half dozen friends and the con-
versation was becoming animated
when 1t 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
pallid, assumed CHASTITY hue, and his
mother was speechless. Then the big
doors at the rear of the room opened
and the jury filed In and took their
seats in the box.
In the intense excitement that follow
ed, the room, although filed to Its ut
most 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 Morris asked the usual
question as to whether the jury had
agreed upon a verdict. Foreman War
rem Dutton arose and replied in the af-
flrmative.
"We, the jury" said he, "find the de-
fendant, William Henry Theodore Dur
rant, guilty of murder in the first de-
gree"
AS the aged foreman, pale and trem-
bling, read the words that fixed Dur
rants fate, a low rumbling noise, like
the roar of a mob, arose from the rear
of the court room. The next moment
men were cheering wildly while women
wept Historically In excitement. The
bailiff raped loudly for order, but the
tumult continued for a minute before
anything like quiet could be 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 Muir
ply said that sentence would be passed
next Friday, upon which day he would
also set the day for the trial of Dur
rant on the charge of numbering Minnie
Williams.
fl,n t,rYp hnf a
announcement of the verdict, Durrant
and his mother were lost sight Of ex-
cept by the few who sat nearest to
them. As the last words Of the verdict
were uttered, Durrant made spasmod-
ic effort to arise to his feet, but before
he could do SO his mother with half
sigh, half moan, threw her arms around
his neck and sunk back into her chair.
His mothers grief seemed to make
Durrant forget his own position, and
for the next few minutes he sat with
his arms around her neck trying to
soothe her. The long strain Of the trial,
however, had completely shattered her
self-control and 1t was some time be-
fore Mrs. Durrant could leave the court
room.
Durrant recovered his old time COM
posure as soon as he left his mother,
and prepared to return to the county
jail. With his overcoat swung care
lessly over his arm, he walked leisurely
out Of the room twirling his slight nous
tache with apparently rs little concern
as If he were merely spectator of in
stead of the principal figure in the ex-
citing scene.
/. Aside from the spectators, Mrs. No
bic, Blanche Lamont's aunt, and Maud
Lamont, the dead girls sister, were ap-
parently the happiest persons in the
room. When the verdict was an
nounced Maud Lamont sprang from her
seat, clapped her hands and then cried
Of sheer excitement. Mrs. Noble mixed
smiles with tears, and shook hands with
a number of friends who crowded
round to congratulate her.
The case will be appealed to the Su-
preme Court, and 1t is expected that
nearly a year will elapse before a de-
cision will be obtained. While 1t is not
thought that any error has been COM
mitted, the defense has embraced ev-
cry opportunity to take exceptions to
the rulings of the court. General Dick
inson took exception to three features
Of the district attorneys argument to-
day. He also took an exception to the
Judges charge.