Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-11-02

San Francisco, November 1.-Theo-
dore Durant, assistant superintendent
Of Emanuel Baptist Church Sunday
School, was to-day convicted of the mur-
der of Blanche Lamont after he had been
On trial since July % last The jury
was out twenty minutes and arrived at
the verdict on the first ballot. AS there
was no recommendation of mercy, tho
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
3:2O and the jury at once retired. Al
though there was supposed to be little
prospect Of a verdict being returned be-
fore or 8 o'clock this evening, The
throng Of spectators, who had remained
in the Overcrowded court room all the
afternoon to hear the judges chargs,
settled themselves back in their seats
TO await the return OF the jury. Mrs.
Durant and the prisoner talked and
laughed together as if aquittal were
foregOne conclusion. They were sur
rounded by half a dozen friends and the
conversation was animated when it be-
came whispered about that the Jury had
agreed upon a verdict.
In an instaent a hush fell upon the
little circle that had gathered around
the prisoner. Durant's face, always
pallid,
ASSUMED A CHASTITY HUE
and his mother was speechless. Then
the door at the rear Of the room opened
and the jury filed in and took their
seats in the box. Intense excitement
followed. The room, although filled to
its utmost capacity was almost as quiet
as If it had been vacant. Judge Muir
ply, who had retired to his chambers,
was summoned and took his Place upon
the bench. Clerk Morris asked the US
ual question as to whether the jury had
agreed upon verdict
Foreman Warren Dutton arose and
replied IN the affirmative.
"We, the jury" said he, "fnd the de-
fendant, William Henry Theodore Du-
rant guilty of murder in the first de.
gree
As the aged foreman, pale and trem-
bling, read the words that fixed Durant's
1ate, low rumbling noise like the roar
Of mob arose from the rear Of the
court room.
The next moment men were cheering
wildly, while women wept Historically
IN excitement. The bailiT raped loud
ly for order, but the tumult continued
FOR minute before anything like quiet
could be brought out Ct the disorder.
When District Attorney Barnes arose
and asked that day be set upon
which
THE SENTENCE OF DEATH
should be passed upon the prisoner.
Judge Murphy said that sentence would
be passed next Friday, upon which day
he would also set the day for the trial
Of Durant on the charge Of murderina
Minnie Williams.
During the tumult that followed the
announcement Of the verdict Durant
and his mother were lost sight Of. eX-
cept by the few who sat nearest them.
AS the last words of the verdict wers
uttered, Durant made a spasmodic ef-
fort to arise TO his feet, but before he
could do so, his mother, with d half
sigh, half moan, threw her arms around
his neck ard sank back into her chair
His mothers grief seemed 10 make Du-
rant 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-con.
troll and it was some time before Mrs
Durant could leave the court room.
Durants father was not in the court
room when the verdict was returned.
As soon as the jury retired he went out
into the corridors, not believing that
the jury would return for several hours,
and he first learned that his son had
been convicted when a cheer went ~
from the crowd in the building as the
news spread.
DUkANI RECON Erred
his old-time compOsure as soon as he
left his mother and prepared TO return
10 the county jail. With his overcoat
swung carelessly over his Grm, he walk
ed leisurely ont OF the room, twirling
his Light mustache with apparently as
l.ttle concern as II he were merely a
spectator instead Of the principal figure
in the exciting scene.
Aside from The spectators, Mrs. Noble,
Blanche LamOnts aunt, and Maud La
mont, the dead girls sister were an
parently the happ.est persons in tai
room. When ,le verdict was a.
nOunced Maud Lamont arose from her
seat, clappod her hands and then cried
of sheer excitement Mrs. Noble mixed
smiles with tears and shook hands with
a number OF friends, who crowded
around TO congratulate her.
AS soon as Durant left the building.
the crowd surged out of the room and
gathered around the door out OF which
the prisoner usually came 10 reach the
prison van. Feeling that some violence
might be offered the prisoner, he was
taken out Of another door and driven
by circuitous route to the county jail.
Weather Indications.
Washington, D. Ca, November l.
For West Virginia and Ohio: FairI
warmer winds, shifting to southerly.
Thermometer Record.
Mr. q CcbneDf the ODera House