Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-11-12
ecution.

San Francisco, November 11.-Wil-
liam Henry Theodore Durrant will not
be hanged at San Quentin tomorrow,
after all. the Supreme Court OF the
State having granted him another re- Z
spite at the eleventh hour.
Up to o'clock this afternoon, when
the news flashed over the wires from
Sacramento that the court now in ses-
sion there had grated writ of prob
able cause and instructed Warden Hale
not to carry out the execution OF
Durrant until further orders, there was
apparently no further hope for the con-
demned murderer of Blanche Lamont
and Minnie Williams, as his attorneys,
Messrs. Dickinson & Boardman, had
made a futile effort to secure another
writ of habeas corpus in the United
States Court and had not even been
granted permission to appeal from that
decision to the Supreme Court Of the
United States.
Meanwhile, however, Attorney Du-
prey hastended to Sacramento and ap-
piled to the State Supreme Court for
writ of probable cause for the purpose
of staying the proceedings against his
client upon the grounds that no official
knowledge of the action of the Supreme
Court of the United States In the mat
ter of Durrant's appealing from the de-
cision of the federal court had yet been
received; that the Superior Court had
acted too hastily in sentencing Durrant
to be hanged tomorrow, as the law re-
CURED that he be given at least sixty
days grace; and, thirdly, that the pend
ency of an appeal in the Supreme Court
affecting the condemned was OF Itself
sufficient cause for a stay of execution.
The matter was partially argued in
oha,,i,o--- ,--s~r argued before the
full court and taken under advisement.
Shortly afterward the court announc.
ed its decision granting the writ an
piled for in which all the justices con.
Cured
San Quentin Prison. November IL
This has been day of great Suppress
ed excitement in and about the pen
itentiary. Durrant alone was hopefuI
that he might obtain longer lease OF
life. He spent the greater part of the
day in reading, and had little to say
to any one. At $50 p. m. the news
that the Supreme Court had granted a
reprieve was received at the prison in
a message TO Warden Hale from Chief
Justice Beatty.
Durrant expressed a desire to make
a statement to the Associated Press,
and in the course of an interview
said:
Naturally l was greatly elated At
the news of the reprieve, although my
first information, based on telephone
message, was not positive. Soon after
wards the news was confirmed. All |
could do was to thank God"
Was the reprieve surpise?" was ask
ed.
Not exactly. All along have had per-
feet faith in my God. This afternoon I
was visited by two sisters of charity and
/ believe that their prayers ana the pray
ers of all those who have interceded for
me have been instrumental in bringing
about this result"
He then embraced and kissed his moth
er. on Mrs. Durrant's face was a smile
Of content, but the son looked sad. his
eyes were dull. He earnestly repeated
many times that faith In God would save
him In the future as in the past
you may say I am innocent" safA
Durrant in conclusion. II win never yield,
and God is with me-"
After an hours talk with her son Mrs.
Durrant returned to her hotel and Dur
rant was taken back to cell q In Murder
ers' Row. which he had occupied before
the death watch was set over him.