The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1897-04-17
DURRANT IN SAN QUENTIN.
Blanche Lamont's Slayer Is Now
Convict 1890.
In Felon's Stripes, Shaved and With Hair
Cropped, He Waits His Doom.


on him for the murder of Blanche
Lamont in the Emmanuel Baptist
Church. at San Francisco two years
ago. Durrant's nerve forsook him
in the awful moment when Judge
Bahrs spoke the solemn words that
sealed his earthly doom
With paIlid face and trembling
limbs, the prisoner sat beside his
heart-broken father and faithful
counsel, Eugene Duprey, who, with
General Dickinson, has made such
strong legal battle for his clients
life, and whom both believe to be
innocent of the terrible crime for
which he is doomed to hang Oh
June 18th.
Durrant's poor mother was not
present TO hear his sentence. What
agony she endured was screened
from the public. The last interview
with her son, her last, long, passion
ate kiss, was in the County Jail,
where She had gone every day of
these weary two years.
Handcuffed, between the sheriff
and his deputy, followed by his
father, Durrant was taken in the
prison van and driven down to the
ferry and put aboard the boat that
conveyed him to the San Quentin
penitentiary, where in less than
sixty:days he is to expiate his crime
on the scafold.
The dramatic incidents in the
closing chapter of Durrant's life are
thus graphically portrayed in the
columns of the San Francisco
Chronicle:
1t was silent little procession that
walked from the disembarking point to
the gate of the prison at San Quentin.
At the terrace, where the officials live,
group OF women in white, with sun
shades and garden hats, had gathered -
all to see Durrant, who led the procession,
his father following. They all walked
briskly, and when the boy turned in
through the big gate there were no good
byes. The son thought the father was
close at his heels and did not stop to bid
him farewell. Perhaps he was thinking
most of himself in that moment.
The turnkey admitted Durrant and bis
keepers, but stopped the elder man.
SIN his father" he pleaded, helplessly.
"Can't help that" said the automaton
The father begged, but it was useless.
He had taken his son as far as the law
would let him; love could go no farther
Not until he was almost at the inner
Office did Theodore Durrant know that
he was alone without friend or counsel
lor or attorney-on!y two sets of keepers
to hand him from one to the other and
receipt him as piece of baggage.
Then he hesitated and half turned, and
hesitated but the jailers had each an arm
and walked quickly. lie did not see his
father again.
Warden Hale had Judiciouly absented
himself from the prison. He is genial
gentleman who hates to refuse requests
or to seem hard hearted. He had turned
over his difficult business to Captain
Edgar, who received Durrant at the office
on the inner court, as commandment Of the
prison.
Inside the doors Durrants handouts
were removed. Hiss clothing was thor
oughly searched and his portrait taken
in citizens clothes, with his mustache and
long, sleek hair.
After bath, he was given convict
clothes, striped shirt and underwear, and
coat and trousers of wide bands of black
and gray. AT the little barber shop he
was shaved by one Of the white BARRIERS
occupying the middle chair of the five.
His hair WAS clipped close, and when he
came out, bare-lipped, with every bump
in his head shining, he was another man.
Dufrant's face is not lovely, but robbed
Of all its student accessories, it seemed
to have but little refinement and grown
IN 6estiallty. Then he Was photographed
again, entered in the prison book and
taken to his cell.
Durrant's cell is No. 81, on the middle
tier or second story of the old stone build
ing that forms the south wall of the
courtyard. II is in Murderers' Row, and
to left and right of him are con demned
men-waiting, as is he, while the little
time of life ticks itself out. No row in
the prison is emptied 80 often as this, nor
so often filed.
On one side Of Durrant ia Klose, the
murderer, condemned to die one week
from Friday. Durrant must endure the
excrutiating torture of hearing the gal
lows built for his neighbor.
In Durrants cell was pallet, a bucket,
tin dishes and lamp. There is nothing
in particular to prevent him from break
ing the chimney and cutting his throat.
There Is no special watch on him now.
Three times a week he will exercise in
company with guard. At any time he
can see the bright court, and he cannot
keep out the odor of lilacs if he would.
A trusty brought the little bundle Of
Durrant's discarded clothes and the soft,
brown hat to the outer Office. The father
took it and carried it back to the city
home to the mother.
On the way back to Qreenbrae the father
was reused from his customary calm. He
stood on the steps of the rocking omnibus
smoking 6 cigar and watching the gray
citadel that had swallowed up his son.
A chance remark stirred him.
II have story to tell that will astonish
you all, he said, sand when ! get ready
I will tell it, Theodore is innocent, and
he has thousands Of friends. Some day
the true criminal will appear"
On Friday night Durrant spoke few
sentences into a photograph cylinder
for consideration. He refused at first
to entertain the proposition but finally