The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1897-06-05

ment unavalllng. Finally came the
last desperate chance, and the whole
mass of argument, the fabric of a
defense that has sought frantically
for the smallest avenue of escape
from overwhelming testimony, was
laid before the Governor of the state,
and Sunday afternoon Governor
Budd put on paper the words that
sealed the convicted mans doom.
In passing upon the application
of Theodore Durrant for executive
clemency, Governor Budd said:
81 have carefully considered the evi.
dence produced at Durrant's trial. l have
interviewed witnesses and inquired into
their characters and credibility; have
heard all the statements offered by his at.
torneys and by other persons who might
be likely to inform me in this matter.
ga careful and thorough investigation
of evidence in this case and the facts and
circumstances attending it has convinced
me that it is not proper case for my
interference.
"No new evidence has been produced
tending to show the innocence of Durranl
or creating doubt as to his guilt. feel
satisfied that the trial was fair and sur.
rounded and attended by all proper legal
safeguards and guarantees.
"After conferences with the witnesses
am convinced of their honesty and credi-
biiity, and from the examination of the
evidence feel that was in itself sufficient
in character and extent to have justified
the verdict and the judgment passed upon
it, while in my investigation found other
materia! corr0borating circumstances not
produced at the trial which tended fur.
ther to support the verdict.
sit is a grave responsibility to hold the
life of fellow being in your power, and
not stretch forth your hand to save him
But when it is considered that this de-
PENDANT stands charged with the brutal
murder of two young women, members
of happy homes, dear to and beloved OF
their families, just entering upon careers
Of gentle Christian womanhoOd, the stern
Judgment Of the law that life should be
given for a life does not seem too harsh
"No sentimental considerations Of sym
pathy should influence the decision OF
this case. The young women were killed
without pity; the ears Of the murderer
were deaf to considerations of law, blu.
mainly or of mercy. II the law has been
properly enforced in this case, its judg
ment should be sternly executed.
"Under such circumstances, finding no
irregularity in the trial of the case, and
that the evidence justified verdict OF
guilty, cannot do otherwise than follow
the supreme court and permit the verdict
of the jury and the judgment of the lower
court to stand"
The Governors entire reasons, however,
for non interference are not contained in
the statement which be gave to the press,
says the San Francisco Chronicle. II
seems that while investigating the case in
San Francisco he came across evidence
which was not brought out in the trial
for legal and other reasons, and that this
evidence helped in arriving at q deter
mination of the guilt Of Theodore Dur
rant.
One of the first things that the Governor
asked for when he started in to investigate
the case in San Francisco was the notes
which Durrant claimed to have taken q,
the lecture given ON the day of the muir.
der at Cooper Medical College. Colonel
Deuprey handed them to him and he
went through all of them carefully and
found certain medical formula for private
ailments that were Of such nature as to
convince him that Durrant was scarcely
the Sunday school boy that he claimed
to be.
He made mental note of the discovery,
and asked to be allowed to interview the
young girl who had claimed that Durrant
had made improper proposals to her,
This evidence was not admitted at the
trial, owing to the fact that it was not
legally admissible. The Governor, how
ever, thought that it might have some
bearing on the case, and 80 he obtained
the interview which he sought.
1t took place in the presence of the
girls mother, and the statement of the
girl was to the effect that she had COM
planned to Durrant Of being troubled with
constant headache. Durrant, after talk
ing to her for a short time, told her that
he would submit a number of questions
in writing, and if she would answer them
he would diagnose her case.
The questions were shown to the Gov.
ernor, and after perusing them he saw
they were not such as would have been
sked by medical man seeking infor-
nation on case, but were such as must
have been generated in the debased mind
of one simply trying to satisfy vulgar
curiosity.
Governor Budd questioned the girl fur
Their, and learned from her what had pre-
viously been published, that Durrant
wanted her to meet him in Emmanuel
Baptist Church, where he said be would
afford her q medical examination. The
girl Indignantly refused to do anything
Of the kind, and the Governor expressed
himself to the effect that it WAS fortunate
for her that she did not.
Durrant's parents received the
news Sunday night that the Gov
ernor would not stay the execution
Of the law without any trace of emo
ton. II did not expect anything
else" said Mrs. Durrant. 1.-THE feel
ing came over me not half an hour
ago that the reason the Governor
would not 60 to SEQ my boy was
that he knew Theodore was SO bright
that he would influence him to take