The herald., 1897-11-11
ALL OBJECTIONS ovERRULED
EXECUTION ORDERED BEFORE
NOON TOMORROW
The Murderer's Marvellous Self Con-
troll Never Fails Him He Is De-
fant to the End
Press Special Wire.

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 10.-William
Henry Theodore Durrant, the con-
demned murderer of Miss Blanche La
mont and presumably of Miss Minnie
Williams also, was taken before Judge
Bahrs this morning. for the purpose of
having the date for his execution reset.
Durrant was awakened at an early
hour this morning by the guards at San
Quentin and carefully prepared him
self for his first appearance in public
since he entered the gates of the peni-
tentiary. After a hearty breakfast, he
was escorted across the bay by Captain
Burlin and Chief Jailer Stattler. On
both train and ferryboat the prisoner
was an object of much curiosity, and
crowds of morbidly curious people
surged around him. trying to catch a
glimpse of his features. He bore the
trying ordeal very we'll and betrayed lit
tie embarrassment. From the ferry he
was conveyed to the City Hall in hack
An immense crowd swarmed the cor
ridors and stairways to see Durrant TAX
en- into the courtroom, which was packed
with spectators Of both sexes.
Cleanly shaven, with the exception of
his mustache, which has been allowed
to attain luxurious growth during his
sojourn in prison; attired in his best suit
of clothes, over which he wore fault
lessly fitting overcoat, Durrant made q
conspicuous figure OH the train and ferry
boat. His temperance in public was
the signal for the gathering of crowds
The eager press Of the multitude to see
this arch murderer, perhaps to speak
with him, and the demonstrations along
the line of his route showed that the in
terest of the people in his affairs was II,
no way abated.
At the city hall there were other
crowds that impeded the progress of the
party, and it was with difficulty that
they were beaten back by the officers on
duty in the corridors near the court
room door.
Durrant was taken into the reporters
room adjoining Judge Bahrs' court, and
remained there until the hour for the
hearing of the case arrived, which was
II o'clock. Meanwhile an impatient mob
thronged the corridors and hammered
restlessly at the doors Of both court
room and anteroom. But Sheriff Whe-
Ian and his men were on hand and the
rush was successfully stayed when no
more could gain admittance to the court
room.
When the case was called at II o'clock
by Judge Rahrs Durrant was brought
into court from the reporters room ad-
joining the court room and at once Joined
by his attorney, Eugene Deuprey. The
first move of the attorney was the enter
;,,rr of v,potoct N NV rrO.
ceedings being taken or had at this time.
as there was no record that the judgment
of execution heretofore pronounced had
not been carried out or that it was still
in force. He also made the point that
no official notice had yet been received
by the court from the supreme court at
Washington of it's action upon the ap-
peal taken by the defense to that tri-
bunal A number of other legal expe-
dents were adopted by Attorney Deu-
prey in his effort to impress the court,
but Judge Bahrs, after patiently listen
ing to all of them, was Obdurate and
overruled them.
"William Henry Theodore Durant,'
stand up" ordered the court.
The young murderer stood up, and
then his marvellous self-control asserted
itself. He looked infinitely cooler, won
derfully better, than he did in the ante
room. He was deadly pale, but calm and
self possessed. He faced the judge
without fiinching and listened intently
to his words.
Judge Bahrs reminded him that on
December 6. 1895, the judgment of death
was pronounced upon him for the MUIR
der Of Blanche Lamont on April 8,
1895; that the judgment still remained In
force. An appeal to the state supreme
court had been dismissed and writ Of
habeas corpus denied In the United
States circuit court and the refusal af-
firlned by the supreme court of the
United States, the highest tribunal OF
the land. His honor quoted section 1921
Of the penal code, providing that II for
any reason Judgment of death still
in force and effect remains unexecuted
the court shall, on motion of the district
attorney. appoint time for hearing any
legal reason existing for the non-carry-
ing out of the judgment, and, in the
event of finding that no such reasons
exist, shall proceed to appoint a time
| and place for execution.
"The district attorney has made such
notion" said the Judge, "and I have
summoned you here today, with your
counsel, to state any legal reason you
may have. to show cause why this judg-
ment should not be executed. 1 am
ready to hear from you."
The defendant's attorneys again en-
tered technical objections to the pro-
ceedings, but Judge Bahrs, after listen
ing patiently to all they had to say
swept their protests aside and pro-
nounced Judgment slowly and impress
sively, ordering that the young defend
ant standing alone in the crowded court
room be hanged on Friday, Nov. IL, be-
tween the hours Of sunrise and noon.
THE JUDGES ORDER
The order read BY Judge Bahrs was
| as follows:
William Henry. Thsodore nurrant.
lyou have been brought into court iu