The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-27
MRS. BUDD'S GRACE ASKED
Mrs. Durrant Appeals to the Cow
errors Mother in Behalf
of Her Son.


ernor's Mother in Behalf
of Her Son.
STOCKTON, CAL, May 26-Mrs. Dur
rant, the mother of Theodore Durrant,
whose only hope now lies with Governor
Budd. called upon Mrs. Judge Budd, the
mother OF the chief executive, yesterday
afternoon for the purpose OF enlisting her
sympathles in behalf of her condemned
son.
The real object OF the unfortunate
mothers visit was to have Mrs. Judge
Budd IN tercede for the mutation of
Durrants sentence to life imprisonment,
although she did not say in SO many
words that such was her mission. She
did not request or suggest that Mrs.
Budd should intercede with the Governor,
but had vidently hoped that by winning
the sympathies of the mother of the Gov
ernor Mrs. Budd would of Her own accord
appeal to her son as only a mother can,
Mrs. Durrant kept her mission a secret,
and hence very few people knew that she
paid S tockton visit. She arrived on the
:0S train from San Francisco and went
directly TO the Budd house. She re-
manned with Mrs. Budd until it was time
to take the 3: 40 train on her return to the
metropolis, spending about two hours as
one mother appealing to another for the
life her only son.
Mrs. Durrant is refined little woman,
entirely different from what imagined,
for you know one will form opinions"
said Mrs. Budd. "She controlled herself
wonderfully. She did not go into tears
once, but acted most bravely. l did all
the crying myself. Mrs. Durrant ex-
planned to me when she came that she
10 tn
annoy We, but wanted to talk to me as
one mother 10 another. She knew, she
said, that being a mother would listen
to her when others would not She said
that the Governor had denied her an
audience. She did not blame him for not
| wanting to see her, because she supposed
! that he had concluded that she would beg,
implore ana weep for her son. That, she
said, was far from her intention, and she
| demonstrated it in her cond uct Yesterday
III she desired was to save her sons
llfe-to have the death sentence com uted
to life imprisonment, or any expedient
whatever that might give him a lease of
llte She believes firmly in his innocence,
| as what mother would not believe her son
innocent? She described how ne had
been modes boy all his life-a regular
mothers boy. He was proud and ambi-
tlous, and the mother cannot believe that
he turned fiend in day. l don't think
| IL Is possible, either. The boy has GER
tainly had the advantage. OF careful
rearing, and home culture.
The interview Just made me sick. :"
said Mrs. Bud in conclusion. Il did not
sleep bit all night over 1t. knew NJ 49,
Durrant was coming; l knew it Tor the
last four or five days. / don't know how.
but Just fell that SIZE would call upon
me. They all dc. o., my! l have let
tiers and letters urgins me 10 appeal to the
Governor about someI hing or the other
1t seems as though every body in trouble
appeals to me. They write to me and call
upon me personally.
MRS. DurIant," concluded Mrs. Budd.
told me that all she wanted was CON-
mutation to life sentence in order to give
those who are working for Theodore an op-
| portunity to run to earth the real murd errr
| Of the girls he is supposed TO have killed
She says she will stay by kim to the end,
| firmly believing in his innocence"