The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-12
DURRANT STILL ALIVE
A Respite From the State Supreme
Court at the Eleventh Hour.
HOW HE RECEIVED THE NEWS.

Declares That the Hand of God Is In
the Delay, and Again Asserts His
Innocence of the Crime For Which
He Is Condemned to Death.
San Francisco, Nov. 12.-Willinu
Henry Theodore Durrant was not
hanged at San Quentin today, the su-
preme court Of this state having
granted another respite at the eleventh
hour. Durrants attorney appealed for
the writ to prevent the execution upon
the grounds that no official knowledge
E Of the action of the supreme court of
the United States had yet been re-
ceived, and that the superior court had
acted too hastily in sentencing Dur
rant TO be hanged today. as the law re-
quired that he be given at least 60
days grace.
Yesterday was day Of suppressed
excitement in and about the peniten-
tiary at San Quentin. The preparations
for the execution of Durrant had all
been completed and the prison officials
were in readiness to carry out the
death sentence, from which there seem
ed no further appeal. The man alone
was hopeful that he might yet obtain
a 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.
Captain Edgar, who opened the dis
patch In the absence of the warden.
Immediately wrote a note conveying
the information to the condemned man.
The message was sent to the death
cell by guard. Durrant quickly read
1t, and without any great display Of
emotion fell on his knees and prayed
silently for several minutes.
Mrs. Durrant, the mother of the pris-
oner, was passenger on the $3.50 boat
from San Francisco. When she reach-'
ed the prison the news was told to her.
She was cheerful on the way over,
saying that she had put her faith in
God. and felt that he would not desert
her On arrival at the prison she was
informed that her sons life had been
spared. and that she might see him
later.
THANK God" she said
Then she went to Il hotel for rest and
refreshments. At 7 p. m. she returned
to the prison and was admitted to Cap
tain Edgar's office, where her boy was
waiting to meet her. The death veil was
removed and Durrant was brought
down to the office and 1t will not again
be placed over the prisoner unless re-
quired by future developments in the
case. Mrs. Durrant remained with her
son in close conversation for some
time.
\ reporter was subsequently admit
ted to the prison office. where Durrant
and his mother were seated on sofa
In each others arms. Durrant had ex-
pressed a desire to make statement to
the press, and in the course of an In
tervlew he said: Naturally / was
greatly elated at the news Of the re-
prieVe, although my first information.
based on a telephone message, was not
positive. Soon after the news was con-
firmGd. All l could do was to thank
God"
WAS the repieve a surprise?" was
asked.
Not exactly. All along I have had
perfect faith in my God. This afternoon
was visited by two Sisters of Charity,
and I believe that their prayers and
the prayers of all those who have in
terceded for me have been instrumental
in bringing about the result"
Then Durrant remarked that he
could not understand why Christian
people Should bring him in letters to
confess.
II am Innocent" he said. land would
never confess to such vile crime.
Sooner or later the truth will be known.
] have faith that the real perpetrator
will yet be discovered and punished.
All of these little stays bring US
nearer It. know that the Lord viii
or later set all things right I
shall never give up the fight. because
the Lord is with me-" he added. en-
bracng and kissing his mother.
On Mrs. Durrants face was a smiIa
of contentment, but the son looked sad
and his eyes were dull. He earnestly re-
peated many times that faith In God
would save him in the future as In the
past.
You may say am innocent" said
Durrant in conclusion. Il win never
yield. and God is with me-"