The San Francisco call., 1897-12-16
THE USUAL CURIOUS CROWD.
His Honor Promises Trouble for
Deuprey Because of an
Affidavit.
1T CONTAINED SOME ADDITIONS.
There Is No More Hope" Is the
General Opinion of Lawyers
and the Laity.
IT CONTAINED SOME ADDITIONS.

.~T-cl11 murderer of Blanche Lamont.
stood before the bar of justice and heard
the hour named on which he should die.
he proceedings were but little different
from those formerly had on similar occa-
slons, but to yesterdays drama was added
something that may bear fruit later. Eu-
gene Deuprey, leading counsel for Dur
rant, rests under the serious displeasure
OF the court, for, il is charged. altering an
ahdavit after it had practically been filed
with the court Judge Bahrs threatens
conte mpt proceedings.
ne murderer was brought across the
bay from the San Quentin prison to Jud ge
Bahrs' courtroom and the convicted man
was given twentv-three days TO live after
sentence was pronounced. The court or
dered that he should be returned to the
custody OF the warder of the San Quentin
prison and that that official should on
Friday, January 7, 1898, between the
hours of sunrise and noon, intlict the
death penalty.
Durrant took the sentence of the court
calmly, and after the Judge had lett the
bench he turned and chatied cheeriully
with his attorneys ana The few friends
VINO had collected about him.
In his conversation with his friends he
stouuy maintained his innocence, and
said that be believed before the time
should arrive for him 10 mount The gall
lows tie truth would be known, and per-
baps some other person would take his
place IN the condemned cell. He reviewed
the testimony given at the trial of the
murder Of Blanche Lamont on which he
was convicted, and said that all the wit
nesses did not tell the truth. Some OF
them, [ believe" he said, ''were honestly
mistaken, but others had some motive for
taelr false testimony"
lie maintained that he was at the lee
4 re at the Cooper Medical College on
" afternoon of April 3, the day
"a which Blanche Lamont was muir
dered. and that Mr.. Vogel did not
see him waiting near the Normal School
for the girl who was murdered, and that
LeC testimony contradicted that Of the
tlree Schoolgirls.
He picked flaws in the evidence given
by nearly all of the Witnesses who ap-
Peared against him, and said that if the
public and the pol ice want TO know who
the murderer IS they should give him a
JIial fer the murder of Minnie Williams,
on which he is now charged, and he and
his attorneys would point the finger OF
suspicion in another direction.
Il am prepared for eternity" he said
on his way back to his cell IN murderers'
row ct San Quentin, land if it comes to
that l am ready. l have hoped three times
before against death and my hopes have
been realized. Ny attorneys told me this
morning that / have nothing TO fear, and
l have implicit confluence in them. Oar
resources are not ended yet and the time
will come when my innocence of the
(. 1,ok, l L l.
tablished.
a guard raped on the heavy steel door
of cell y in murdeTers' row at 30 yester-
DAY morning and reused Durrant out OF a
sound sleep. You have little time TO
lose, the train leaves in an hour" said
;he guard be swung open the door and
Summoned the convicted murderer TO pre-
pare TO hear the hour when he would be
marched TO the gallows-
The prisoner was taken directly 10 the
cloIhing-Toom, where his convict garb
was exchanged for the suit his mother
, carried TO the prison the day before. After
le had eaten breakfast he was taken TO
the heavy iron gates in the prison wall
rnd turned over to Chief Jailer Sattler
and Deputy Sheriff J. J. Degan, who rep
resented Sheriff Wheian, 4nd the journey
commenced to the courtroom.
Camera fends were waiting Tor him all
along the line, and almost every move
ment lie made was photographed. Crowds
hung about the depot at TIburon and al
the ferry depot to catch q gllm pse of the
murderer. but his guards rushed him
from one conveyance to another so
quickly that only fieeting glance could
be had of him. He reached the City Hall
about an hour before the time for The
court to open, and he sat with his guards
IN a room adjoining the courtroom wait
ing for the appearance OF Judge Bahrs.
Ten O'Clock came, and on The hour
u RI
panied by his keepers, his counsel and
his father. He was lreeted with a buzz
and q hum of interest, craning OF necks,
q creaking OF chairs and benches as those
in the rear sought higher points of
vantage. and, unrestricted by the presence
Of the Judge, the murmur rose and rose
until every one seemed o have turned 10
mis- neighbo- to whisper over and over
again, There he is.
He seated himself at the table in the
same cd position so familiar TO habItuaI
"DIrrant-goers" and stood without finch
ing the stare OF lOUO eyes, Tor the court
room was packed.
1t was essentially a theater crowd. Peo-
pie in The front rows were requested to re-
main seated and wom-n with big hats,
aud there were many, were referred to The
RottauzI ordinance; in the gallery gen.
tlemen were requested TO remain bare
headed even before court opened, and no
one smiled when in strident tones
Deputy Sheriff announced 'Youse gen.
tlemen will have to move away and get
seats. The ladies can't see."
1 Judge Bahrs entered with Judge Carroll
Aok. 1t was Judge Cook commcdious
c4 rlroom which had been selected Tor
tit star legal proceeding OF the day, and
so lis presiding genius was invited 10 lend
his presence on the bench.
Eugene Deuprey opened proceedings by
remarking, III your Honor please"
T en- he waited while the Judge arranged
ms papers. There was 20 calling Of cal
endars no asking for "readies"; there
was only one thing which could draw
such a crowd, and it was better TO proceed
g. once TO business.
When the judicial recognition had been
accorded the waiting at orney, he pro-