The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-01
SEATTLE, TUESDAY. JUNE 4.
DURRAST TO DIE.

Gov. sudG. Of California, has decided not
To interfere with the process Of the law in
:he case % Dur-ant. Nobody who read the
testimony AT the trial has any doubt OF his
guilt. There xas the most ample oppor-
f'inity for Durraat 10 prove that he could
not have been at the scene OF the murder
He was arrested only few days after
ward. The first thought of an innocent
ran would have been. Il can easily prove
my innocence. for i was elsewhere a. the
time" He had no such thoughts. His first
efforts were directed to casting suspicion
upon tire pastor, and he trapped himself by
his lying explanations. which were after
ward. and thar very promptly. proved 10
be false.
Nobody saw him kill the girls. and to
that extent there is doubt of his guilt: but
the web OF conviction was most securely
fastened about him. mostly by his own glib
readiness to explain things away which
could not be explained away He lodged
and He'd. but he could find no corrobora-
ton for his stories. One after another was
patiently traced and found to be false. He
WAS accorded most fair trial AT each
repeated request of his that witnesses
might be found. and clues traced. he was
accommodated. but with the never failing
result taat his statements were untrue and
the witnesses worthless as supporters of
his innocence.
IL Is serious matter to take human
life. 1t Is still more serious when that ss
done judiciaiiy. unless IL is accompaniea
by the certainty that IL is punishment of
the right man. There need be no tears
wasted in Durrant's case. His mother Is
az her husband expresses IL. woman Of
determination. aud 1t Is to her credit tha,
she seeks to save her son. But there il
not much sympathy accorded her. Those
who saw how she chatted and laughed at
'hc trial In the presence of the clothes of
tt'c murdered girls, accounted for th, cal
ioasness OF the son. They understood
whence he derived that stoiid irrespon-
atoili'y, the want OF human weakness. He
had locked at the bodies of the murdered
girls without the least show OF feeling
when men who could have had no part.cu-
lar interest IN the subject turned naIe with
horror. and the hardened police officers
were shocked and unnerved. Not 10 Dur-
rant; he was not moved by the awful sight
presented by the abused naked bodies Of
Girls who had been his companions Al the
foosstcoi Of mercy and had been his sis
tcFs In the fold Of Jesus as no would have
expressed II. He has experienced .swhat a
tangled web we weave when first We YEN.
;ure to deceive"
Even since the sentence Of death vas
passed. while he hiss fought like rat IN
corner for hts NE. he has sIep; sonnalv
and ne talks gi:h the narrow ssl3shneSs
which has characterized him throuxhou,
lie hse written TO the governor and IN
others with all sorts II excuses and de-
ices, but he has entirely RETAINED from
ar exrianstiea Of the Hes he iaventex,
when drst arrested ard cniy once has no
referred 10 any prcof tsat no was else.
where than IN Emmanuel church al tina
a'oe the murders mus, have been COM
niitsed. EFe has not recalled the foul r.
mark he INSIDE about one OF the girls when
30 VS. accused. u wss rsrs,ark whlch
shows that the pious Young man was not
20 particular shout the character II tho
etris he associated With. in Sunday school
- oa5 - !t-lf Il were tgue. and it shows
What Az unpriaaa!ea dirty .nlinsie,l fellow
ae Was 10 invent Il. since the testimony Al
the tfiai VAS that Sc ~as absolutely un-
trsc.
The temperament ot the family can he
salassed b. ;1e determination q shs
f1efH"T to Ae present and sac her soa
hanrct. Il may he tho Instinct ~ thc Wild
aoiasai. est thesa are sew nsothers~tnank
C53-weo eau1i 6ginx Themselves 70 sub.
is't 80 sa-. ordeal II HAY oe spartan Iowa
ftr eer odsprlag. bur Is presence tuliy ac-
eaauls soT &c nerve sasA she aaa her soa
hsNf manifested