The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-11
Murderer of Blanche Lamont and Min
ME Williams Taken to San Fran
cisco and Resentenced.
HIS NERVE STILL WITH HIM
NEVER FLINCHED WHEN THE JUDGE
PRONOUNCED HIS DOOM.
Murmur of Horror in the Courtroom
When the Words "Friday, Nov. 12,"
Were SpOken-Murder of "a Curate.

SAN FRANCISCO Cal, Nov. 10-WiI-
liam Henry Theodore Durrant, the young
medical student condemned to death for the
murder of Blanche Lamont and Minnie Will
lianas in this city IN April 1895, was brought
over from San Ql sutin prison to-day, and,
on being taken b. ore Judge Bahers short
ly before noon, was sentenced to be hanged
on Friday morning next
Cleanly shaven, with the exception of his
mustache, which has been allowed to at
tain a luxuriant growth during his sojourn
in the prison, attired in his best suit of
clothes, over which he wore q faultlessly
fitting overcoat, light in color, Durrant
made conspicuous figure on 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 interest of the peo-
pie in his affairs has in no way abated
At the City Hall there were great crowds
that impeded the progress of the party.
They filled the halls, and it was with diff
Guilty that they were beaten back by the
officers. An impatient mob also thronged
the corridors and hammered relentlessly at
the doors of both courtroom and anteroom,
but Sheriff Whelan and his men were on
hand, and the rush was successfully stopped
when no more could gain admttance.
AT II o'clock Judge Bahers called on Dur
rant to stand at the bar The young muir
derer stood up, and then his marvellous self
control asserted itself. He looked infinitely
cooler, wonderfully better than he did in
the anteroom. He was deadly pale, but
calm and possessed. The defendants
attorneys entered technical objections to the
proceedings. but the judge overruled them
and pronounced judgment slowly and i'm
pressively, ordering that the young defend
ant be hanged on Friday, Nov. II, between
the hours of sunrise and noon.
AS the words Friday, Nov. 49, left the
Judges lips murmur of horror rang
through the room. Two short days to pre-
pare for death. after two years of false
hope and encouragement. Women hid their
faces, while men craned their neclks to see
how Durrant would take it. He expected
it; he never fiinched. AS the date of his
doom was pronounced just the suspicion of
a sneer appeared on the corners of his
mouth. 1t was the expression of one who
would bid defiance to the last. And when
all was over and the officials began to clear
the courtroom, he resumed his seat and
chatted unconcernedly with his father and
some sympathizing friends. When the gap
ing mob was disposed of Durrant was hand
cuffed and taken back to San Quentin and
the condemned cell.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1O.-Attorney Cen
eral Fitzgerald, of California, who has been
here for some time representing the State
in the Durrant and other cases in the
United States Supreme Court, in which the
State is interested, said to-day that he did
not consider a motion to expedite the send
ing down of the mandate for the Supreme
Court necessary. He added the opinion that
the California courts could proceed in the
Durrant case. regardless of the mandate
and stated that he had so advised the prop
er California authorities In taking this po-
sition he quoted the opinion of the Supreme
Court in the Jugiro case, in which it was
held that the stav of proceedings involved
in appeal to the Supreme Court ended
with the rendering of a decision by that
court, and did not extend to the time nee
eSSary in forwarding the courts mandate.
In view of this opinion, Mr. Fitzgerald held
that it would not be necessary for the state
courts to delay their proceedings for the
thirty days necessary to secure the Supreme
Courts mandate, or for him to move its
expedition 1t was necessary for the trial
court to resentence Durrant.