The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-12
tXtCU HON PREPARED FOR
WHEN THE STATE SUPREME
COURT INTERVIEWED.
LAWYERS DELAY The EXECUTION
Uurant Gave Thanks to God When He Was
lod- he Still Contends That He is Inno-
cent and He Will Never Say He
Committed The Murders.


Committed The Murders,
San Francisco. CAL, Nov. 11.-William
Henry theodore Durrant will not he
hanged at Sanquetin tomorrow after
all, the Supreme court of this State hav-
ing granted HIM another respite ut the
eleventh hour. Up TO four O'Clock this
afternoon, when the news flashed over
the wires from Sacramento, that the
court, now IN SESSION there had granted
wit OF probable cause, and instructed
warden Hale not to carry out the eXecu-
ton of Durrant until further orders
tn@re Was apparent no further hope for
the condmned murderer of Blanche La
mont and Minnie Williams, as his attor-
neys, Messrs Dickinson and Boardman
had made futile effort to secure anoth-
er writ OF habeas corpus in the United
States court and had not even been
granted permission to appeal from that
decision tC the upreme court of the Uni
ted States.
MeanWh lie, however, attorney Duprey
fastened to Sacramento and applied TO
the State Supreme court for writ of
probable cause. for the purpose of stay
ing the proceedings against his client
upon the ground that no official knowi-
edge of the action of the Supreme court
of the United States in the matter of
l)urrant's appealing from the decision of
the Federal court had been received:
that the Superior court had acted too
hastily in sentencing Durrant to be
hanged tomorrow as the law required
that he he given at least sixty DAYS
grace: and thirdly. that the pendency of
Fn apreal in the Supreme court affect
ing the condemned was of itself suffi-
cient cause for stay Of execution. The
matter WIS partially argued in Chambers
and later argued before the full court
and taken under advisement. Shortly
afterward the court announced it's deci-
SION. granting the writ applied for, in
which al the justices concurrad.
DURRANT NOTIFIED.
Sanquetin Prison. Cal. Nov. 11.-This
has been day of suppressed excitement
in and about the penitentiary. The pre-
paration 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
seemed no further appeal. The man
alone was hopeful that he might yet
obtain longer lease of life. He spenr
the greater part OF the day in reading
and had little to say TO any one At
5:3O p. m. the news that the Supreme
Court had granted a reprieve was re-
celYed at the prison in a message to
Warden Hale from Chief Justice Beatty.
Capt. --dgar, who opened the dispatch
in the absence OF the warden, immed:-
ately wrote n note conveying the infor-
nation to the condemned man. The
message was sent to the death cell by
guard. Durrant quickly read it, 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 reached
the prison. the news was told to her.
She was cheerful on the way over, say
ing that she had put her faith in God
and felt that He would not desert her.
On arrival at the prison she was in
formed that her sons life had been
spared and that she might see him
later.
Thank Cod" she said.
Then she went to hotel for rest and
refreshments. At p. m. she returned
to the prison and was admitted to Capt
Edgars office where her boy was wait
ing to meet her. The death veil was re-
moved and Durrant was brought down
to the office and it VIII not again be
placed over the prisoner unless requir-
ed by future developments in the case.
Mrs. Durrant remained with her son
in close conversation for some time.
An Associated Press reporter was
subsequently admitted to the prison of
flee, where Durrant and his mother
were seated on sofa in each others
arms. Durrant had expressed a desire
to make statement to the Associated
Press, and in the course of an interview
said:
Naturally I was greatly elated at the
news of the reprieve, although my first
informa ton, based on a telephone mes
sage, was not positive. Soon after
wards, the news was confirmed. All
could do was to thank God"
WAS the reprieve a surprise" was
asked.
Not exactly. All along I have had
perfect faith in my God. This after
noon | was visited by two sisters of
charity, and believe that their pray
ers and the prayers of all those who
have interceded for me have been in
strumental in bringing about this re-
suit"
Then Durrant remarked that he could !
not understand why Christian people |
should beg him in LETTERS TO confess
81 am innocent" he said, "and would |
never confess TO such vile crime |
Sooner or later the truth will he known.
] have faith that the real perpetrator
will yet be discovered and punished. All