The San Francisco call., 1897-11-12
DURRANT is HAPPY.
Rec oiVeS the News of His ReprleVe
With Every Nantes tation
IF


SAN QUENTIN PRISON, Nov. IL
Durrant awoke from refreshing sleep
| about $3.50 o'clock this morning, and as
| soon as he opened his eyes he jumped
from his couch and bid the men of the
death watch CHEEKY good orning.
The murderer slept we'll. His guards
said he hardly moved during the night,
and his sleep from the time he put his
Bible aside the night before until he
| awoke this morning was calm and peace
full. He announced that he was ready for
breakfast as soon as he had washed and
dressed himself. He ate heartily, and
after his morninr meal asked for paper
and pen and busted himself writing.
Captain E1gar called on him early in
the forenoon and DurrGnt again requested
him to deliver his body after the execu-
ton to his parents unmut.lated by post
mortem examination, and not 10 forget to
burn the rope with which he should be
hanged. The murderer said ne would see
no one during the day exec pit his mother
and father.
II want to thank you, Captain" he
said, as EIgar prepared TO leave him.
"for your Kindness 10 me- | am pre- pared
for the end of my lie, and l hope TO at
tair the bles ed hereafter. ! have tried to
live good life in this world, and L be-
lieve that when man is conscientious in
his beliefs and honorable in his dealings
with his fellow-men he need have no fear
for the future"
Soon after Captain Edgar left him DR..
LawIor, the PRISON surgeon. called at his
cell.
"If there is anything I can do for you,
Durrant," said the doctor. II am willing
to do all in my power. q you feel that
you should require any stimulant 10 bear
you up in the tinaI ordeal do not hesitate
10 call for it,"
Il will not require it," replied Durrant
II hav. prepared myself for the end of
this lie and l hope for the future. Let
Inc thank you for yonr kindness to me.
He ale a hearty dinner and after he
meal wrote for an hour, then be took b
B BILE and was reading calmly, resting on
his cot, when The guards handed him
note announcing that the Supreme Court
had ordered stav OF execution.
Thank God. thank Cod" exclaimed
Durrant as the llttle slip OF paper that
Captain Edgar sent TO him telling him Of
his respite. tluttered from his hand and
the condemned man dropped to his knees
be side the couch in his cell and ferven:ly
prayed for moment. Tears came 20 his
eyes, but tie quickly brushed them away
and with firm tread stepped across the
death chambe and shaking hands with
thanked him for tue news he brought.
II expected it. l hoped for II and it has
come" he said as he glanced around his
cell, and lie became as spiri e d As a school
boy out for holiday. II told my father
l would not go to the ealows on Friday.
and my words have proved true. l will
not hang as Judge Bahrs said l must"
For half an hour the murderer chatted
with hi, guards, and when the bell in the
tower near the jute mill announced the
supper hour Durraut said he had a fairly
good appetite. A few minutes later
steaming and dainty lunch was brought
TO the condemned cell, and Durrant was
quite cheerful as he ate.
Il was almost certain would hear such
news this afternoon he sa q, as he
picked over his food, "but if it Lad not
come l was prepared 10 meet tie doom
that was announced 10 be my fate. l was
ready Tor 1t. -.
As Durrant was chatting with his guards
his old c.ll in murderers' row was being
prepared to again receive him. After his
supper the three guards who had for day
condemned cell and down the long stair
way TO The prison yard and over to Cap
tain Edgar's office.
About the time Durrant reached Cap
tain Edgar's office Wa den Hale, who had
been ali dav in San Francisco. and Mrs.
Durrant, arrived at the prison. Warden
Hale had heard rumors of the stay of ex-
ecution on the way from the city, and
wher he landed from his carriage tele-
gram was handed him officially an
nouncing the action OF the court. thread;
SACRAMENTO Nov. IL.
". 2. Hale, Warden San Quentin Prison, Ca:
Six JustIc S have signed u certificate OF prob
able cause for DuIrant's appeal from the or
der of Judge Bahrs. This stays execution.
Order On the way.
W. H. BEATTIE, Chief Justice.
The Warden doubled the authenticity
of the dispatch and he wired TO Prison
Director Robert T. D,vlin 1T Sacramento to
corroborate it. Thi, was the dl~ patch he
received from the Prison Director:
SACRAMENTO, Nov. l1-W Hale. Stctc
Prison, San Quentin-Snpreme Court has nede
an order Of probable cause and has stopped
all proceedings until further order of court
and accordingly YOU will po stpone execution
ROBERT I. DEvLIN. Director
Mrs. nurrant sat chatting with friends
in the office of the prison discussing the
news from tie capital when guard an
nounced that the murderer was ready to
receive his mother. She was ushered in
through the prison gates by Captain Biz
lem, who acct mpanied her to the room
where her son was waiting. They rushed
into each others arms, crying for Joy, then
retired to a corner Of the loom and talked
IN Whispers 1or ABOUT quarter OF an
hour
The murderer was then taken to the cell
he had long occupied in mnrderers' row,
and the captain of the yard announced
to the friends waiting outside that Dur
rant had signified that ae would retire at
once and would see no one
Il could scarcely bel eve the news"
said Mrs Durrant, when it was told 10
me on the train on my way over TO the
prison. L had hoped for il, but had al
most gven up in despair The dispatch
received by The Warden, which he read
10 me on my arrival here, assured me that
it was correct and, OF course, l am glad.
II intended foreman with nv son until
late tom ght, then bid him farewell in the
morning ii 1t should come to that. l
proposed 10 remain with friends near the
prison until 1t was over, but now / will
retire with happy heart. knowing that
my son will DO spared to me longer than
Tomorrow"
The father of the murderer arrived on
the late train from the city and reached
the prison some time after Mrs. Durrant
had bade her boy good night. He made
no effort 10 see his son, but simply sent
word to him announcing his pleasure at
the respite.
Eugene Deuprey reached the prison
about midnight on tug from San Fran
cisco. He had win h n, a eor,ifiad cnnv