The record-union., 1897-11-11
Judge Bahrs Resets the Date OF
Execution Of the Murderer.
Must Pay the Penalty Tomorrow Morning
for Killing Miss Lamont.
The Condemned Man Receives His
Control-He Was Deathly Pale,
but Without FIinching Faces
the Judge and Listens 1ntently
to His Words.


SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 10.-Williar1
Henry Theodore Durrant, the young
medical student condemned to death for
the murder of Blanche Lamont and
Minnie Williams in this city in April
1898, was brought over from San
Quentin prison to-day, and upon be-
ing taken before Judge Bahrs, shortly
before noon, was sentenced to be
hanged on Friday morning next.
Cleanly shaven, with the exception of
his mustache. which has been allowed
to attain luxurious growth during his
soJourn in prison: attired in his best
surt of clothes, over which he wore a
faultlessly fitting overcoat, light in col
or, Durrant made conspicuous figure
on the train and ferry boat. His reap
pearance 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 people in his affairs was in no way
abated
AT the City Hall there were other
crowds that impeded the progress of the
party. They filled the halls, and il
was with difficulty that they were beat
en- back by the officers on duty in the
corridors near the court room door.
Durrant was taken into the reporters
room, adjoining Judge Bahrs court,
and remained there until the hour for
hearing the case arrived, which was IL
o'clock
MpanUrh hiJp n i'm, no. 5a,af Oh,
ed the corridors and hammered relent-
lessly al the doors of both court room
and ante-room. But Sheriff Whelan
and his men We're on hand, ana the
rush was successfully stayed. when no
more could gain admittance to the court
room.
Promptly at the appointed hour.
Judge Bahrs called upon Durrant to.
stand at the bar. The defendants at
torneys, however, interposed an obiec-
ton TO the proceedings upon technical
grounds, which was, however over
ruled.
William Henry Theodore Durrant.
stand up" ordered the court.
The young murderer stood up. and
then his marvellous self-control assert
ed itself He looked infinitely coo.er.
wonderfully better than he did in the
ante-room. He was deadly pale, but
calm and self-possessed. He faced the
Judge without finching, and listened
intently to the Judges words.
Judge Bahrs reminded him that on
December g. 1895, the judgment Of
death was pronounced upon him for
the murder of Blanche Lamont on April
). 1893; that judgment still remained
in force. An appeal to the State Su-
preme Court had been dismissed, and a
writ of habeas corpus denied in the
United States Circuit Court, and the
refusal affirmed by the Supreme Court
of the United States, the highest trfb-
unal of the land.
His honor quoted Section 1927 of the
Penal Code. providing that if for any
reason a judgment of death still in force
and effect remains unexecuted, the
court shall, on motion of the District
Attorney, appoint time for the hear
ing of any legal reasons existing for the
non-carrying out of the judgment, and,
in the event of finding that no such
reasons exist, shall proceed to appoint a
time and place for the execution.
THE District Attorney has made
such notion" said the Judge land
have summoned you here to-day, with
your counsel, to state any legal reason
you may have to show cause why this
Judgment should not be executed.
am ready TO hear from you"
The defendants attorneys again en-
tered technical objections to the pro-
ceedings but Judge Bahrs, after listen
ing patiently TO all they had to say.
swept their protests aside. and pre-
nounced judgment slowly and Impress
lively. ordering that the young defend
ant. standing alone in the crowded
court room. be hanged on Friday, No
venober 18th. between the hours of sun
rise and noon.
After this order had been read, At
torney Deuprey made an impassioned
address to the court, in which he took
occasion to say that an innocent man
had been condemned TO death
The order read by Judge Bahrs was
as follows:
William Henry Theodore Durrant,
you have been brought into court in
pursuance of an order made by me
upon the application of the District
Attorney of this city and county.
"A judgment of death was hereto
fore. en- December 6. 1895, pronounced
against you for the murder of one
Blanche Lamont on the Sd day of April,
1895, in the City and County of San
Francisco State of California. of which
crime YOU We're duly convicted on the
1st day of November, 1893 as appears
by the remittitur from the Supreme
Court of the State of California, now
on file in this court. Said judgment
and the order denying you a new trial
was affirmed by said Supreme Court.
said judgment still remaining in
full force, the law requires me now to
inquire into the facts. to determine IL
any legal reason or reasons exist
against the execution of the Judgment
of death heretofore pronounced against
YOU
Therefore. William Henry Theodore
Durrant ] now ask You to state any
legal reason you may have why the
court should not proceed to make an
order directing the Sheriff of the City
and County of San Francisco to deliver
Won to the Warden of State prison.
and further directing said Warden TO
ayecuts. at a time now to be fixed by
me. the Judgment of death heretofore
pronouncel against YOU