The age-herald., 1898-01-08

animosity towards those who have perse- cuted me, not even the press of San Fran cisco, which bounded me to the grave If any man thinks 1 am going to spring a sensation. am not, except it is a sensation that am an innocent man brought to the grave by my prosecutors. But l forgive them all. They will get their justice from the great God, who is master of us all, and there also expect to get justice that is the justice of an innocent man. Whether or not the perpetrators of the crime of which charged are discovered, it makes no difference to me now. but I say this day will be a shame to the great state of Cali fornia. I forgive everybody who has per secuted me, an innocent man whose hands have never been stained with blood, and go to meet my God with forgiveness for all men,"
 The words were delivered slowly and distinctly and without emphasis. The eager crowd of spectators gathered closer to the wooden framework that they might not lose word of what was being said. Not sound could be heard except the even tones of the man about to die. Dur rant finished quietly and had scarcely ceased when the black cap was placed over his face. At the same instant Hangman Lunt raised his hand, the trap was sprung, and with rattle Durrant's body was shot through the opening. There was a sound as of a stout rope drawn taut and broken neck and the body waved to and fro for a moment, when it became motionless. The crowd surged forward, but the warden's voice was heard to exclaim: Stand back The doctors, however, were permitted to go forward, and they felt the pulse and finally decided that Durrant was dead.
 Was Officially Bead.
 In just eleven minutes and twenty-eight seconds all signs of life had vanished and the most noted criminal of the nineteenth century was officially dead. The body was allowed to hang for fifteen minutes, when 1t was cut down and placed in black coffin provided by an undertaken from San Francisco. It is not yet known what dis position of the body will be made, as Durrant's parents have been so far unable to secure location in any of the local cemeteries for the body of their son. It is very probable that the body will be ere mated.
 As soon as the drop fell the spectators hurried out of the room and nobody re- mained except physicians and newspaper men.
 Durrant, Sr, went immediately to his wife, who was awaiting in one. of the guard rooms, and together they accompanied the body of the son to San Francisco.
 The prison officials were all enthusiastic in their praise of Durrants nerve. It had been feared by them that in spite of his apparent bravado, the condemned man would break down at the last moment and make scene. At one time several days ago Durrant gave evidence of a collapse, but he managed to pull his nerves together once again, and proudly declined offers of stimulants to enable him to make bold showing on the scaffold. The criminal was apparently proud of his race, and avowed that he would "die like a Durrant"
 No Autopsy Held
 Durrant's most urgent request of War den Hale was that no autopsy be held on his body. The prisoners medical training seemed to have imbued him with horror of the surgical treatment of corpses, and he vowed that no knife should ever touch his flesh. He also requested that the rope with which he was hanged be burned. His wishes in both respects were observed by the warden.
 It was a sad day not only for Durrant but for eight other murderers who are con- fined in San Quentin prison, and whose fate depended on the success of the efforts of Durrant's attorneys in his behalf. They were all prepared to follow the same tac- tics for delay, but now that the courts have shown that it is possible to hang mur- derer in California, they have given up hope.