The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-01-11

Religious Services n Hitch In the Exc
cution-His Parents Present
San Quentin, Cal, January 7.-WThen
William Henry Durrant died on the
gallows this morning for the murder of
Blanche Lamont he gave such an ex-
hfbitfon of GOODNESS and nerve. as has
seldom been seen under similar cir
cumstances. Hopeful almost to the
very last minute that g ..lething or
some one would intervene % save him,
he walked to the scaffold and made a
speech, protesting his innocence as
calmly and with as distinct e~nuncia-
ton as if he had been addressing an
~assemblage Of friends upon some ordi-
nary topic of the day. His face was
pale, his yes were red, but his voice
was firm and he stood as solidly as a
rock while he proclaimed his innocence
and prOfeSsed forgiveness to those
who, he said, had bounded him to
death.
There was not a hitch or an acct
dent TO mar the plans of Warden Hale
in carrying out the sentence Of the
law. The neck was broken by the fan
of five feet, and fifteen minutes later
the murderer's body was cut down and
placed in a coffin.
In spite of the exciting events Of last
night when Durrant was besieged by
newspaper reporters and talked to his
parents until 1870 o'clock, he rested
easily during the might and shortly aft
ter 6 o'clock aWOke and babe his
guards good morning. Warden Hale
had provided a new suit Of dark ma
terial and these clothes Durrant quick
1y dOnned. He noticed the absence of
collar and necktie, however, and
knowing full we'll the reason for their
omission he asked for them, explain
ing that a turn down collar would not
interfere with the moose. Then he sat
down to an excellent breakfast and ate
heartily. During the early morning
hours Durrant did not have much to
say beyond expressing a desire that no
men should be allowed to
see him. This request was complied
with.
Consistent to the last, Durrant died
protesting religion. But he died, ac-
cepting at the last. moment, the COM
forts Of the Catholic church instead of
those of the Baptist faith in which he
was reared. Rev. RAIDER, a Protestant
minister, had arranged to ascend the
scaffOld with Durrant, but the minis
ter would not say that he thought Dur
rant innocent and the condemned man
declined to accept his services unless
RAIDER prOfessed belief in his innocence.
Then it WIS that the once ardent Bap-
tiSt turned to the Catholic church for
consolation and called upon Father
Lagan, a priest who had frequently
visited him in prison, to attend him.
Father Lagan responded promptly and
performed the last solemn rites eff the
church. Durrant remained in close
concentration wi tb tho u1r,ia-t n ND cdnapo-
ed to be deeply interested in the i'm
pressive ceremonies.
AS the hour Of the execution APP
preached the prisoner became some
what restless His father and mother
were admitten to bid him a last fare
we'll. The elder Durrant grasped his
son by the hand and the young man
then turned to comfort his mother who
cried Historically. Durrant embraced
her tenderly and saying: The hour
has come for us to part" part her
gently away. The grief-stricken moth
er was led to a private room where
she remained until after the execution.
The father, however, went to the ex-
ecutiOn room and, supported by two
friends. saw his son meet his death.
Warden Hale did not attempt to hur-
Ty matters but allowed all possible
time for the supreme court at Wash
ingtOn to take some action. Finally
when word was flashed across the con-
tinent that the supreme court had de-
-cIined to interfere the warden ordered
the execution of the sentence to be
carried out.
At 1924 o'clock Durrant, accOmpan-
led by Father Lagan, appeared at the
door of the execution room. He was
followed by his father, a friend, War
den Hale and the guards. The father
and friend walked around the gallOws
to the front while Durrant and his
keepers climbed to the galIOWs plat
form.
Instantly on arriving at the galloWs
his legs and arms were pinioned and
the rope was placed about his neck.
The hangman was about to adjust the
black cap, when Durrant announced
his desire to speak. Permission was
given and the doomed murderer spoke
as follows:
Il desire to say that although I am
an innocent man, innocent of every
crime that has been charged against
me, / bean no luminosity toward those
that have prosecuted me, not even the
press of a Francisco, which bounded
me to the grave. If any man thinks l
am going to spring a sensation, 1 am
not, except that I am an innocent man
OuSIl ~ liz slave NY IiS PCISCtu-
tors But I forgive them all. They will
get their justice from the great God
who is master of us all and there I
also expect to get justice; that is, the
Justice of an innocent man. Whether
or not the perpetrators of the crime of
which I am charged with are discover
ed. it will make no difference. to me
now, but / say this day will be a shame
to the great state of California. I for
give everybody who has prosecuted 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 We're delivered Slowly and
distinctly and without emphasis.
Durrant 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 a
rattle Durrant's body shot through the
opening. In eleven minutes and TWEEN
u Aaicrbt+ coonndc oil cicrnS of lisa bod