The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-08
THE EXECUTION.
Died Protesting His Innocence and
Like a Durrantv

San Quentin. Cal, Jan. 7.-When Will
lam Henry Theodore Durrant died on the
gallows this morning for the murder of
Blanche Lamont, he gave such an exhibit
ton of GOODNESS and nerve as has seldom
been seen under similar circumstances.
Hopeful almost to the last that some
thing or someone would intervene to save
him, he walked to the scaffold this morn
ing and made his little speech protesting
his innocence as calmly ana with as DIS
unct enunciation,5 as II he had been ad-
dressing an asSemblage of friends upon
some ordinary topic of the day. His face
was pale his eyes red, but his voice was
firm and he stood as solid as rock while
he proclaimed his innocence and pro-
fsssed forgiveness to those who, ne said,
had bounded him to death.
There was not hitch or accident to
mar the plans of Warden Hale in carry
ing out the sentence of the law The
moose was adjusted. the trap was sprung,
the stout rope held and Durrants dead
body dangled at the end. The neck was
broken by the fall of over five feet, and
10 minutes later the murdererS body was
cut down and placed in the coffin.
Warden Hale did not attempt to hurry
matters but allowed all possible time Tor
some action Finally, when word was
flashed across the continent that the SUI
preme court had declined to interfere, the
warden ordered the programme of the
Durrant, accompanied by Father Lagan,
appeared at the door of the execution
room. He was followed by his father.
friend, Warden Hale and the guards. The
father and his friend walked around the
gallows to the front, while Durrant and
his keepers climbed to the gailows plat
form. Instantly on arriving at the gal
lows his legs and arms were pinioned and
the rope was placed upon 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 | am an
innocent man, innocent Of every crime that
has been charged against me, l bear no
cuted me. not ever the press of San
Francisco, which bounded me to the
grave. If any man thinks / am going to
spring a sensation, / am not, except 1t
is a sensation that l am an innocent man
brought to the grave by my prosecutors.
But 1 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 no the psrpe-
traitors of the crime of which am
charged are discovered it will make no
difference to me now but / say this day
will be a shame to the great state of
California. / forgive everybody who has
prosecuted me. an innocent man, whose
hands have never been stained with blood,
and go to meet my God with forgive
ness for all men,"
The words were delivered slowly and
distinctly and without emphasis. The
eager crowd of spectators grouped closer
to the wooden framework that they might
not lose word of what was being said.
Not a 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 Hang
man Lunt raised his hand. the trap was
sprung and with a rattle Durran'ts body
shot through the opening. There was
sound as of stout rope drawn taut and
a broken-necked criminal swayed to and
fro for a moment, when the body became
motionless. The crowd surged forward
but the Warden's voice was heard to eX-
ever were permitted to go forward, where
they felt the pulse and finally decided that
Durrant was dead.
In Just IL minutes and IS 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 10 minutes, when 1t was cut
down and placed in a black coffin provid-
ed by an undertaken from San Francisco.
IT is not yet known what disposition of
the body will be made. as Durrant's par
ents have been so far unable to secure ac-
conamodations in any of the local ceme-
teries for the body of their son. 1t is very
probable that the body will be cremat ted.
As soon as the drop fell. the spectators
were hurried out of the room, and no.
body remained except the physicians and
newspaper men,
His father. who stood with Redeemed
eyes, though fearless on the floor in front
of his son. showed back the nearest by
ISLANDERS as though fearful that they
should fail in respect to one so near his
earthly end. But the crowd. though
GREATNESS and curious. was not exultant.
There was not a mob and no sound of
approval or the contrary disturbed the
CHASTITY proceedings.
Mrs. Durrant did not witness the eXecu
ton. She remained in room in the lower
part of the prison. and showed unmistak-
able signs of grief tempered with dog
ged desire to create the impression that
She was toe proud to weep.
The prison officials were all enthusiastic
in their praise of Durrants nerve. 1t
had been feared by them that in spite of
his apparent bravado that the con-
demned man would break down at the
last moment and make a scene. At one
time. several days ago. Durrant gave evil
dences of a collapse. but he managed to
pull his nerves together once more. rand
declined all offers of stimulants
to enable him to make bold showing on
the scaffold. The criminal was apparently
proud of his race. and vowed that he
-ould d like q Durrant-"