Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-01-07
Execution Of Durrant.

the city and found no relief. Between
their client and the gallows they could
interpose no more substantial barriers
than certified copies of futile proceed
ings and an empty warning to the
warden of San Quentin prison. The
Governor finally and fatty refused to
intervene.
II am, may say, Catholic. I think
I shall send for Father Lagan," re-
marked Durrant unconcernedly this
morning. SIT ia not that | care for
creeds, but for faith-the faith that has
sustained me in my awful position. do
not care TO 20 over the long, long story
which has been told go many times:
The case is ended and I an satisfied
that everything has been done for me
that could have been done by my law.
yers. My only sorrow is for those 1
leave behind. God has me in His
keeping and BE makes no mistakes"
SAN QUENTIN PRISON, CAL, Jan. l.
The morning of Theodore Durrant's
last day broke with a cloudless sky.
The prisoner retired at midnight and
by 1 o'clock was sound asleep. He
rested quietly all night, not disturbing
the death watch in any way. At 6:2O
a. m. he awoke and bidding the guards
good morning dressed himself in neat
suit of black provided for the execu.
ton. Durrant remarked that the socks
sent him were little light in color
and the captain procured q pair of
darker shade.
"You never saw cooler man." said
Captain Edgar. HE is calmer than
you or I not the least bit nervous.
There is no danger that he will weak
en-. He has nerve and is determined
to die bravely."
When w. III. T. Durrant awoke at
$40 O'Clock this morning he was ap-
parently greatly refreshed by his nights
sleep, which had been sound and peace
full throughout the night. When his
breakfast was brought in he ate
heartily and with evident relish Of
steak, toast and fruit. After discussing
his last meal Durrant read a chapter
from his Bible. Shortly afterward
Mrs. Durrant called at the prison and
was admitted to the death chamber for
q last interview with her son. Rev.
Father Lagan was subsequently sent
for. and the priest at once responded
and made the necessary arrangements
for the introduction of Durrant into the
Catholic faith. The condemned man
had refused to see Protestant ministers.
At $50 a. N. Warden Hale visited the
death chamber for the purpose of read
ing the death warrant to the condemn
ed man, who listened to the we'll known
contents of that document with re.
spectful attention and no outward sign
OF fear. Later Father Lagan gave the
prisoner extreme JUNCTION and the
Catholic service was performed. He
then oonversed with his parents for a
few minutes, and shortly after 10 o'clock
babe them farewell for the last time
and prepared for his march to the scat
fold. Before starting for the scaffold
Durrant, in voice emotionless and ap.
pirently unaffected, made a short
speech. There was no sincerity in the
mans words. They were. cold and
passiorless. At 1885 a. m the trap
was sprung on Durrant. BE died
bravely, his last words being II am in
nocent." He had assembled the scaffold
calmly. His death was apparently 2
painless. The body was cut down
fifteen minutes after the fall, when it
was found that Durrants neck had
been broken.
William Henry Theodore Durraut, who
was hanged at the State prison at San Quen.
tin to day for the murder of Blanche Iamo 1T,
q member of the church to which he belong
ed, was held responsible by public opin-
ion for the murder of both Blanche LAMONT
and Minnie Williams, and it is fell. that his
death expiates one crime as much as the other.
Durrant had been prominent member of the
Emanuel Baptist Church, and for year pre-.
vious to his arrest had been assistant superin.
tendent of the Sunday school. In this capa.
city be made the acquaintance OF Blanche
Lamont and Minnie Williams. Mis-, Lamont
disappeared on April 3, 1895, and was neyor
seen alive afterwards. Many members of |
Emanuel Church assisted in the search for |
the missing girl, and among others was Dur. |
rant, who had often acted as Bliss Iamont's |
escort. Ten days after Miss Ism ont disap. |
peared the ladies of Emanuel Church were |
engaged in decorating the edifce preparatory
to the celebration of tho Easter services,
when the mangled body of Minnie Willisms
was found, almost naked, in the library. A
number Of knife wounds and SEINE rags that
had been forced down she young woman's
throat told OF the unequal struggle she had
made to protect her honor. She had been
seen the evening before with Durrant, ana
although there Was nothing else to show that
nc had sny connection with the crime, the
police arrested him From the first the DO.
ice associated the finding of Miss Willisms's
body with the disappearance of Miss Lamont,
and search was ct once begun in the churos
Tor her body. The door leading to tho belfry
If the church was broken down. Up the
winding stairs the searchers CROPPED their
way, aid lying ct the corner of the darkened !
oelfry the naked body Of the murdered girl
vas found. The imprint Of five fngera buried
n her throat revealed the manner in which
The young woman met her death. The post
nortem examination sh0wed that murder was
1ot the only crime that had been committed
Onrrant protected his innocence to the hour
ii his death, but the evidence against him
accumulated rapidly. The trial was one of
The most celebrated in or minal Jurisprudence.
Nearly 1900 talesmen were examined hafore
jury was secured. The evidence through.
'ut was circumstantia, but when taken 70.
'ether formed chain 90 strong as to admit of
10 reasonable doubt. The case was submitted
0 the Jury on November LIST, 1895, after
laviog been on trial over three months.
twenty minutes after they left the court
Dom the jurors returned and rendered a
'erdict of guilty of murder in the fTst degree.
purrsnt was never tried for the murder Of
Hiss Williams. but the evidence OF his guilt
vas as conclusive IS in the Lamont case.
A Fraudulent Pensioner.