Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-01-13
DURRANT HANGED AT LAST
The Supreme Court Of the United States
Refused 10 Interfere.
DROP FELL AT 1885 O'CLOCK
Declared That He Died in the
Catholic Faith.
CLOSE OF A SENSATIONAL AFFAIR

San Quentin Prison, Cal, Jan. -
With eyea rivetei on Washington,
fguratiynly speaking, the father and
mother OF Theo lore Durrant spent last
night IN n littla inn outado the priaon
walls, while their son MAIDS a desperate
effort TO so calm bis nerves that he
might spend in sleep the most OF his
remaining hours.
The prisoners every breath wac fol-
lowed by six watchful eyes, never for
minute withdrawn. The vigilance of
the deathwatch had increased with tho
passage OF every day and hour. Always
fearful of an attempt Mt suicide in the
case of condcmnod prisoner, they had
been trebly cautious IN their espionage
since Durrant WIS committed to their
keeping, His trimming in Il mcIiiual
college. where his favosi.e study was
anatomy, had so qualified him for
facility in self-deHtructivoness that his
prism guardians were apprehensivs of
his slightest move. They had q precise
ami absolute knowledge OF how he
might commit suicide. Tho most in-
nocent looking pencil was not allowed
to get near his face, lest, with his
knowledge Of anatomy, he might iah it
through his eyes into his brain. The
NtTb lNdNtSt
for everything, and when, yesterday,
the number OF his watchers was in
urease1 from two to three, Durrant
would havo had difficulty in making
the slightest move wnicn could not lie
promptly stopped. He. apparently, had
no thought of suicide. Ho passed his
waking hours Ia prayer, ami when. last
night, the prison physician remarked
reassuringly that he would come to him
in the morning, prepared to give him
atimulants, his significant smile and
easy measured tone told, if he had not
said word. TINT no would scorn such
support or comfort.
When asked IL he felt at all I'M
nerced, Durrant held his arm at
length and triumphantly demonstrated
that it had no tremor. Then, with an
mir which was impressive. even IL
grandiloquent, he said "lf | have TO
die. / will die like a Durrant--that il
all. | belong to race which can meet
even death without fiinching."
So impressed was tna penitentiary
doctor with the attitude ofo the con-
demned man that hs declared: why,
that fellow is the man OF the century.
ANY one who thinks he is going to
break down ia greatly mistaken. /
him. II is haru to believe that man
with not more than a few hours to live,
except by the most unforeseen inter
ysntion, could talk OF his doom and
his condition with "a pulse He is
in RS fine physical condition az a man
could ask. | have not had him
weighed, hut think he would tip the
scales at mark oSer leo. lie is as
particular about his appearance as il
be we're preparing to 90 to his first
party. | remarked that he had had a
visit frum the barber. to which he re-
pied: yes, and he left his trademark
IN me, indicating a small cut on his
lip. He consoled himself by saying
that it would be all right in few
days. This vanity was shown again
when asked him about his general
health since be had been placed in the
condsmned coll. The meat has heen
so good since / have been here, he
said, and have enjoyed it SO much,
that have urobably eaten more than
little rash about my mouth Like the
barber's slip, that too, bio said. would
DO all right in few days"
Washing ton. Jan. 7.-Justice Shiras
of the United States Supreme Court,
to-day, refused the application of
Attorney Buardman for writs staying
the execution of Theodore Dur.ant,
under sentence to he hanged in Cali
fornia to-day. Tho application was
mads to the justice by Mr.. Bcardmar
at the formers residence, before he
went to the court room, to-day, and
was in the same form as the application
made yesterday to j Justices Brewer and
Harlan. Justice Shiras did not go
into the reasons for his decision, hut
simply announced that he could not
entertain the application.
Mr.. Boardman did rot see other
Members of the court. for want Of
time, before tho couvening OF the
court, hut after his failure with
Justice Shiras announced his intention
OF making an effort in the same d.
rection before the full Supreme Court.
lie will ask for writ of habeas corpus.
Later--The Supreme Court has do
nieG the writ of habeaH corpus in the
DurrRnt case.
San Francisco, CAL, Jan. 7.-Will
Durrant die Roman Catholic wac the
latest speculation of the small army
grouped about the prison walls, this
morning, waiting for the tragic end,
which they eagerly expected to witness.
81 am, | may say, a Catholic;
think | shall send for Father Lagan,
remarked Durrant unconcernedly. 1T
10 not that | care for crneds, but for
faith. the faith that has sustained me
in my awful position. J am, no con
tinued, extraordinarily happy, &c
much at peace that do not care to 60
over any Of the old ground, the long,
long story which has been told so many
times. The case is ended, aud | am
satisfied that everything has been done
for me thatcould have been done by my
lawyers. Ii would be weak and child.
ish for me 10 say at this time that
have not had fair trinl. If l should
muke such tlea, the public would re
ply: That is what they all say. Ny
only sorrow is Tor those ! leave behind.
God has Inc il His Keeping, and de
makes no mistakes.
San Quentin rison, CAL, Jan. T.
This trip was sprung On Durrant.a al
1885 a. IN. (l.a5 p M. Eastern time,
Chicago, ILL.,, Jau. 1O.--A specia
from san Francisco to the Chronicle
says:
There seems to be no place for thu
body OF Theodore Durrant. Both Gre
matory companies here have absulutel,
refused to handle the remains, ami nj
cemetery compdny has vet consented Il
receive them They still are at tn,
Durrant houVe, and it looks as though
they would stythere for some time.