The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-01-11
PARTING WITH PARENTS
HIS FATHER WAS PRESENT AL
THE EXECUTION.
AGAIN STATEMENT Oh The cCAFFCLl

10 San francisco.

San Quentin, Cal, Jan. when Vii
liam Henry Theodore Durrant died Oh
% the galIows this morning for the murder
Of Blanche Lamont he gave such an
exhibition Of GOODNESS and nerve as has
seldom been seen under similar circUm-
stances. Hopeful almost to the very
last minute that something or some one
would intervene to save HIM he walked
to the scaffold and made a speech, pro-
testing his innocence as calmly ana WIN
as u.stinct e~nunciation as if he had been
addressing an assembIage of friends
upon some ordinary topic of the day. HIS
face was pale, his eyes were RED, but his
voice was firm and he stood as solidly
as u rock while he proclaimed his in
nocence and professed forgiveness TO
those who. he said, had bounded him to
death.
There was not a hitch or accident to
mar tie plans of Warden Hale IN carry
ing cut tie sentence Of the laW.
Tn neck was broken By the fail OF
five feet and fifteen minutes later the
murderer's body was cut down and
placed in a coffin.
In spite of the exciting event of last
night when Durrant was beseiged by
NEWSPAPER reporters and talked to his
parents until 11:30 p. m. he rested easily
during the night and shortly after six
o'clock awoke and bade his guards good
morning. Warden Hale had provided
a new suit of dark material and these
clothes Durrant quickly donned. He no
ticed the absence of collar and neck tie,
however. and knowing full we'll the rea-
son for their omission he asked for them,
explaining that a turn down collar
----Jl ,,,+ 1,+Orroro with tho 1,nnSn Il1nn
he sat down to an excellent breakfast
and ate heartily. During the early morn
ing hours Durrant did not nave much
to say beyond expressing a desire that
no newspaper men should be allowed to
see m. This request was complied
with.
Consistent to the last. Durrant died
protesting religion. But he died. accept
ing at the last moment, the comforts of
the Catholic church instead Of those Of
the Baptist faith in which he was rear
ed. Rev. RAIDER, a protestant minister,
had arranged to ascend the scaffold with
Durrant. but the minister would not say
that he thought Durrant innocent and
the condemned mar declined to accept
his services unless RAIDER profeSsed belief
in his innocence. Then it was that the
once ardent Baptist turned to the Cath
Ollie church for consolation and called
upon Father Lagan, a priest who had
frequently visited him in q prison, to
attend him. Father Lagan responded
promptly and performed the last solemn
rites Of the church. Durrant remained
in close consultation with the priest and
seemed to be deeply interested in the
impressive ceremonies. As the hour Of
the execution approached the prisoner
became somewhat restless. His father
and mother were admitted to bid him
a last farewell. The elder Durrant
grasped his son by the hand and the
young man then turned to comfort his
mother, who cried hysterically. Dur
rant embraced her tenderly and saying:
The hour has come for us to part"
put her GENTLY away. The grief stricken
mother was led to a private room where
she remained until after the execution
The father, however, went to the execn-
ton room and. supported by two friends,
saw his son meet his death.
Warden Hale did not attempt to hurry
matters. but allowed all possible time
for the Supreme court at Washington to
take some action. Finally when word
WAS flashed across the continent that the
Supreme court had declined to interfere
rhe warden ordered the execution of the
sentence to be carried ont. At 1854
O'Clock Durrant, accompanied by Father
Lagan, appeared at the door of the exc
cution room. He was followed by his
father, a friend, Warden Hale and the
guards. The father and friend walked
around the gaIlows to the front while
Durrant and his keepers climbed to the
gallows platform. Instantly on arriving
+ the gallows his legs and arms were
P."lOned and the rope was placed about
HS neck. The hangman was about tc
aoJVst the black cap, when Durrant an
houSced his desire to speak. Permission
NaS>en and the doomed murderer
spoke as follows:
/ desire to - that although I am al
innocent man, inn-oent of every Grim,
that has been charged against me. I bea
no animosity toward thos. that have ner
secuted me, not even the p.ess of Ga,
Francisco, which bounded me to tb,
grave. If any man thinks / am coin,
TO spring a sensation-I am not, eAonn
it is q sensation that I am an innocen
man brought to the grave by my perse
cutors. But / forgive them all. The
will get their justice from the great Go
who IS master of us all and there | ais
expect to get justice that is the juStic
of an innocent man. Whether or no
the perpetrators of the crime of whic
/ am charged are discovered. it will max
no difference to me now, but l say th:
day Will be a shame to the great Stat
OF taIfOrnla. L forgive everybody VIII
has prosecuted me, an innocent ma
whose hands have never been staine
with blood, and | go to meet my God wit
forgiveness for all men,"
The words were delivered slowly an
distinctly and without emphasis.
Durrant finished quietly and ha
scarcely ceased when the black cap wa
placed over his face. At the same il
slant Hangman Lunt raised his HAND
the trap was sprung and with a rattl
Durrant's body shot through the ope1
ing.
In eleven minutes and twenty eigh