The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-08
PAIRING WITH PARENTS
HIS FATHER WAS PRESENT AT
THE EXECUTION.
A CALM STATEMENT ON THE SCAFfoLO
The Condemned Mans Nerve Did Not Forsake
: Him--A Wait For News From Washing
ton His Parents Take His Body
TO San Francisco,
to San Francisco,


liam Henry Theodore Durrant died on
the gallows this morning for the murder
of Blanche Lamont he gave such an
exhibition of coolness 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 and with
as u.stinct enunciation as If he had been
addressing an assemblage 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 solidIy
as a rock while he proclaimed his in
nocence and professed forgiveness TO
those who, he 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 neck was broken by the fall 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 beseiged br
newspaper reporters and talked to his
parents until II 80 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 well the rea-
son for their omission he asked for them,
explaining 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 morn
ing hours Durrant did not have much
to say beyond expressing a desire that
no newspaper men should be allowed to
sec IN. 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
tie Catholic church instead of those of
the Baptist faith in which he was rear
ed. Rev. RAIDER, protestant minister,
had arranged TO ascend the scaffOld with
Durrant, but the minister would not say
that he thought Durrant innocent and
the condemned man declined to accept
his services unless RAIDER professed belief
in his innocence. Then it was that the
once ardent Baptist turned to the Cath
Olic church for consolation and called
upon Father Lagan, a priest who had
frequently visited him in a 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 he 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 Historically. 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 private room where
she remained until after the execution
The father, however, went to the eXecu-
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
sentence to be carried out. At 10:34
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 gallows to the front while
Durrant and his keepers climbed to the
gallOws platform. 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 an
nOunced his desire to sneak Permission
was given and the doomed murderer
spoke as follows:
II desire to say that although am an
innocent man, innocent of every crime
that has been charged against me, bear
no animosity toward those that have per-
secuted me, not even the press of San
Francisco, which bounded me to the
grave. If any man thinks / am going |
to spring a sensaton-I am not except |
it is a sensation that am an innocent |
man brought to the grave by my perse-
cutors. But l 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 mott
the perpetrators of the crime of which
am charged are discovered, it win make
no difference to me now, but l say this
lay will be shame to the great State
If California. / forgive everybody who
las prosecuted me, an innocent man