The age-herald., 1898-01-08
He Declared Had Prosecuted Him and
 Rounded Him to the Grave.
WAS VERY CALM ON THE GALLONS
His Nerve, Which Has Been Remarkable, Staid With Him to the Last His Mother Did Not Witness the Execution,
 But Remained Near By.

Henry Theodore Durrant died on the gal lows this morning for the murder of Blanche Lamont he gave such an exhibition of coolness and nerve has seldom been seen under similar circumstances Hopeful almost to the very last that something or some one would intervene to save him, he walked to the scaffold this morning and made his little speech, protesting his inno- cence as calmly and with as distinct enunciation as if he had been addressing an assemblage of friends upon some ordin- ary topic of the day. His face was pale, his eyes were red, but his voice was firm, and he stood as solidly as a rock when he proclaimed his innocence and professed for giveness to those who, he said, had bounded him to death.
 There was not hitch or accident to mar the plans of Warden Hale in carrying out the sentence of the law. The moose was ad justed, the trap was sprung, the stout rope held and Durrant's dead body dangled at the end. The neck was broken by the fall of five feet, and fifteen minutes later the murderer's body was cut down and placed in the coffin.
 Besieged By Reporters.
 In spite of the exciting events of last night, when Durrant was besieged by news paper reporters and talked to his parents until Il :s0 D. m, he rested easily during the night, and shortly after o'clock he awoke and bade his guards good-morning. War den Hale had provided new suit of dark material in honor of the occasion, and these clothes Durrant quickly donned. He mo- ticed the absence of collar and necktie, however, and knowing full well the reason for their omission, he asked for them, ex- blaming that turn-down collar would not interfere with the noose Then he sat down to a most excellent breakfast and ate heartily. During the early morning hours Durrant did not have much to say beyond expressing a desire that no newspaper men should be allowed to see him. This request was complied with.
 Consistent to the last, Durrant died pro- fessng religion and accepted at the last moment the Catholic faith, abandoning the Baptist religion, in which he was reared Rev. Rader, a protestant minister, had arranged to ascend the scaff1old with Dur rant, but the minister would not say he thought Durrant innocent, and the con- demned declined to accept his services un- less the reverend gentleman professed be- lief in his innocence. Then it was that the once ardent Baptist turned to the Catholic church for consolation and called upon Father Lagan, a priest who had frequent ly visited him in prison, to attend him. Father Lagan responded promptly, and performed the last solemn rites Of the church. Durrant remained in close consult tation with the priest and seemed to be
 
 mony.
 Became Somewhat Restless.
 As the hour of the execution approached the prisoner became somewhat restless His father and mother were admitted to pay him a last farewell Enc elder Durrant grasped his son by the hand and the young man then turned to comfort his mother, who cried hysterically. Durrant embraced her tenderly, saying: "The hour has come for us to part" and 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 execution 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 Tor the supreme court at Washington to take some action. Finally when word was flashed across the continent that the su- preme court had declined to interfere the warden ordered the program for the day to be carried out.
 At 10:34 o'clock, Durrant, accompanied by Father Lagan, appeared at the door of the execution room. He was followed by his father, a friend, Warden Hale and the guards. His father and friends walked around the gallows to the front, while Durrant and his Keepers climbed to the gollows platform. Instantly on arriving at the gallows his legs and arms were pin toned and the rope was placed about 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:
 Durrant's Speech.
 q desire to say that although I am an innocent man. innocent of every crime that has been charged against me, I bear no