The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1898-01-13

parted.
The collin, with the contents, was
taken Immediately to San Francisco by
an undertaken.
DURRANTs LAST HOURS
A SOrrowful Night for Mother and
Father, Hoping Against Hope.
San Quentin, Cal, Jan. with
eyes rivited. on Washington figura-
lively speaking, the father and mother
tie inn outside the prison walls, while
their son made a desperate effort to calm
his nerves, that he might spend in sleep
the most of his remaining hours. Hop
ing against hope, demanding miracles
from the slight differences in time be-
tween Washington and California, ex-
pecting some phenomenal action on the
part of the justices of the United States
supreme court when they should take
their seats at noon on the day set for
the execution of the "crime of the CEN
tury," the unhappy trio spent the night
alternately climbing the heights of san
guine hope and then plunged into the
deepest abysses of despair, with the con-
seriousness that it would be indeed the
unexpected happening which would
again clog the wheels of retributive JUS
tice. The prison officials also anxiously
awaited the click of the wire from
Washington. Every other avenue of es-
cape and delay was finally and effec-
tually closed and all awaited with ner-
yous anticipation the final appeal of
Attorney Boardman, counsel for Dur
rant, before the United States supreme
court for writ of prohibition or ha-
beas corpus.
The prisoners very breath was fol-
Inx, hx, tal.c ,,I e.,
a moment withdrawn. The vigilance
of the death watch had increased with
the passage of every day and hour. AL
ways fearful of an attempt at suicide,
in the case of condemned prisoner, they
have been trebly cautious in their es-
pionage since Durrant was committed
to their keeping. His training in a med
ical college, where his favOrite study
was anatomy, had so QUILTED him for
fatality in lf-destructiveness that his
prison guardians were apprehensive of
his slightest move. Durrant's guards
knew he had precise and absolute
knowledge of how to commit suicide.
The most innocent looking pencil was
not allowed to get near his face lest,
with his knowledge of anatomy, he
plight iSb it through his os eye int into his his
oned leaves. ffo6rs everythingyaand when,
yesterday, the number of watchers were
increased from two to three, Durrant
would indeed have had difficulty in
making the slightest move which could
not be promptly stopped.
Durrant apparently had no thought
of suicide. He passed his waking hours
in prayers, and when, )ast night, the
prison physician remarked reassuringly
That he would come to him in the morn
ing prepared to give him stimulants, his
significant smile and easy, measured tone
told, if he had not said a word, that he
would scorn such support and comfort.
When asked if he felt at all unnerved,
Durrant held his arm at length and
triumphantly demonstrated that it had
no tremor. Then, with an aid which
was impressive, even if grandiloquent,
he said:
'If have to die, l will die like Dur
rant; that is all. l belong to a. race
which can meet death without finch
ing" ...
So impressed was the penitentiary doc
tor at the attitude of the condemned
man that he declared:
"That fellow is the man of the cen
fury. Any one who thinks he is going
have never seen any one who approaches
him. 1t is hard to believe that n man
who has but Il few hours 20 live, except
by the most unforeseen intervention.
could talk of his doom and his condition
with "a pulse. HIS is in as fine ply
steal condition as Il man could ask.
have not had him weighed, but l think
he would tip the scales at q mark of
over 160. lie is as particular about his
as if he were preparing to
go to a whist party. l remarked that
he had a visit from the barber, to which
he replied: Yes. and he left his trade
mark on me- indicating n small cut OH
his lip He consoled himself by say
ing that it would be all right in a few
days
This vanity was shown again when
asked him about his general health
since he had been placed in the con-
demned cell. The meat has been so
good since l have been here he said,
'and / have enjoyed it so much that |
have probably eaten more than | should,
and it has brought out this little rash
about my mouth
Like the BARRIERS slip. that, too, he
said. would be all right in few days"
"Would Durrant die a Roman Catho- !
lic?' was the latest speculation of a
small group around the prison walls
waiting for the tragic end, which they |
eagerly expected to witness.
81 am, may say, Catholic. ! think |
I shall send for Father Lagan," re-
marked Durrant, unconcernedly. ut |
Is UOL TINT CIcNoot but ioi idith
the faith that has sustained me in my |
awful position"
II am" he continued, extraordinarily !
happy--so much at peace that l don t |
care to go over any of the old ground,
the long, long story which has been told
20 many times. The case is ended and !
[ am satisfied that everything has been
lone for me that could be done for me |
by my lawyers. 1t would be weak and
childish for me to say mt this time !
that l have not had fair trial. If
should make such a plea the public |
would reply: That IS what they all say.
"My only sorrow is for those l leave !,
behind God has me in his keeping and
He makes no mistakes"