The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-01-08

crime that has been charged against
me. bear no alrlmogNy toward those
who have prosecuted ine, not even the
press of San Francisco, which bounded
me to the grave. If any man thinks
sum going TO Spring a sensa't:on--1' am
not, excspt 1t ls a sensation that 1 am
an Innocent man brought to the grave
by my persecutois. But I 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 nn innocent man.
Whether or not. the perpetrators of the
crime of which l am charged are dis
covered, 1t VIII make NO difference 90
ME, but say this day Will be a shame
to the State Of California. forgive
everybody Who has prosecuted me, an
innocent man whose hands have never
been stained with blood. and / go to
meet my God with forgiv for all
men,"
The words were delivered slowly and
distinctly and without emphasis.
Durrant finished quietly and had
scarcely ceased when the black cap
was placed over his face. AT the same
instant Hangm an Lunt raised his hand,
the trap WAS sprung and with a rattle
Durrants body shot through the open
ing. In eleven minutes and twenty
eight seconds all signs Of life had van
:shed and the most noted criminal of
the nineteenth century was officially
de ad
The body was allowed to hang for
fifteen minutes, when It was cut down
and placed in black coffin provided
by an undertaken from San Francisco.
1t is not yet known what disposition
of the body will be made as Durlant's 8
PARENTS have been SO far unable to Sc
cure accommodations In any of the
local cemeteries for the body OF their
son. 1t Is very probable that it will be
crenpated. E;.r
Durrant, Srys'&eHt Immediately 10
his wife, who s%as waiting in one OF the
guard rooms3 and 'togethe. they accom-
panied pa ,nclsta .hgbody of their son to San
The PRISON officials were all enthusi-
a.ntic in their praise of Durrant's nerve.
IT had been feared by them tina; in
spite of his apparent bravado. he would
break down al Hthe last moment and
make Il scene. AT one time, several
days ago, Durrant gave evidence of u
collapse, but he managed to pull his
nerves together once more and proudly
declined all offers ,cf stimulants 10
enable him to make bold showing on
the scaffold. He was spparently
proud OF has race and avowed he would
die like a Durrant." 49,
DurpaptS Rilost earnest request OF
wafdeHf ffafS Was: that rs ;snt5bsy be
held on his body. The prisoners medi-
cal training seemed to have ilnbued
him with horror of the surgical treat
ment OF corFseE, and he vowed that no
knife should ever touch his flesh. He
also requested thllt the rope with
which he was hanged be burned His
wishes In both these respects were OBJ
served by the warden.
HISTORY OF TlHE CRIME.
William Henry Theodore Durrant,
who was hanged at the State prison at
San Quentin to-day, gave his life in
exchange for the lives of two young
women, who were members of the
church to which he belonged While
Durrant was convicted of but one mur-
der under the law, he was held respon-
siEle by public opinion for the murder
OF 10th Blanche Lamont and Minnie
Williams. and 1t is felt that his death
eNpiateS one crime as much as The
other.
Durrants crimes We're peculiar in
their atrocity, from any point Of view
He was reared in Christian home,
and until the time of his arrest was
regarded as a modem young man of In
dustriouS habits, who was trying to
work his way through medical COL
ieSe. The only Characteristic that
seemed marked In his nature was his
pietF. He had been n prominent mem
ber OF the Emanuel Baptist church for
several years and for a year previous
10 his arrest had been assistant SUPER
intendent Of the Sunday school. In this
capacity he made the acquaintance of
Blanche Lamont and of Minnie Will
iiams, both of whom were destined 10
be murdered by him I'm the church
where they worshiped together.
Blanche Lamont disappeared on
April Sd, 1895. and was never seen alive
afterwards. She left the home of her
aunt Mrs. c. G. Noble, on that day to
go to school, and for ten days no trace
of her could be found Many members
or Emanuel church assisted in the
search for the missing girl, and among
others was Theodore Durrant, who had
often acted as Miss Lamonrs escort.
lie seemed greatly distressed on ac-
count of Miss Lamont's disappearance,
ana at length expressed the belief that
she had Joined the ranks of fallen wo-
men. This theory seemed plausible to
the police. and q search was made
among the places where ii was beliey-
ed the missing girl might be found.
Durrant assisted in the inquiry, which
came to naught. Ten days had passed
since Miss Lamont disappeared. and
her friends had almost given up hope
OF ever Knowing her fate, when n dis
coVery was made which led to the find
ing of Miss bamont's body
The ladies of Emanuel church were
engaged in decorating the ediiice pre-
paratory to the celebration of the Eas-
ter Sunday services. when the mangled
body of Minnie Williams was found,
almost naked. in the library a num-
Der OF ugly knife wounds and some
rags that mad been forced down the
young woman's throat told of the un-
equal struggle she had made 10 pro-
tect her honor.
NTul;f, nc,