The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-08
WITNESSED BY DURRANT, SR.
WHO. WITH THE Borrowing MOTH
ER, TOOK AWAY THE CORPSE.
Final Appeal Denied by Supreme
Court Half an Honr Before the Ex-
ecution-ReygeSv of the Case.

SAN QUENTIN. Cal, Jan. 7-When Will
liam Henry Theodore Durrant died on the
gallows this morning for the murder of
Blanche Lamont at San Francisco in April,
1885, he gave such an exhibition of .:oolness
and nerve as has seldom been seen under
similar circumstances. Hopeful almost to
the very last minute 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 enun-
citation as if he had been addressing an as
semblage of friends on 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 a rock while he pro-
claimed his innocence and professed for
giveness to those who. he said, had bounded
him to death
There was not a hitch or accident to mar
the plans of WardeR Hale in carrying out
the sentence of the law. The moose was
adjusted, the trap was sprung, the stout
rope held and DurrAnts body dangled at
the end. The neck vas broken by the fall
of five feet and fifteen minutes later the
murderers body was cut down and placed
il the coffin.
In spite of the exciting events of last
night, when Durrang was besieged by re-
porters and talked to his parents until II 80
p. m, he rested easily during the night and
shortly after s o'clock he awoke and bade
his guards good morning. Warden Hale
had provided new suit of dark material
in honor of the OCCASION and these clothes
DurrarftAAaufe1Siy deAned. He noticed the
absence of collar and necktie, however, and.
knowing full well the reason for their omis-
sion, he asked for them, explaining that
rundown collar would not interfere with
the moose. Then he sat down to most
excellent breakfast and ate heartily. Dur
ing the early morning hours Durrant did
not have much to say beyond expressing
desire that no newspaper men should be
allowed to see him. This request was COM
piled with.
Consistent to the last, Durrant died pro-
Tossing religion. But he died, accepting at
the last moment, the comforts of the Cath
clio Church instead of those of the Baptist
faith, in which he was reared. Rev. RAIDER,
a Protestant minister, had arranged to as
cend 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 Ra-
der professed belief in his innocence. Then
it was that the once ardent Baptist turned
to the Catholic Church for consolation, and
called on Father Lagan, a priest who had
frequently visited him in prison to attend
him. Father Lagan responded promptly
and performed the last solemn rites of the
church. Durrant remained in close consul
tation with the priest and seemed to be
deeply interested in the impressive cere-
mony.
LAST FAREWELLS.
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 tried to comfort his mother who
cried hysterically. Durrant 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
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 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, the warden
ordered the programme of the day to be
carried out. AT 1884 o'clock Durrant ac-
companied by Father Lagan, appeared at
the door of the execution room. He was
followed by his father, friend, Warden
Hale and the guards. The father and his
friends walked around the gallows to the
front while Durrant and his keepers
climbed to the gallows platform Instantly
arriving at the gallows his legs and
arms were pinioned and the rope was
placed around his neck. The hangman was
about TO adjust the black cap, when Dur
rant announced his desire to speak Pei
nilsson was given and the doomed murder
er spoke follows:
i desire to say that although | am an
innoccn. man. innocent of every crime tnat
auincsity towards those who have perse-
cuted ne, Lot even the press of San Eriin-
cisco, which, bounded me TO the 1iave If
any man thinks am gong to spring a
sensation--I am not, except it is a sensation
that l am an innocent man brought to the
grave by my prosecutors. But / forgive
them ali. They will get their justice from
the great God. who is master of all, and
there l also expect TO get justice that is
the Justice of an innocent man. Whether
or not the perpetrators of the crime of
which / am charged are discovered, 1t will
make no diTerence 10 IN me e now now but l say
of California. l forgive everybody who has
prosecuted me. an innocent man, whose
hands have never been stained with blood.
and / go to meet my God with forgiveness
for all men"
The words were delivered slowly and dis
tinctly. and without emphasis. The eager
crowd of spectators grouped closer to the
wooden framework that they might not
lose a word of what was being said. Not
a sound could be heard except the even
tones of the man about to die. Durrant An
ished quietly and had scarcely ceased when
the black cap was placed over his face. At
the same instant Hangman Lunt raised his
hand, the trap was sprung and, with d