The San Francisco call., 1898-01-07
TRUSTS IN THE LORD.
Durrant Interviewed, but His
 Words Were Valuable.


 q am prepared to die. I rely on God; my faith sustains me; I will die bravely."
 Theodore Durrant was speaking from his cell, cell covered with wire lest somebody reach him and place in his hands the means of cheating the gallows. Yet his voice was firm. As he talked two guards stood silent and grim be- side him. Two more just without. His mother sat in a low rocking chair close to the screen where she had sat for hours, and every moment keen eyes watched her. The father had gone. leaving the woman there as if to set a seal upon the lips or the doomed At times, by word Of warn ing, she would check him, ever alert to avoid a damaging admission.
 'I am not afraid to die" continued the slayer of Blanche Lamont and Minnie Williams, looking at the strong white fingers that had stifled the girls cries for mercy.
 Tt is not awful to go to such death. Such a death as mine may be the means of abolishing capital pun ishment in this State.
 ''Yes. it will be a grand death, Theo; think how Jesus died" The mother had spoken.
 T have been accustomed to remun- eration," the prisoner went on, when talking for publication"
 Yes. anything Theo says now is Of great value" The mother had spoken again.
 On the scaffold I shall proclaim my innocence to the world; that IS all; proclaim it loudly. l thank God that no blood is upon me. But this seal or California you can say it is placing up on itself a blot in murdering a guilt less man, or rather guiltless boy.
 "I am not afraid. It is painful to leave father and mother this way but I am going to a better life. The body descends, but the spirit ascends. am going where there shall be no more sorrow. I never knew the sustaining power of faith until in my troubles. have leaned on Christ and in him found strength.
 .'Theo," interrupted the mother, you have said enough"
 No price had been offered; why should precious time be wasted?
 Her attention was drawn to the door, and after pause he went on: "I have no physical fear, and there is no dis grace in going to the gallows when l go with no stain on my soul and cer- tain that sooner or later the truth will be known"
 
 ing in her chair. At the mention of death she shed tears, and when the be- lief that Theo was to die a martyr was mentioned by him her feelings again overcame her. But the humane heart, naturally touched by a mothers woe, felt its impulses blighted when be- tween paroxysms the mother bethought herself that the words of her son were worth money.
 Durrant would not discuss any spec ial phase of his case, nor mention more tran his emotions, and his confidence that one day his name would be cleared He avoided mention of his desire that his body be not even SC much as gazed upon by stranger eyes and harped upon the one theme that the State was about to murder him and that he was a willing sacrifice fol the good his fate might do in saving future assassinS from the rope. H' was willing to talk indefinitely upor the faith which buoyed him up, upo1 his assurance of bliss, and if he showed an inclination to wander from this line of thought his mother quickly checked him.
 "Theo." she would say firmly, "yol have talked enough
 It seems almost brutal to relate tn unavoidable conclusion. In an apart Inent but a few feet away stood tn gallows which awaited her son. Upol her ten fingers she could have counte ten hours to intervene before he Shoul dangle there, dead, forfeit to the laN so outraged and so long def1ed. Ye she was the stronger of the two, he will controlled, she gave to the inter view it's tone, and the tone was mer cenary. Sitting beside her son, sh seemed to alternate between mournin for him and planning how to coin dol lars from his blood shocking and ap palling thing. A realization of it adde to the ghastliness of the place, scene to chill the air, and to make the spo uncanny.
 nothing more to say. He had declare his innocence, his faith. his martyr dom His mother wished him to sa no more.
 A lady was in waiting to be told thes same things and others, the others be ing in the estimation of some. wort price.
 Good night" said the visitor Good bye" said Durrant, no quaver in hi voice. The interview was at an ent The lady who had been waiting steppe to the cage. She was there until th mother went away, and acccmpanie her.
 Why did his mother stay after tt father had gone" was question aske among the curious at the door.
 Because she was afraid that Dul rant, if left alone, would break dow and confess" was the usual answer.
 Durrant manifested no desire avoid receiving company. In fact, was relieved at chance to deade realization of the awful fact that I was spending his last night on cart But while he talked freely, 1t was reiterate his innocence. He admitte that he had given up all hope; notl ing more. In the presence of visito he showed no sign of weakness. H real aspect, however, could only be d tected by scrutiny made difficult l the wire screen.
 Looking intently, one could see tn his eyes were red, his face pallid al drawn, and resting over eyes and ia like a shadow an expression of ut despair. His seeming confidence w that of the actor keyed up to his pal Behind his boasts was the stimulus fear. He was as if the ghosts of mu dered girls haunted his memory al he had essayed to drive them away the hollow tones of a bravery he d not feel. He could talk while r ,,aofhar ppac fbora fO eyl1ida Iiy,,