The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-06
Durrant Has Put All Hope of
Life Away.
May Not Be in Condition to
Make a Farewell Speech.
200 INVITATIONS OUT.
To Witness the Hanging at San
Quentin Tomorrow.
Parents May Bury the Body in
the Pacific Ocean.

San Quentin Prison, Cal, Jan. g.
Theodore Durrant has but a few
hours more of life. The barriers that
have so long kept him from the gibbet
have been swept aside and the end is
near.
After the federal judges had denied
his petition yesterday for writ of
habeas corpus and refused to allow him
to take an appeal to the supreme tri-
bunal of the land there was but one re-
course and that was appeal to the gov
ernor for executive clemency and it
looks as if Gov. Budds action will be
adverse to the condemned man as he
has instructed Warden Hale to go
ahead with the execution on Friday
and to use extraordinary care to pre-
vent an attempt at suicide by the con-
demned man.
Durrant is breaking down rapidly
enough now. He seems to have put
all hope out of his thoughts. 1t hardly
seems that he will make brave show
on the scaffold, or that he will be in
condition when the last moments arrive
to carry out his intention of making
farewell speech His father has con-
fessed to Warden Hale that he has
given up all hope of stay, and enters
into the most minute details about the
hanging in a pitiably Respondent way.
The warden promises that no vulgar
curiosity on the part of medical men
or anybody else will be gratified after
the body has been cut down and says
also that the corpse will be delivered to
Durrant's parents Immediately after
the execution for what disposition they
wish to make of it.
Nearly 200 invitations have been is
sued for the hanging and it is expected
that fully 175 people will be present
The warden has been notified that boz
gus invitations have been printed and
sold in San Francisco and every card
presented at the prison gates will be
rigidly inspected before its owner will
be allowed to pass through. Every
visitor will be compelled to leave to-
baccO firearms and all other forbidden
articles at the gates before passing
through. Before Durrant is brought
into the death chamber Warden Hale
intends to make speech to the as
sembled crowd, demanding absolute
silence and order during the execution
San Francisco, Jan. 6.-In speaking
of the Durrant case Gen. Dickinson,
one of Durrant's counsel said; NO
one will have permission to interview
hanged as I have authority in the
matter and have given strict orders
that no one shall see him. If the un-
fortunate man must die, 1 believe in
letting him spend his last hours in
peace and will not submit to having
him pestered. If any one does per-
contrary to my orders, but will also be
a violation of the faith and the break
ing of a solemn promise"
Durrant'S father has not decided
what disposition he will make of the
body. Owing to the fact that some
of the cemetery associations refuse to
receive it on account of the notoriety
that would result, the elder Durrant
threatens to bury the body under the
broad waters of the Pacific ocean.
Friends are trying to induce the strick-
en- parents to have the remains Gre
mated
San Francisco, Jan. GA special to
the Call from San Quentin prison says
that Theodore Durrant has broken
down almost completely. When visit
ed by his parents or friends he controls
himself and Stimulates calmness but
when alone with his guards he gives
way to the most violent hysterical out
breaks, rolling on the floor of his cell,
screaming and crying. His nerve
seems to have completely forsaken him
and the opinion is expressed by the
prison officers that the condemned man
whose attitude of entire self posses
sion and cool indifference ever since his
arrest has been so remarkable, will
have to be carried to the gallows.