The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-01-15

and in a fraction of minute thereafter
| Warden Hale entered, closely followed
| by Father Lagan and the prisoner led
between two guards. The priest stepped
aside and Durrant, in a voice emotion
less and apparently unaffected, made a
short speech. There was seemingly no
sincerity in the mans words. They were
cold and pasSlonlesS.
There was no scene at the gallOwS. Mrs
Durrant did not witness the execution.
1 She remained in a room in the lower part
OF the prison and showed unmistaka Bile
signs of grief. tempered with dogged
desire to create the impression that she
was TOO proud To weep.
Durrant's father and friend left the
party and walked around the galows to
the front, while the condemned man and
his escort climbed the thirteen steps that
led to the platform and the waiting trap.
At last Theodore Durrant stood upon the
galiows. He gave no Signs of weakening.
His light figure was as erect as though it
/ had been his marriage morning. The
| broad leather strap that bound his arms
TO his sides allowed his wrists some play
and his fingers rested lightly on the strap.
Rope Placed Around His Neck.
Five minutes later when his body was
swinging like a pendulum beneath the
trap, the fingers, now all blue and chilled
looking, still rested where he had placed
them rs he left the cell. Instantly upon
knotted about his neck. The murderer
held his chin high in the air to make room
for the stiff new line, knotted in the pc
culiar fashion of the hangman. By an
unusual privilege the condemned man was
permitted TO wear a low collar, opening
in front, and a white satin tie. His face
was pale, but it was not the ashy paleneSs
of terror 1t was the face of a man who
. knowing that he has a momentous thing
to do. is resolved to do it like man.
| The hangman turned to get the black
cap. when the erect head turned and Dur
rant whispered request to be allowed to
speak. 1t was granted.
Then with his feet on the trap, the cord
about his throat tied fast to the cross
beam on the Gallows. the holy water of
his baptism in the Catholic church on his
head. he said these final words:
Il desire TO say that although | am an
innocent man. innocent of every crime
that has been charged against me, | bear
no animosity towards those that have
prosecuted me, not even the press of San
Francisco, which has bounded me TO the
grave. If any man thinks | am going to
spring 4 sensation, | am not: except il is
a sensation that | am an innocent man
brought 10 the grave 10y my prosecutors.
But | forgive them all. They will get
their justice from che great God who is
master of us all and there | also expect
TO get justice that is the justice of an in
nocent man. Whether or not the perpe-
traitors of the crime of which l am
charged are discovered, it will make no
difference TO me now, but | say this day
Will be a shame to the great state of Cali
fornia. | forgive every body who has per
kecuted me. an innocent man, whose
bands have never Oeen stained with
blood, and | go TO meet my God with for
giveness for all men
Durrant began 10 speak at 1924 and
ceased a. 1o:3S. He delivered his few
sentences. at times poorly constructed.
full of repetItions and protesta tions of
his innocence in low sing song, grow
ing slightly vehement as he declared that
he was not guilty of the crime for which
he had been sent to the gallows.
Ills father. who stood with REDEEMED
eyes though fearless, on the floor in front
of his son, showed back the nearest by
ISLANDERS rs though fearful that they
should fail in respect to one so near his
earthly and. But the crowd. though
breathless and curious, was not e1ultant,