The Wichita daily eagle., 1898-01-08
Te aUia 1nily Eagle Saturday gormo ga,uaru s. 1se

least affected of any of the many people
| who witnessed the death scene and even
after the fatal drop he quivered not nor
| gave other evidence of having suffered
| pain.
UP THE GALLOwS STEPS.
| At 1884 o'clock the frail door that
| guards the threshold of the gallows room
swung open and the little party conduct
| ing Theodore Durrant TO the gallows en-
tered. Father Lagan led, draped in cas-
sock and surplice and chanting the pray
ers for the dying. Durrant. his father,
friend, Warden Hale and the guards fol-
lowed. The father and his friend left the
party and walked around the gallowS 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
gallows. He gave no signs of weakening.
His slight figure was as erect as though
it had been his marriage morning. The
broad leathern strap that bound his arms
to his sides allowed his wrists some play
and his fingers rested lightly on the
strap. 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 as he left the cell. Instant
~ upon arriving upon the gallows the
rope was knotted about his neck The
murderer held his chin high in the air TO
make room for the stiff new inc, knotted
in the peculiar fashion of the hanSman.
II ad
man was permitted to wear a low collar,
opening in front, and white satin tie.
His face was pale, but it was not the
ashy paleness of terror. 1t was the face
of man who, knowing that has mo-
mentous thing 10 do, is resolved to do it
like a man.
The rope was about his neck, and the
hangman turned to get the black cap,
when the erect head turned and Durrant !
whispered a request to be allowed to
sneak. 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 spoke |
his final words.
Durrant began to speak at 1924 and
closed at 1923. He delivered his few sem
tences, at times poorly constructed, full |
Of repretitions and protestations Of his
innocence, in a low sing-song, growing
slightly vehement as he declared that he
was not guilty of the crime for which
he had been sent to the gallows.
His father, who stood with Redeemed
eyes, though fearless, on the floor in
front of his son, showed back the nearest |
bystanders as though fearful that they
should fail in respect to one so near his
earthly end.
BLACK CAP AND THE DROP.
The guards drew the sable cap over his
lead Hardly was the cap adjusted when
he trap dropped. with its loud rattle, the
,nly sound in the intense silence. A
-ibration or two, and the body at the
md of the hemp hung quite motionless.
In Just II minutes and q seconds all
,ction had ceased and the Durrant case
vas ended.
The body, with the cap on, was placed
n a black pine box. Later the cap was
enoved and the corpse enclosed in a
asket provided by the family.
The coffin with the contents was taken
to San Francisco by an un-
lertaker.