Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-07

ing those who had prosecuted him, men,
tioning especially the press of San Fran
cisco. His last words were: II am inno-
cent"
HIS death appeared to be painless
After the drop Durraat did not struggle
In hfteen minutes he was cut down. Tie
neck was broken by the fall
AT lo:2o am. the gates of the prison had
closed on the last man ,wno could witness
the hanging. The crowd had gathered in
the coid bare room adjoining the place of
execution, bat not until nearly 1880 sharp
did the iron doors that separated the scaf-
iold from the larger apartment swing to
admit the visitors.
Ceremony Was Simple.
The ceremony was very simple. The au-
dience had no sooner entered the room than
silence fell upon the gathering The door
! OF the condemned cell clanked 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 Dur
rant in a voice emotionless and apparently
unaffected, made short speech. There
was no sincerity in the mans words They
were cold and passionless.
There was no scene at the gallows. Mrs.
Durrant did not witness The execution. She
remained in room in the lower part of
the prison, and showed unmis taxable signs
of grief, tempered with a dogged desire 10
create the impression that she was too
proud to weep.
Prisoner Dressed With Care
The morning of Theodore Durrant's last
day broke with a clcudless sky The pris-
oner retired at midnight and by i o'clock
was sound asleep. He rested quietly all
right not disturbing the death watch in
any way. AT G:15 am. he awoke and bid
ding the guards good morning dressed HIM
SELF in neat suit of black provided for the
execution. No collar and necktie were pro-
vided, as they would have to be removed
wnen the moose was placed around his
neck. Durrant noticed the omission and al
his request Capt. Edgar ordered the MISS
ing articles Of attire sent up to him. Dur
rant also remarked that the socks sent him
were a little light in color, and the oblig-
ing captain procured pair Of darker
shade.
You never saw a cooler man." said Capt.
Edgar. He Is calmer than you or ;; not
The least bit nervous. There is no danger
that he will weaken. He has nerve and is
determined to de bravely."
How the Night Was Passed.
With eyes riveted on Washington, fgura-
lively speaking, the father and mother of
Theodore Durrant spent the night in a lit
tie inn outside the prison walls, while their
son made a desperate effort to so calm his
nerves that he might spend I'm sleep the
most Of his remaining hours. Hoping
against hope, demanding miracles from the
slight difference In time between Washing
ton and California, expecting some phe-
nomenal action on the part of the justices
of the Supreme Court of the United States
when they should take their seats at noon
on the day set for the execution of the
criminal of the century, the unhappy
trio spent the night alternately climbing
the heights of sanguine hope and then
plunged into the deepest abysses of despair.
With the consciousness that ii would, in
deed, be an unexpected happening which
would again clog the wheels of retributive
justice, the prison officials also anxiously
awaited click of the wire from Washing
ton. Every other avenue Of escape and
delay finally eftectcally closed, all waited
with nervous anticipation the final appeal
of Attorney Boardman of counsel for Dur
rant before the United States justices for
writ Of prohibition or habeas corpus.
Death Watch ViEilsnt.
The prisoners every breath was followed
by six watchful eyes, never for moment
withdrawn. The vigilance OF the death
watch increased with the passing of every
Gay and hour. Always fearful of at
tempt at suicide in the case OF the con-
demned prisoner. they have been trcbly
cautious in their espionage since Durrant
was committed to their keeping. His train
ing in a medical college, where his fsyorIte
study was anatomy. has SO qualified him
prison guardians were apprehensiye Of his
slightest move.
Durrani's guards had a precise and alb
solute knowledge of how he might commit
suicide. The most fnlocent-looking pencil
was not allowed to get near his face. lest
with his knowledge of anatomy he might
jab 1t through his eye into his brain. The
guards were ready for poisoned leaves, for
everything, and when yesterday the num-
ber of his watchers was increased from
two to three Durrant would. indeed, have
had difficulty In making the slightest move
which could not be promptly stopped.
But Durrant, apparently, had no thought
of suicide. He passed his waking hours In
prayer, and when, last night, the prison
physician remarked reassuringly that he
would come to him in the morning prepared
to give him stimulants, his significant smile
and easy measured tone told, IL he had not
said a word, that he would scorn such sup
pert or comfort.
When asked II he felt at all unnerved.
Durrant held his arm at length, trium-
phantly. to show that 1t had no tremor.
Then with an air which was impressive.