The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1898-01-13

Guiding many of those who held invita-
osity. Among the throng were many
physicians and several officials of vari-
GUS counties. DR.. William L. Lawler,
prison surgeon, selected the following
physicians to assist him at the scaffold:
DIR. D. j. Jones, San francisco; DR.. G..
Wickham, San Francisco; DR.. ]. f..
Morse, San francisco, and DR.. II. L. Will
liams of San Francisco.
Among the fist arrivals was Rev.
RAIDER. He stated that he would not see
Durrant il Rev. Edward Davis was to be
present, and he was at once informed
that the gentleman had decided not to
attend. Soon afterward the Rev. Father
Lagan drove up from San Rafael in his
own buggy, despatched and unassuming.
He was met by Warden Hale and was
at once admitted within the gates.
At 1924 o'clock the frail door that
guards the threshold of the gallows room
swung open, and the little party conduct
ing Durrant to the gallows entered.
Father Lagan led, draped in cassock and
surplice, and chanting the prayers for the
dying. Durrant, his father, friend,
Warden Hale and the guards followed.
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 weaken
ing. His light figure was as erect as
though it had been his marriage morning.
The broad leather strap that bound his
arms to his side allowed his wrists some
play, and his fingers rested lightly ON the
strap. Five minutes later, when his
body was swinging like a pendulum be-
meath the trap, the fingers, now all blue
and chilled looking, still rested where he
had placed them as he left the cell. In
stantly 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 line knotted
in the peculiar fashion of the hangman.
By an unusual privilege the condemned
man was permitted to wear a collar open
ing 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
man who, knowing that he has mo-
mentous thing to do, is resolved to do it
like man. With the rope about his
II, che y, '''--'-- ed to ga tie black
cap, when the erect head tn ed, and
Durrant whispered request to be allow
ed 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 faint words,
81 desire that although am an innocent
man, innocent of any crime that has been
charged against me, bear no animosity
towards those who have prosecuted me,
not even the press of San Francisco,
which bounded me to the grave. If any
man thinks am going to spring a sensa-
ton he is mistaken. l am not, except
it is sensation that l. an innocent man,
am brought to my grave by my perse-
cutors. But | forgive them ALL They
will get their justice from the great God,
who is master of us all, and there I also
expect to get justice that is the justice of
m innocent man. Whether or not the
of the crime with which |
nm charged are discovered, it will make
no difference to me now, but say this
day will be Il shame to the great state of
California. l forgive everybody who has
prosecuted me, an innocent, man, whose
hands have never been stained with
blood, and l go to meet my God with for
siveness for all men,"
Durrant began to speak at 1924 and
ceased at 1898. He delivered his few
at times poorly constructed,
full of repetitions and protestations of in
nocence, in a low, sing-song voice, grow
ing slightly vehement as he declared that |
ne was not guilty of the crime for which |
ne had been sent to the gallows. His |
father, who stood with REDEEMED eyes,
:hough fearless, on the floor in front of his
son, showed back the nearest bystander,
IS though fearful that they should fail |
% respect one so near his earthly end. |
But the crowd, though breathless and |
was not eXultant; was not a !
mob and no sound of approval to the |
disturbed the speaker, nor dis
urbed the CHASTITY proceedings. The
;uards, impatient for their task, for |
he suspense was harder on them |
han on the condemned, drew the cap
'ver his head. As the descending cap |
covered his face there was no change
n the expression of him, who, almost
n the same instant, was dead.
Hardly was the cap adjusted when
he trap dropped with its loud rattle, the
'nly sound in the intense silence. AS
he body dropped there was the sound
# tugging of the rope as it drew tight
lnder the weight of the body, and that
vas all. A vibration or two and the
'ody hung at the end of the hemp, mute
nd motionless. The elder Durrant
'azed steadily at the proceedings until
hat moment, then his head fell for
ward upon the shoulders of friend
nd ha uriad hic faaa md onp 200 loJ tho |