The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-01-09
THE EXECUTION OF DURRAHT.
DETAILS OF THE CALiF0R- .
MA HANGING.
SHOWED RARE GOODNESS
went to tho Galiows as Unooncernod as
lie would Go to ner--Prociaimed
tits Innocence In Ills Last Breath
Died Accepting the Com
forts OF tho Roman Ca
thollc church.

on the pnllows yesterday morning for
the murder OF Blanche Lamont he
gave such an exhibition of GOODNESS
and nerve as has seldom been seen
under similar circumstances. Hopeful
almost to the very last minute that
something or some one would inter
vene TO save him, he walked 60 the
scaffold aud made his little speech
protesting mis- innocence as calmly
and with as distinct enunciation as il
he had been addressing an assemblage
of friends upon some ordinary topic
of the day.
In spite Of the exciting events of
Thursday night, when Durrant was be-
sieged by newspaper reporters aud
talked to his parents until 1880 p. m.,
he rested easily during the night,
and shortly after c o'clock ne
awoke and bade his guards
good morning. Warden Hale had
provided neat suit of dark
material in honor of the occasion, aud
these clothes were quickly donned.
lie noticed the absence of collar and
necktie, however, and, knowing full
well the reason for their omission, he
asked for them, explaining that turn
down collar would not interfere with
the moose. Then he sat down to a
most excellent breakfast and ate
heartily. During the early morning
hours Durrant did not have much to
say beyond expressing "A desire that
no newspaper men should be allowed
to see him. This request was com
piled with.
Consistent to the last, Durrant died
protesting religion. But he died ac-
cepting, at the last moment, the com
forts OF the Roman Catholic church
instead of those of the Baptist faith
in which he was reared
AS the hour of the eveeution ap-
preached, the prisoner became some
what restless. His father and mother
were admitted to bid him last fare
well The elder Durrant grasped his
son by the hand and the young man
then turned to comfort his mother,
who cried Historically. Durrant em-
braced her tenderly, and saying:
"The hour has come for us to part, -
put her gently away.
The grief-stricken mother was led
TO a private room, where she remained
until after the execution. The father,
however, went to the execution room
and, supported 10y two friends, saw
his son meet his death.
| Warden Hale did not attempt TO
hurry matters, but allowed all posi-
BILE time for the supreme court at
| Washington TO take some action.
Finally when word was flashed across
the continent that the supreme court
declined to interfere, the warden or
dered the program of the day to be
carried out
At 1854 o'clock Durrant, accom-
panied by Father Lagan, appeared al
the door of the execution room lie
was followed by his father, friend
Warden Hale and the guards The
father and his friend walked arounC
the gallows TO the front, while Dur
rant and his keepers climbed TO tn,
gallows platform Instantly on ar
rivjng at the gallows, his legs and arms
were pinioned and the rope was places
upon his neck The hangman wai
about TO adjust the black cap, wheI
Durrant announced mis- desire e
/ speak. Permission was given and The
doomed murderer spoke as follows;
81 desire to say that, although | an
an innocent man, innocent Of everl
crime that has been charged agains
me. bear no animosity toward thos
that have prosecuted me, not even tn
press of San Francisco which hodnde,
me TO the grave. II any man thinks
am going to spring a sensation an
not except it is "a sensation that an
an innocent man brought TO the graz
, 10y my prosecutors But | forgiv
them all They vail get thei
Justice from the great God who /
Master OF us all, and there l also eA
pect to get Justice that is, the jus
0 tice of an innocent man. Whether O
3 no the perpetrators of the crime q
wh ieh l am charged are discovered,
will make no difference TO me now
but say this day viii be a shame t
the great state of California. / foi
give every body who has persecute
me, an innocent man, whose hand
have never been stained with blood
aud ! go TO meet my God with forgi'
ness for all men,
The words were delivered slowl
and distinctly and without emphasi
The eager crowd of spectators groupe
closer TO the wooden frame work thu
, they might not lose a word of VIII,
was being said Not sound could I
heard. except the even tones of th
man about TO die. nurrant finishe
quietly, and had scarcely ceased whe
the black cap was placed over h
o face.
Al the same instant Hangman LuI
raised his hand, the trap was sprunl
and, with a rattle, Durrants bod
= shot through the opening,
The body was allowed 90 hang (,
Q fifteen minutes. when il was cut dow
and placed in a black coffin provide
by an undertaken from San Francisc
Durrant's most urgent request
d Warden Hale was that no autopsy I
Q held on his body lie also request,
2, that the rope with which he vi
= hanged be burned His wishes in bot
these respects were observed by II