The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-07

last day on earth broke with clOudless
sky. The prisoner retired at midnight
and by 1 o'clock was fast asleep. He
rested quietly all night, not disturbing
the death watch in any way At 6:15
a. m. he aWOke. and. bidding the
guards good morning, dressed himself
in a neat suit of black. provided for the
execution No collar and necktie were
provided, as they would have to be re-
moved when the moose was placed
around his neck. Durrant noticed the
omission, and, at his request, Captain
Edgar ordered the missing articles OF
attire sent up to him. Durrant also
remarked that the socks sent him were
a little light in color, and the ObHging
captain procured a pair of a darker
shade.
You never saw cooler man." said
Captain Edgar. He is calmer than
you or I; not the least bit nervous.
There is no denying that he will
weaken. He has nerve and is deter
mined to die bravely."
PARTICULAR ABOUT DRESS.
Immediately after he awOke this
morning he hade his guards good morn
ing without the slightest trace of nerv
BUSINESS proceeded to dress in the cloth
ing provided for his last appearance.
This consisted of a neat fitting suit of
black, but in order to avoid the neces-
sity of removing them, Warden Hale
had not supplied the prisoner with
either collar or necktie. The OmiSS on
of these articles was at once noted by
ticles were sent up to the condemned
cell by Capt. Edgar. Tt was charac-
teriStic of the prisoner who has always
been ScrupuIOuSly neat and dapper IN
his attire, that he should object to the
white socks provided by the Jail au-
thCrities and demand black ones, which
We're also given him.
During the act of dressing Durrant
was much less nervous than his guards
whom ne surprised when his breakfast
was brought in by eating heartily and
with evident relish of steak toast and
fruit- After discussing his last meal
Durrant read a chapter from his bible,
and then received a visit from Captain
Edgar. to whom he expressed a desire
to deliver short address from the
ScanOld. Shortly afterward Mrs. Dur
rant called at the prison and was ad-
mitted to the death chamber Cor a
last interview with her son. Their
meeting was an affecting one although
pOth strOVe to maintain their cOmpOs-
ure Rev. Edward Davis, who had
publicly announced his intention to ac-
company Durrant upon the scaffOld
was not admitted to the prison this
morning by Warden Hale and as the
prisoner refused to see either Chaplain
1OrahnS or Rev. Vim. RAIDER. the pro-
testant clergymen who visited him re-
Gently, it was decided both by the pris-
Oner ana his mother that Rev. Father
Lagan should be sent for. This was
done and the priest at once RESPONDED
and made the necessary ARRANGEMENTS
for the reception of Durrant into the
Catholle faith. At 9:2O Warden Hale
visited the death chamber for the pur-
pose of reading the death warrant to
the condemned man who listened to
the Wei known contents of that docu-
ment with respectful attention but
with no outward sign of fear.
When it was finally decided that Dur
rant should accept the Catholic faith
his parents met Father Lagan in the
Waroen's ofIlce and accompanied him to
the death chamber where the prisoner
was given extreme JUNCTION and the