The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-01-08
.DURRANT PAYS IHE
LAW 5 PENALTY
Stocking Murder Of Two Girls
Jud|CIQIy Avenged.
MAINTAINED HIS IAHOCENSE TO THE LAST
Changed His Religious Faith al the ST.
p'eme Moment.
story of Two Remarkable Crimes
Two Girls Mysterionsly Disappear
THOR Bodies Discovered in ~
Chnrch-Thc Crime Traced 10 Dur
rnnt -Extraordinary Efforts 10
snye the Criminals Life-Otl,er
Executions.
Changed His Religious Faith al the ST.
preme Moment.

When WILLIAMS Henry Theodore
Durrant died on the glllows this morn
Ing for the murder of Blanche Ialnon,
he gave such an exhibition of coolness
and nerve 40 has seldom bee seen un-
der similar circumstances. Hopeful al
most ITO the very last minute THAI
somgahing O.: someone would Intervene
70 save him, he walked to the. scaffold
ana mide a speech protesting his in
nocenSe as calmly and with as dis
unct enunciatjon a. if he had rean ad-
crossing an assemblage of friends upon
some ordinary topic of the day. His
, race Wis pale his eyes were red, but
his voice was firm and he stood as
solidly az a rock while he proclaimed
hiS' Innocence and professed forgive
ness 70 Those who, he said, had hound
ed him to DEATH, ~,
There was not a Hitch of accident to
'ln1ar1-the pla,iss yar,ielr- fIlie in:3cai-
rying out the esseSsnce Of the law. The
neck was broken }by the fall of five
fees, and fifteen minutes later the mur-
derer's body was cut down and placed
In a coffin.
In spite of the exciting events of last
night when Durrant was be:ieged by
newspaper reporters and pilked to his
parents until 1880 p. M, he rested
easily during the night and shortly
aftSr o'clock awoke and bade his
guards good morning. Warden Hale
lnad provided a new suit of dark ma
terfal and these clothes Durrant quick
ly donned. He noticed the absence of
COLLAR and necStie, however, and know
Ing full well the reason for their omis-
SION he asked for ehem explaining that
turn down collar would nct inter-
fere with the moose. Then he sat down
TO an excellent breakfast and ate
heartily. During the early morning
hours Durrant did not have much to
say beyond expressing desire that no
n2'wspaper men should be allowed TO
see him. This request was complied
with.
Consistent to the last. Duwant died
protesting religion. But he died, ac-
ceptlng at the last moment the COM
forts OF the Catholic Church, instead
OF those Of the Baptist faith in which
he Was reared. Rev. RAIDER n Protes-
tant minister, had arranged to ascend
the scaffold with Durrant, but the
minister would not say that he thought
Durrant innocent and the condemned
man declined to accept his services un-
less RAIDER professed belief in his inmo-
cence. Then 1t was that the once ar
dt'nt Baptist turned to the Catholic
Church for consolation and called upon
Father Ingan, 4 priest who had fire.
quently visited him in a prison. to at
tend h!m. Father Lagan responded
promptly and performed the last SOL
emn rites of The Church. Durrant re-
pHa!ned In close consultation with the
priest and seemed 10 be deeply inter
ested In the impressive ceremonies. AS
the hour OF the execution approached
tile prisoner became somewhat restless.
Ills father and mother were admitted
TO bid HIM a last farewell. The elder
Dnrrlnt graSped his son by the hand
ard The Young man then turned 10
comfort his mother, who cried hysteri-
cally. Du'rant embraced her tenderiy
and. saying '''rhc hour has come for
lis to part,' put her gently away. The
grief-strcl1en mother was led 20 4 rri-
waite room. where she remained until
after the execution. The father how
ever went to the execution room, and.
supported by two friends, saw his son
meet his death.
Warden HalS did not attemp. to
hurry matters, but allowed all possible
time for the Supreme Court q. Wash
ington to take some action. Finally
when word was flashed across the
continent tlat the supreme Court had
declined TO interfere the warden or
d,red the execution OF the sentence 20
be carried out. at 1884 O'Clock. Dur
rant, accompanied by Father Lagan,
appeared al the door of the execution
room. He was followed by his father.
n friend, Warden Hale and the guards
The Father and friend walked around
the gallows to the front, while Dur
rant and his keepers climbed to the
gallow'A platform. Instantly en- arriv-
ing at the gallows his legs and arms
were pinioned and the rope was placed
abort his neck. The hangman was
about 10 adjust the black cap. when
Duriant announced his desire to speak.
Permission was given, and the doom
ed murderer spoke 3 follows:
DURIRlANT'S LAST WORDS.
II desire to say that although I am
an innocent man. innocent of every