Kansas City journal., 1898-01-08

morning and made his little speech pro-
testing his innocence as calmly and with
as distinct enunciation as If he had been
addressing an assemblage of friends upon
some ordinary topic of the day. His face
was pale his eyes were red. but his voice
was firm and he stood as solid as a rock
while he proclaimed his innocence and pro-
fessed forgiveness to those who, he said,
bad bounded him to death.
There was not a hitch or accident to mar
the plans of Warden Hale in carrying out
the sentence of the law. The moose was
adjusted. the trap was sprung, the stout
rope held. and Durrant's dead body dangled
at the end.
His Neck Broken by the Fall.
The neck was broken by the fall of over
five feet. and fifteen minutes later the mur-
derers body was cut down and placed in
the coffin.
In spite of the exciting events of last
night, when Durrant was besieged by news
paper reporters and talked to his parents
until II 80 p. m he rested easily during the
night and shortly after o'clock he awoke
and bade his guards good morning. War
material in honor of the occasion, and
these clothes were quickly donned. He
noticed the absence of collar and necktie
however and, knowing full we'll the rea-
Son for their omission, he asked for them.
explaining that a 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
Ittrr rant ppaI haNr snS saw how prI
expressing desire that no newspaper men
should be allowed to see him. This request
was complied with.
Accepted Catholic Consolation.
Consistent TO the last. Durrant died pro-
Tossing religion. But he died accepting at
the last moment, the comforts of the Ro-
man Catholic church instead of those of
the Baptist faith in which he reared.
Rev. Mr.. RAIDER. a Protestant minister had
arranged to ascend the scaffold with Dur
rant but the minister would not say that
he thought Durrant innocent, and the con-
demned man declined to accept his services
unless RAIDER professed belief in his limo.
cence Then II was that the once-arden,
Baptist turned to the Catholic church fol
consolation and called upon Father Lagan
a priest who had frequently visited him ii
prison to attend him. Father Lagan re-
sponded promptly and performed the las
mained in close consultation with th'
priest and seemed TO be deeply interested
in the impressive ceremony.
As the hour of the execution approached
the prisoner became somewhat restless
His father and mother We're admitted Il
bid him "A last farewell. The elder Duran
gra.pcd his son by the hand and tn
young man then turned TO comfort hi
mother. who cried hysterically. Duran
a,nh raced her rspiprlN and saving. 9Th
hour has come for us to part" put he
gently away.
His Father Saw Him Die.
The grief-stricken mother WAS led TO
private room. where she remained unit
after the execution. The father, however
went to the execution room and. supporte
by TWO friends, saw his son meet his death
Warden Hale did not attempt TO hurr
matters but allowed all possible time 70
The supreme court at Washington to TAX
some action. Finally when word wa
flashed across the continent that the su
preme court had declined TO interfere. III
warden ordered the programme of the ia
TO be carried out.
At 1884 o'clock Durrant. accompanied b
Father LaGsn, appeared at the door of III
execution room. He followed by hi
father "A friend. Warden Hale and III
guards The father and his friend wake
around the gallows TO the front, Viii
purrant and his keepers climbed to III
Eallows platform. Instantly on arrivin
AT the gallows. his legs and arms wei
pinioned and the rope was placed upon h
neck The hangman was about 10 adju
the black cap, when Durrant announce
his desire to speak. Permission was give
and the doomed murderer spoke fo
lows:
Durrant's Speech on the Gnllows.
81 desire TO say that. although / am
innocent man, innocent of every erin
that has been charged against me, be-