Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-11-17


One month Ib
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
AND VIRGINIA. ADVER TISER
81 E8 Hh. (roR THE COUNTRY
~ Is published regularly on TU UESDAYS,
THURSDAYS and SATURDAYS. at Sc per
snnum-psyable in advance.
The Keoehti Tragedy In California.
We have already mentioned the assassina-
ton of Mr.. Crittenden, in California. 1t ap-
pears the deed was perpetrated bya woman
named Laura Fair. The San Francisco Bul.
letin gives the following particulars:
MIR. Crjttenden had crossed over to Oakland
to meet his wife and daughters, who had been
East for several months, and was returning
with them and his two sons to this city 10 the
ferry boat Ell Captain when the tragedy oc-
Cured Mr.. Crittenden was seated on the
upper deck, his wife nestled closely by his side.
Close to them was their little son, and few
feet further back vas seated Miss Crittenden,
syoung lady of about eig ghteen. - =, .
TO the lett and facing Miss Crittendep, sat "a
woman by herself dressed in loose suit
OF black, with long cape hung from her
shoulders under which she carefully conceal
ed her hands. There was, besides, thick
concealed her mouth and chin. She sat there
almost unobserved. The boat had scarcely
reached deep water when the sharp crack OF a
pistol was heard, which brought everybody to
their feet. It was a frightful scene. There
on the floor lay Mr.. Crittenden, His vile had
tainted away, and his daughter was on her
knees, with clasped hands, crying out bitterly,
Papa, speak to me; oh, speak to me once
more You will not die, will you. papa? But
he did not answer; only low gurging sound
was heard, as if the wounded man was gasping
for breath. He fingered in an unconscious
state until morning, when he died.
Mrs Fair, is tall, slight woman, and there
are traces in her face which indicate that she
was once beautiful. She advanced upon Mr.
Crittenden with nerve and GOODNESS placed the
ped the pistol upon the deck, and ran, getting
into the crowd of passengers. ~ aa
The ball entered MIR. Crittenlen's right
breast. He sat for q few seconds az if nothing
had happened to him, and then rose and fell
senseless to the floor.
It was fully five minutes before the murderess
was discovered. and then she was found stand.
ing in cool and collected manner among the
crowd usually on the evening boat. On being
charged with the deed, she admitted it imme
diately, saying, II did it, certainly. Yes did
it. l was looking Tor the clerk OF the boat to
give myself up.'
Parker Crittenden, the son, who was on the
lower deck at the time OF the deadly attack ; on
being informed OF it, said immediately, Il
know who did it: knew it would come to this. =
He was terribly excited, and when he camo face
to face with Mrs. Fair it was with difficulty he
could be prevented from Wreaking his wrath
upon her. Mrs. Fair was arrested and was
conveyed to the city prison. Here she became
go violent that it was necessary to send for a
medical man to devise some means OF quietlng
her. He administered stimulants, but they
rather increased her rawlings. At one time a
glass of water was given her, when she took
the glass between her teeth and crushed it to
pieces. A large piece got into her mouth, and
had the physician not been very quick she
would have swallowed it but he caught her
by the throat and forced the glass from her
mouth. ~ ......-. ~. =
Mr.. Crittenden is a nephew of the late Mr..
the most prominent citizens OF this city. AS a
lawyer be had few equals and no superiors
among those practicing in San Francisco.
The woman whose desperate deed has star
tied the community is one whose character is
we'll known to Califoroians. Her maiden name
is said to have been Lane, and the first known
of her 10 this State was when sho became the
vile of Colonel William B. Fair, at one time
sheriff of Sacramento county, gentleman OF
acknowledged mplishments and OF eonsd-
erable wealth. So infatuated was he with
her that every caprice of hers was gratifed,
and in few years she had squandercd his
splendid fortune. But when ho became bank
rupt she cast him off aud took up with another
man. Fair was q man OF tender sensiblties,
and SO deeply did bis disgrace wear on him.
that one night in 1858 he entered the office oil
Dr. Murphy. an intimate friend, aud after re:
naming few minutes, took out a pistol and
shot himself dead. After this Mrs Fair mar,
ried again, was divorced, married again, and
left the State. It was unhappy complications
with this woman, which led to this awful
affair.