Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-16
THE CRITTENpRN TRAGEDY.
Full Accounts OF the Shooting OF
A. II. Crittenden by Mrs. Fair In
the Presence OF His sFamiIy-News-
paper Comments.

the presence OF HIS isFamiIy-News.
paper Comments.
From the San Francisco Bulletin, 4th.l
A terrible event occurred last evening
on one of the Oakland ferryboats, which
created intense excitement Throughout
the city, and which will result in the
death Of prominent attorney under the
most unfortunate and sorrowful circum-
stances. A. P. Crittenden, of the law
firm Of Wilson Il Crittenden, was shot
and mortally wounded by Mrs. Laura
Fair, woman widely and unfavorably
known throughout this State and Ne
vada. Crittenden was man of family,
but report gained credence several years
ago that an improper intimacy existed
between him and the woman who now
seeks his life. Mrs. Crittenden and her
daughter have been on a visit to the
East, and, with son, Parker Crittenden,
returned last evening. Crittenden went
to Oakland to meet them on the arrival
of the overland train. The cars arrived
at the end of the wharf at ten minutes
before six o'clock. A large number OF
passengers came aboard the boat, and
among them the four members Of the
Crittenden family above referred to-.
They passed up the right-hand stairway
to the upper deck, and advanced forward
some fifteen feet toward the wheelhouse,
where they took their seats with their
backs to the outer railing. 1T appears
from the statements of passengers that
Mrs. Fair stood at this time, closely
yelled, in the door Of the main cabin,
with her arms folded under her shawl.
From this position she could observe all
who came up the stairway. Crittenden
sat beside his wife and daughter. The
boat started from the dock, and had run
about twice her length, when Mrs. Fair
walked up to Crittenden, and holding a
pistol close to his breass, said: You
have ruined me and my child, and fired.
She then dropped the pistol on the floor,
and, running around the rear Of the
cabin, entered tie southern doorway,
and, advancing 10 the .ard part of
the cabin, mingleaf Oincin'e crowd of
passengers. Thest, and the Attracted
but little attentioplanters' Jourtnt except
among those who c,o.s ond nor, Immediate
vicinity of the pcs w ball took
effect in the lefttnis stand .e nipple.
The victim of rse and muleas assault
leaned back in 4 street neari his wife
placed her arms ~ o support
him. His limbs 'hihg iaree spasmod-
ically, and he sloe horse-aesh is seat to
the floor. In q rhorses are soldt became
known througnd to the long nat q man
came u intense rouble to disco man was
not removed fly of these anlon until the
from from ii the omn,police i9tthAt the wound
would in all pF wih'ery result fatally.
Crittenden was b frock cbspeak, sand his
sufferings were tnd pants severe. The
pistol was pickedte that ea vas found to
| be four-barrele, the Sharp S
patent. 1t was II nave 10 Fand seemed
to have never is salary. Ifore. One
barrel was empt. an uniform@ere loaded
Captain Kentze worn bv the Sbor police,
happened to be Ncompany
with Parker Crieather reports hmenced
search among state of the therf,o1r tne
guilty party. -, CL Far IN
the forward paf places 0hari Young
Crittenden said; Cincinnati, 35'omau. |
accuse you o.; Louisville, 32Sfather. -
Mrs, Fair replio 3sO init deny
it. / admit TIL go a. don't de-
ny it. | was e. ~ new orS clerk to
give myself uf; St. Louis, $40; lest me; l
removed rs ee 10 The Yerger, Chan the ec crowd ,
twas kept nwaancery Court, ohached he
landing, when ble to open Ceub the city
prison. o1>r Morpan -
wharf i'It to the resid opene5f hI partner, par i,
Samuel Wilson, Naceryl9 EI :, street.
Several Of the most wbminent Surgeons
of the city were summoned Immediately.
They ascertained that the bullet had en-
tered near the nipple and had passed
downward, and it is believed had lodged
near the spine. The left side soon
showed signs Of being paralyzed The
patient continnedto suffer intensely, and
was placed under the influence of chloro-
form. There is scarcely possibility of
his recovery.
Crittenden is native of Kentucky,
and is about fifty-eigAt years of age, He
is nephew Of the late John J. Critten-
den,, United States Senator from Ken
tucky. During the administration of
General Jackson he received an appoint
ment 10 West Point, and graduated in
the same class with Generals Sherman
and Beauregard, in 1885. He came to
this coast soon after the discovery of
gold; has resided the greater portion Of
the last twenty years in San Francisco,
the only exception being two or three
years spent in Nevada during the
Washoe excitement. The law firm of
Wilson a Crittenden has, during the
past two or three years, done the most
profitable business of any firm in the
city, having been chiefly employed in
important land cases. Judge Robinson,
who died few days ago was a brother
of Mrs. Crittenden. AT the time of his
death he held the position of Supreme
Court Reporter. ~ gH.
There we're many rumOrs 6tioat last
evening regarding the unfortunate rela-
tionship referred 70 at the commence
ment Of this article, and the immediate
causes which led Mrs. Fair to the perpe-
tration of the desperate crime. We re-
frain from giving them publicity until
facts are brought to light in substantial
form. eL,rII
Mrs. Louisa Fair is perhaps thirty-fve
years old. She was the wife of William
d. Fair, lawyer of Sislxiyou county,
whom she married at Yreka about fifteen
years agos She had one daughter by her
first husband, who is now about fourteen
years ofage. Through pecuniary en-
barrassnent and domestic trouble, Fair
became despondent in mind. In 1860,
while on visit to this city, he committed
snipide BY blowing his brains out, at the
office Of Dr.. Murray, on Washington
street, in the building now known as the
Examiner office. Mrs. Fair, a few years
afterward, made her debut on the stage
at Sacramento, and subsequently ap-
peared in this city and several other
cities on the coast During the hight of
the Washoe excitement, she took up her
resideRce in Virginia City, and entered
4 ia,o partnership with a man whose name
we are Gnahle 70 obtain, in keeping q
boarding house or hotel. She was en-
gagged in this business in ,he sum
mer Of 1864. The war feeling ran very
a