The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-11-15
E.fjl!lSEE.sS.
s.s.x widow OF 81 Vtr@ig:ian HILLS Il SAN
L;.arcx.c,s E.HtVyer.


\ terrible event occurred last evening: On
one Of the Oakland Ferry boats, which
created intense excitement throughout the
city. and which will doubtless result III III
death Of prominent attorney under the
most unfortunate ana >orro" iili cirCllm.
ct,rrnS. A. +. trtttendcn, OF the laW firm
nr Wilson K Crittcndcu. "aa shot and
,noytglly wounded hy Mrs. Laura
E:ur. i woman widely and unfavora.
INV known thoughott this State and
\Gyada. C,ittcpden W&S man OF
family. but report gained ciehrn%c Ssf2rai
wear, ago thai an improper intimacy eA-
i>icd between him and tue woman VINO
now see Is his life. Mrs. Cri!cnuth ana
her daughter have been on Nisit /" the
F.-;. ana with son, Parker trlttcnden,
returned last evening. C'Ii!eAdc! TNnt 10
D,l,I,nd 10 meet them on the arrival OF Inc
oy.rIand train. The cars arrived at t.ic end
ut the wharf nj about ten minutes before d
O'Clock. \ large number OF passengers came
aboard the boat, and among them tie !our
members of the Crittcnden family above
referred to. They passed up the llght hanQ
stairway 10 the upper deck, ana advanced
forward some fifteen feet toward 'hc "Hccl'
house where lhryt2ok their seats with then
hachS to lhc outer railing, 1t appears IRON
t;,r statements OF Passengers that Mrs. talt
stood III this time closely yelled i'll the door oil
the main cabin, with her arms folded under
her shawl. From this position she could OBJ
serve al who came up the stairway. Crit
Icnden sat between his wife and daughter.
Tne boat started from the dock, ard had
ruu about twice her length, wneii Mrs.
Fair walked up &c C!!ttenden, and holding
pisfoI close 10 his breast, said: Iou
Lqyr rlincd me and my child" and fired.
She then dropped the pistol on the
Ilacr. and running around the rear "t
Inc cabin entered the sou hern doorway,
and advancing 10 the forward part OF
the cabin, mingled with the crowd OF
passengers. The pistol shot attracted but
little attention for moment except among
those who were in the immediate Vlclnlly
of the tragedy. The ball took e1ect IN the
left breast. near the nipple. The victim OF
Ibc murdcrous assault leaned back III ms
,nat and his wifi. placed her arms around
MIN to >lIppou him. His limbs stretched
out spa>lnodicaliy. and he gradually slid
from his seat 10 the Moor. In moment
the fact became known throughout Tie
boat that man had been shot, and the eA,
element became intense. The wounded
man was not removed from his position
until the boat arrived at the wharf. Ii was
evident from the commencement mat the
wound would II ail probability result III,
tally. Critteuden was uuHbic 10 speak, ana
hi, suilerings were extremely severe. lie
pistol was picked up, and was ioilh" -
be n ouv-barrclied pistol OF the Sharps
patent. 1t was quite new, and seemed 10
have never been used before. One barrel
v,:s empty and three were loaded. Capt.
Eentzei. of the harbor police, happened 10
h. on the boat. III company with fafker
{ rittcnden, ne commenced search among
the passengers for the guilty party. Ihey
found Mrs. Fair in the forward part OF the
cabin. Young Crlttenden said, 1Ilat Is
the woman. accu>c YOU OF numbering
my father" Mrs. Fair replied, YES; |
don't deny il. | admit that SHOT him. 1
don't dcnv 1t. | was looking for the clerk
to give myself up. Fake me. Arrest me;
am ready to 20 with you She was thel,
removed TO the piIot-housc, AMI the crowd
was kept away until the boat reached her
landing, when she WAS taken to the city
prison.
Crittcnden was removed from the wharf
TO the residence Of his partner, Samuel
Wilson, No. 5l9 Ellis street. Several Of the
most prominent surgeons of the city were
summoned Immediately. They ascel tanned
That the bullet had entered near the nipple
and had passed downward, and 1t is believed
mad lodged near the spine. The lett side
soon showed signs Of being paralyzed. The
natient continued to suiler intensely, ana
Vas placed under the influence OF chloro-
form. There is scarcely possibility of his
recovery. s
Crittenden is native Of Kentucky, and
is about ffty.cight years OF age. lie is a
nephew of the late John }. Crttenden'
United states Senator from Kentucky.
During The administration OF Gen. jackson
he received an appointment to West Point,
aud Graduated in The same class with Gems.
sherman and Eeauregard in 1885. lie came
to this coast soon after the discovery OIL
gold has resided the greater portion OF Tue
| last twenty yeups in San Francisco, the Only
| exception being two or three years spent III
Nevada during the Washoe excitement
| The law firm of Wilson & Crittenden has,
] during the past two or three years, done