Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-16
ON the San Francisco Bulletin. 5th.I


day evening continued TO absorb the
attention Of the public throughout the
day Yesterday. and but little else
was talked of in the city. The princi-
pal incidents connected with the affair,
or relating to either Of the parties, were
revived in conversation wherever the
subject was discussed. The antece-
dents Of Mrs Fair especially were freely
talked about
II is stated that about two years since
she fred shot at Mr.. Crittenden on the
stairs leading to his Office. She did not
hit him, and the affair was hushed up.
Since that time she has been frequently
seen in his company, sometimes in the
street cars; and only a few days since
she visited the Office, and, as he was abb
sent, left note for him.
HER FAMILY.
She has daughter about fourteen
years of age, who lives at San Jose and
attends school there. The prisoners
mother, Mrs. Lane, lives at that place
also, but short time since she kept a
lodging-house on Bush street, opposite
the California Theater. Mrs. Fair was
at Sacramento during recent session
of the Legislature. About year since,
we are informed, she paid visit to the
Atlantic States, but soon returned to this
city, and has lived here continuously
since. ~
Her face bears the lines of former
beauty. Her complexion is fair and her
eyes blue. She wears her hair cut short
and curled, and dressed like lady OF
ample means. In this city she main
tanned costly establishment, and lived
in fine style.
HER CONDITION YESTERDAY. I
When locked up at first she raved
wildly and talked in rambling manner
about what she had done, about Mr..
Crittenden, her child and her mother.
A glass of water was given her. She
crushed it and kept piece Of the broken
glass in her mouth, but the attending
physician obliged her to take it out. he
finally administered powerful opiates,
and at late hour last night she fell
asleep. In the morning he visited her
again and nurse was left to attend her,
She still talked rambling, and kept her
head rolling from side to side on the pill
low, moaning and crying constantly.
This state of mind and action was con-
tinued last evening, a considerable por-
ton of which time she appeared to be
unconscious.
RELATIONS OF THE PARTIES.
The relations of Mr.. Crittenden with
Mrs. Fair were no secret in his family or
among his numerous friends. They were
often seen together in public places, and
the fact of their intimacy was notorious.
For several years they appeared to be
uninterrupted, but at last he seems to
have determined to break it off. When
she married with Snyder he and his
bseiends thought the trouble was ended,
but after the divorce she seems to have
determined to renew her relations with
him. He remained fixed in his deter
mination to get rid of her, and coun-
seled with some of his friends as to the
method he ought to pursue. He was
advised to repel her at once and forever.
He seems to have thought she would in
that event kill herself, and unpleasant
disclosures would ensue. She threat
ened to commit suicide if he left her.
He even went away from his place of
residence to avoid her, and she was told
not to come to his Office. All his efforts
to escape from the tolls were fruitless.
Even the night before the tragedy they
were in each others company. He talked
seriously with her, she threatening to
kill herself if he forsook her, and he inn
ploring her not to make such an attempt.
In all his conversations lately with
friends about Mrs. Fair, he never in
timated suspicion that she would at
tempt to kill him, but spoke of her
threats to put an end to her own exist
ence.
FATAL RESULT INEVITABLE.
Mr.. Crittenden remained entirely un-
conscious throughout the day yesterday.
At about noon he seemed to revive
little, and the physicians gave the family
some slight encouragement for favor
able result. In the afternoon a reaction
took place, and at three o'clock it was
reported throughout the city that the
patient had died at two O clock. This
report proved to be erroneous. Mr..
Crittenden remained without any i'm
portant change of condition until nine
o clock in the evening. At that time his
consciousness returned for the first time
since he was wounded. He was able to
converse but little but seemed to realize
his position. He settled up his business
affairs as far as his condition would per-
nit, and then commenced to fail rap
idly. At eleven o'clock he was believed
to be in dying condition, with no pos
sibility of his surviving until morning.
Murder as Remedy for "Ruin.''