The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-06-21
THE VERDICT IN THE FAIR.CalTi
TENDEN CASE.

The close of the trial of Mrs. Fair,
for the shooting of Mr.. Cri:ter den, is
thus reported by the San Francisco
Aha:
At five minutes after four o'clock the
jury came into court and took their
seats in the jury-box. They were pre-.
ceded by Mr.. Cook, who whispered
something (probably the verdict Of the
jury) in Mrs. Fairs ear. She turned q
triae paler than usual, her head dropped
to ono side, but otherwise she did not
seem to be affected by the intelligence.
The excitement among the audience was
intense, and they climbed up ou benches
and the backs of chairs in order to OBJ
tain view of the scene which all felt
would ensue. Judge Dwinelle took his
seat upon the bench.
The court then wrote the following
and read it to the jury: "Gentlemen Of
the jury-You are instructed to state
by your verdict, if you convicted the
prisoner, whether she was guilty Of
muder in the first degree, second de-
gree, or manslaughter; you should SO
state.
Foremau-We find the prisoner gull
ty Of murder in the first degree.
The clerk then read the verdict. and,
calling each juror by name, asked him
if that was his verdict? All replied,
at is."
The ominous words, equity of mur-
der in the first degree" fell from the
lips of the foreman of the jury. Mrs.
Fairs little daughter, who seemed to
comprehend their full meaning, broke
forth into violent fit Of sobbiug. She
leaned over upon her :nother, and her
childish cry of anguish pierced every
heart. Her paroxysm of grief became
so violent that she sprung from her
chair and fell in her mothers lap, her
little arms encircling Mrs. Fairs neck.
She continued in this position until the
court adjourned. The scene was most
affecting one. Several of the jurors were
affected to tears, and even Judge Dwin.
ellie had difficulty in retaining command
of his voice.
The San Francisco CaH adds the
following:
After some discussion between the
prosecuting attorney and Mr.. Cook,
counsel for the defence, the court named
the 29sh Of May as the day on which he
would render his sentence. Judge
Dwinelle remanded the prisoner into
the custody of the Sheriff. She left,
leaning upon the arm of Colonel Knox,
atd leading her little daughter by the
hand, with her mother accompanying.
A carriage was in waiting to receive the
party, who entered it amid an immense
throng of people gathered in the streets
to get glimpse at the prisoner. 1t was
driven to the county Jail, where the
prisoner alighted, entered, and was en-
closed by the iron doors, to await her
forthcoming to receive sentence Tor the
crime of which she stands convicted.
The mother and daughter attempted
to enter the Jail with Mrs. Fair, but
were prevented by Jailor Kelley. Mrs.
Fair appealed to him to let her child go
with her. The jailor Informed her that
it was impossible. His order and his
duty required him to prevent the en-
The jailor asserts tina. Mrs Fair is con-
fident she will neither be hanged nor
sent to the State prison. On what her
faith to the contrary is based is known
only to herself, but the conjecture is
that she relies upon the ingenuity ol o.
her counsel aud the "quips and qulrks'
of the law to effect her release.