New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-10
LAURA FAIR.
A Chicago Editor Interviews Ihe wi"
demned Murderess = she WIN Aoo'r'
No CommuraIfOn-Her WRONGS

Int very little. fancy, that is not eltnef
the result of an effort to secure hlghiJ
seasoned sensation, or OF one TO pacoer "
existing preudices. In view OF I1l 81 laneleo
that Chicago community woulu IKE W sec
her through a pair OF Chlcago eSee;
NAV saw before proceeding to the inter
y;a,y that not alone in this city, but in other
n1aces there is setting in reaction with
rrofernnce to her case. 1t is not that any one
Iofords her act. but that there is arising a
feeIing that there was some blame on the
other Side, and that it is unmanly for an
entire community to pile the condemnation
i1pon one weak woman.
With these preliminary explanations let
me proceed to the piece de resistance Of this
article, TO wit: Laura Fair.
Every body who visits this town from
the East has a great curiosity in regard TO
Mrs Laura Fair | shared this curiosity,
and determined, if possible, to crafty it.
Such determination, however, is much
more easily made than executed.
interviewing this renowned character is
labor to which many are called, but lew
chosen. Every wandering bohemian from
the Orient, representing everything from
the weekly grasshOpper to the daily New
York Herald, has clamored at her iron door
for admission until the thing has become a
gigantic inundation that is reinforced by
every prurient curiosity hunter of conse-
quence, or Of no consequence, from every
part of the continent.
l was informed Of this fact, and of the
further one that she had conceived dis
like for newspaper men, and now absolutely
refuses to see any one of the profession
under any pretense whatever.
Nevertheless, with this difficulty staring
me in the face | was undaunted, and de-
termined to make the effort to see her.
Aided by the friendly cooperation of my
old Chicago friend, j. n. Higgins, now
managing editor of the Morning Call, l Sc
cured admission within the jail, and per-
mission to-see her if she was willing. This
was long step gained, for the reason that
the outer door of the jail is a rock against
which the largest waves of curiosity hun
ters split.
The Jail is a roomy building, whose in
terror is reached by ascending about as
as many steps as one descends i'll reaching
the black hole called a jail under the Chi
cago courthouse. 1t consists of two tiers of
cells which correspond to the first and sec
Ond stories of house raised above the
street. 1t is whitewashed is free from odor,
and is Just as unlike as possible the Ding
and sweltering dungeons in which Cook
county confines its offenders.
| noted these particulars while tbe-matrOn
of the institution was climbing the steps
leading to the upper tier of which vel
had selected an old military friend to share
the advance with me-followed her. Arriv-
lug at the top she stopped before the first
cell at her left, and which was entirely
closed bv an iron door. In the centre was a
small door which opened downward and
which was probably constructed SO that
conversation could be carried on with a
prisoner without opening the l1ain door
itself The warden opened this smaller
door and said:
Mrs. Fair here are couple of gentle
men who wish to see you if you are willing
WHO are they T. responded a rather
musical voice from within.
1--WE are residents of Chicago, madam, ."
said !, who are on temporary visit TO
this city"
you are newspaper men, are you nOt!'
l here ordered the colonel by sign to
advance, which he did by replying:
"No, madam, We are not. | am in the
regular army, and this gentleman is travel
ing for pleasure
All this time we saw nothing of the speak
er, save that white hand, with long, shape
ly fingers, was thrust, for single instant,
like a white fash through the aperture.
"Wby do you wish to see me? | have
been cruelty deceived by men who come and
say that they are not newspaper men, and
who then go away and write most infamous
letters about me-
1--WE have no mere vulgar curiosity" |
answered, lin wishingt to see you. You are
to a certain extent, one Of the most re
nOwned women of the day. There have
been all sorts of things written and said of
you, of which much is probably downright
misrepresentation and falsehOOd.'
Yes, that is true
well. in Chicago, where we live. you
have many friends and sympathizers' Mes
danes Waite, Brooks and others of that ilk
will indOrse this assertionl "who would be
glad to have the exact facts with reference
to your appearance, condition, feelings and
the like. / wish to tell them about you,
that is all"
''But, am so afraid you are newspaper
men. l should be glad TO admit you, but
am afraid to-
Here / ordered up the reserves in the per
son of the colonel.
Madam" said he, as he took off his mill
tary cap, and laid it so that the regimental
number was visible through the aperture,
''you see We are not newspaper men. You
see here the number of my regiment"
"Well,' said the voice, II don't like to
admit strangers. | have been so often de-
ceived. But-you may come in
Here the substantial matron, who had
been leaning Gstlessly against the wall, dur
ing our conversation, unlocked the iron
door, and then grated one, and we entered
the cell.
at once introduced my companion, who
reciprocated the compliment, and then she
invited us to be seated.
The cell is perhaps ten by twelve feet,
with western exposure. On this side was
grated window, through which there came
food Of sunshine, in which there futtered
a white curtain. and from which a cheerful
radiance lighted up the bed with its white
Counterpart and the whitewashed walls.
Opposite the entrance, and beside the win
dow, stands chest Of drawers upon whose
top are q mirror and various articles of the
toilet. The toor has a plain carpet, and
everything about the room is of the same
plain, unOstentatlOus character. The sun
shine lighted it up, and gave it a glow of
cheerfulness. In every respect it reminded
me of the bedroom of some labOrer, whose
neat-handed wife has made the most of
limited room, and in which there are just
as many articles as are needed for absolute
comfort, and nothing more.
had been led from newspaper accounts
to expect 10 find a small palace, blazing
with gaudy decorations | found it exactly
as L have described it. Two or three natural
flowers were in glass on the drawers, and
these were the single ornament, so far as
my memory serves me, OF the apartment.
AAo oNSuP"A!O VA LHc IoOu was bltIIllS III
working chair as we entered. She neither
rose at our entrance nor at our departure.
She may have been suffering from illness, al
though she made no complaint save from
slight neuralgia attack, in explanation of. a
narrow piece of white cloth that was passed
under her chin and tied at the top of her
head.
My conscience smote me as I glanced at
her, and | fastened TO make something in
the way of moral restitution.
Mrs. Fair said l, ''yOu have been good
enough to admit us, and | wish to be honest
with You. l said we are not newspaper
men. We are not. But l shall probably
write a letter to Chicago about this city.