New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-02
sketch of Laura ID. Fair.
from the Capital

From the Capital
The time is approaching very near for the
execution of the sentence of death upon
Mrs. Laura D. Fair and unless the execu-
tive pardon be interposed. California will
witness for the first time within its history
the execution of a woman by hanging. Well
might the victim exclaim: is it possible
that woman of my face and form can ever
he hung!" 1t must be confessed it looks
extremely like it; and it is safe to say,
should the sentence be carried out, that she
will not be the only one that will be sur
prised
To one who lived in that community dur
ing the war and anterior to it, realizing the
almost unlimited immunity guaranteed to a
female, especially one so superlatively beau
tiful as was Mrs. Fair, il seems incredible
that jury could be found that would con-
Wet her of murder in the first degree. 1t
possibly can only be accounted for because
of the defiant attitude assumed by her after
the deed and her too openly manifested
confidence in and presumption upon that
feeling of tolerance toward woman, no mat
ter how culpable she might be, so strong in
the nature of every Californian. Doubtless,
too, a strong argument with that jury con-
sisted in the universal feeling of sympathy
for the family of Crittenden. Mrs. Fair was
very beautiful in person, nor was her mind
deficient in those qualities that add to per-
sonal charms.
Without being educated, save as to music,
in which she was most accomplished, she
had vivacity of manner and sprightlness
of intellect that invested her with more
than passing interest She possessed the
faculty of entertaining many at once, and
on seeing her amid several gentlemen, and
observing the facility with which she could
leap as it were from subject to subject,
could not help but realize that while she
did not possess the most comprehensive
knowledge of the various topics, she at
least was a very 'clever" woman. She was
one of those persons who desired to interest
gentlemen only. She cared nothing for the
opinion of her own sex, possessed many
good traits of character, and indeed was,
because of such good qualities, enabled
to captivate such a man as Judge Critten-
den.
Mrs. Fair, eight years ago, was in person
remarkable A blonde of most exquisite
complexion, the fairness of her skin never
gave room for doubt that art had aided in
any way ; she had fine dark eyes, with long
dropping lashes, and form of perfect pre-
portions. Added to this, she possessed great
taste in dress; inclining to the subdued
colors for the prOmenades in the evening,
the rich and elegant style characteristic of
the Weather and better class-not that it
must be supposed to be meant that she be-
longed to either, for she did not. While she
| was still living with Mr.. Fair, in the Incl
piency of her liaison with Crittenden, she
visited San Francisco several times, not
/ openly in his company, but ostensibly put
| ting up alone at the most stylish hotel, and
| creating that fttr0re which only a woman of
| her elegance and beauty could do. During
| these visits she occasionally appeared at
some of the most fashionable balls and con-
certs; if at ball, her superb apparel
| a,,A .f,,1 foao
| the event of the evening; if at concert,
she was more observed than the performers.
Her fame was so well known that when she
| appeared, the effect upon her own sex could
only be compared to that produced by the
| sudden appearance of the daring cOrsair
amid the convoy; such closing up of ranks
| and unmasking of batteries, in order that
husbands might be more etfectually pro-
| tected. But, alas it was often too evident
that the aforesaid husbands rather inclined
to strike their colors upon the first appear
ance of the enemy.
In point of personal resemblance, if Lydia
| Thompson were little taller, more rounded
and fuller in form, had dark eyes and
lashes, greater wealth of hair, she would
bear striking likeness to Mrs. Fair when
at the zenith of her charms. Without these
changes the fair Lydia closely resembles
her. in manner as we'll as person.
Mrs. Fair never appeared to the writer
like a woman who could be capable of the
killing of any man, yet she evidently was a
woman of great determination of character,
but of very caprtcious mind. 1t seemed
impossible that she could ever cling SO
closely to any one as to cause her to COM
init an act that would endanger her life and
property, for she was avaricious Her
kaison with Crittenden was doubtless the
event of her life--one that proved in many
ways the most fsttering to her vanity az
I well as the most advantageous, pecuniarily,