Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-08-01


to correct certain false and wicked reports tha
have been circulated by designing nerson
against me, and which, for the sake of m
fatherless and, perhaps, soon to be motherless
child, l feel it duty to make. I have
A STRONG CONVICTION
in my own mind that right will ultimately tri
umph IN my case, and that the Supreme Cour
OF this State WILL by It's adjudication, place M
once more where | stood before my trial, ant
where can again be heard in defence of nv
conduct before jury of my eountrymen, wht
are true, honest and just, bearing no hatrec
and malice whatever toward poor woman
who has never done them hsrm 10 this, my
statement. / shall give names and dates al
nearly as can remember them, and if, by ac
cldent, should make any mistakes, then
those referred to can correct them but, trust,
they will have no occasion SO to do It has
been publicly charged against me that
MY FIRST MARRIAGE
was to wealthy old man, whose wealth was
squandered by me after his decease. The
name OF my first husband was William H.
Stone. who was about Sc years of age at the
time | married him, | being a young and
thoughtess girl only l6 years of age. [ was
married to him at the request of my father
We were married in New Orleans, where Mr..
Stone lived, being one Of the commission house
and wholesale liquor store of Fl. L. Stone &
20. Mr. Stone died in about one year after
my marriage to him, and left me without a
farthing, although | have no doubt his estate
was worth money. As proof that have nev-
er received anything from Mr.. Stones estate
| refer the public to
LETTER FROM II. L. STONE
to me, written since | have become involved in
this difficulty, which letter reads as follows:
''NEw ORLEANS, March 6, 1871.
Mrs. Laura Fair: am informed that you
are my cousin Laura, formerly Laura Stone
from whom | have not heard for many years.
L regret to learn that you are in trouble and
suppose you will need all your resources to get
out Of it. / once wrote you that if | could
save anything for you from the estate of w.
Ii. Stone | would do So He left nothing at
his death except an interest Of one-third in
twelve hundred acres of land in Texas. Mr..
Roberts and myself own the other two-thirds.
1t cost twenty-five cents per acre. I think it
will now sell for fifty cents per acre, or $500
for the whole. This would be 5000 for his es-
tate, which, by law, would be divided between
you and his mother-$l00 to each. She will
take 800 for her portion Presuming you
will do the same, I have caused an act Of sale
to be prepared, which will be forwarded to you
through the house of r. Q. Dunn & Co., of
your city. On signing that act of sale they
will pay you 800. l shall have to be at some
expense to sell the land at fifty cents per acre,
and may have to keep it some time longer; but
for the purpose of getting control of it, SO that
| can sell it when | have a chance, / am will
ing to take it at the price Please write me
good long letter. Tell me all about your
troubles. [ fully sympathize with you, and
hope the Lord will show you the way out of
them speedily. Yours truly,
Il. /. STONE.
Direct to care of John A Roberts, box S43,
New Orleans"
After Mr.. Stones death entered the Con-
vent OF the Visitation at Mobile, under my
maiden name, there to finish my education
had no money or any means, and my mother
paid my expenses there out Of the small means
left her by my father. | left the Convent in
June, 1856, and returned to New Orleans,
where [ met
THOMAS j. GRAYsON,
a person [ had formerly known in that city,
and being without money or friends who could
assist me, [ married him in the month Of Au-
gust, 1856. He proved to be bad man and
a terrible drunkara, and he became so hope
lessly lost | was obliged to leave him and in
-
my mother and brother to San Francisco. He
demanded that should return to him, but [
positively refused, and he applied for divorce
upon the ground of desertion, and none other.
He employed an attorney by the name Of d.
w. Hennen, then of New Orleans, but now of
New York city, and William Hunt Of New
Orleans, acted for me. In February, 1858, a
decree was granted divorcing him from bed
and board the law Of that State requiring one
year to elapse before divorce could be en-
tered from the bonds of matrimony, or what
was called a final divorce. | became acquain-
ted with
COL. WILLIAM D. FAIR,
who was lawyer in this city, and put the mat
ter in his hands as my attorney. Prior to this
had advised with Governor Foote in relation
to the same matters. In 1859 Colonel Fair, as
my attorney, advised me that the final divorce
had been granted, and after being assured it
was so, | married Colonel Fair. We were
married in the town OF Shasta, and soon after
left for Yreka, where Colonel Fair was then
settled in business. 1t was here that
MY ONLY CHILD
was born in the month Of August, 1860. Judge
Baggs is now living in this city, and knows OF
our marriage, and knows also, that Col. Fair
was poor then, and was always poor. | did
not marry Col. Fair for money; and there is
no truth in the base charge made against me
that [ was extravagant and impoverished him.
[ append to the end of this statement the afi-
davit of Judge Baggs, sustaining me fully on
these points. [ did all my own work when we
kept house in Yreka, and kept no servants. y
Every person who lived in Yreka at the time
we lived there will bear me witness OF the
truth of what | say. Col Fair lived only
three months after We lett Yreka. lu October
of the year 1861 COL Fair made his arrange
ments to move to San Francisco. and sent me
and my child in advance, while he remained te
close up his business, expecting soon to follow
and on the 1st of December of the same yeal
he came down and settled here. l was stop
ping with my mother in house she hae
rented from DR.. Hitchcock, on Bush street
where the Brooklyn Hotel now stands. Col
Fair came Immediately to the house, and WI
lived there together
IN PEACE AND QUIETNESS
till he died. He sent his books and othe
things to Dr. Murphy's Office, and took an of
flee there with him until he could get one. |
has been cruelty reported that Col. Fair wa
jealous of me, and that we had separated be
fore his death. This is
ALL ISLANDER,
and has in it no truth. On the morning of hi
death he left the house as usual, and went t
his office Soon after DR.. Hitchcock called t
see him, and was told by me that he was at hi
Office He went to his office, and in attempt
ing to open the door, found something heav
against it, and pushing it open, found that tn
obstruction was the dead body of Colonel Fair
| He had been shot through the head with pis
tol ball, and the world said he had committe
suicide. DIR. Hitchcock came Immediately