Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-06-20

.aoi5auils sdt ID syTelY ia9l..a11
NUMBER xxx.
Laura Fairs Death Sentenee-A Moving
s--ssss Scene in q Court Room. ~ asi7,

a.
r sassss Scene in a Courtroom 4. 6o.d
II The telegraph has already advised that th
death-warrants of Laura Fair, murderess of A
4. .Crlttenden, ESQ.,; in California, has beeI
signed by the Governor, and is in the hands o.
the Sheriff of San Francisco In all judicia
executions that have taken place in Californis
OF late years. the Sheriff or his chief deputy
has drawn the fatal bolt. The law provides
Tor no special executiener, but directs that the
sheriff OF. one of his deputies shall perform the
office. The present Sheriff of San Francisco
IS a merchant in good standing, and his chief
I deputy is gentleman who had been for manv
yearsia notary public. The San Francisco pa
pers OF the 5th instant report the scene in the
courtrroom on the occasion of passing the
tdeath sentence. At the conclusion of the ar.
gument by Mrs. Fair s counsel on motion ia ar.
| rest Of Judgment and for new trial, the court
remarked to the district attorney that reply
was unnecessary, and proceeded to dispose of
the points made in support of the motion, and
In conclusion said IN ri .-1sa4-vsl) 3.
/ The case has been carefully tried. The pris.
oner has had every advantage, in my opinion,
tnat the law could give. The case, that should
have been tried inside of ten days, occupied q
month before averdict was rendered. Il is
true. ~ l am convinced that the Jurors acted
honestly and conscientiously, It now only re-
mains Tor me to pass
1 THE SENTENCE, ....f
the saddest duty of my life.
Mr. Campbell-I renew, if your honor
please, my motion for judgment upon the YER
dict. aa 5ads r 10 G. Ioe ~ 51
Mr.. Cook wish to have permission on
Monday to file my grounds of exception, nunc
pro tune. h9A o''
The Court-Laura D. Fair: You were in
dicted by the grand jury of the city and coun-
ty of San Francisco of the crime of murder,
for the unlawful killing of Alexander P. Crit
tenden. That Indictment was sent to this court
Tor trial. You were furnished with, an impair.
tial jury. You were ably defended by counsel.
That jury pronounced you guilty. Have you
any legal cause to show why the Judgment of
the court should not be pronounced Fl
A silence as of death reigned in the court
room, broken only by the sobbing of the ladies
Who sat by Mrs. Fair within the bar Mrs.
Lane, her mother, wept bitterly. The prIsc-
ner, who had sat with her head buried in her
mothers lap during the first portion oe the
courts remarks, had partially recovered her
conlposure, and now sat upright, with her
eyes closed, and her face pale and emotionless
as marble statue. She made no response,
and did not even appear to be conscious of the
question asked her.
After painful pause of few moments the
judge, whose voice trembled with emotion,
said ra.e III
Your silence indicating that you have MOTH
ing to offer, the Judgment of the court is that
on Friday, the
Mr., Cook (nterruptingl-If your honor
please, We hope that you will place the day of
execution as far distant
: The Court (interruptiDg)-On Friday, the
Mr., Cook tinterrupting) I'VE hope your
honor will delay the day of execution as long
The Court (interrupting) is what /
am going to do. The Judgment of the court
is that you be remanded into the custody of
the sheriff, and that on Friday, the 2Sth day
of July next, you, by the Sheriff appointed,
De hung by the neck nntil you are dead, and
may God have mercy on your SOUL
The scene IN the courtroom from the COM
meneement of the remarks by the Judge was
one of intense interest. The room was not
crowded, the general public opinion being that
the case would not be decided until this even
ing. At the very opening of the lips of the
court the spectators and the prisoner felt that
the motion was to be denied. The prisoner
watched the countenanance of the Judge with
marked that he could see no ground for new
trial, she buried her face in her mothers lap
and sobbed bitterly. Her little daughter was
not with her,. AS the judge proceeded she
struggled against emotion, and succeeded some
what in overcoming it. the sound of the
judges trembling voice was only broken by the
sobs OF the women in the courtroom.
SCENE OF EXCITEMENT
Az fbo oonolrs;o,, oe tbn ,ont.-.. IL
having been adjourned and nearly all the spec
tators having. risen to their feet, Mrs. Fair and
her mother being still seated, grsy-haired
man, who had been seated within the lobby,
advanced to the prisoner as if to gain a close
look at her. His intentions were no sooner
made manifest than he was roughly grappled
by the officers IN attendance and pitched rath-
er than walked out of the courtroom 1t ap-
peared that he desired not to crafty morbid
curiosity, but to shake her by the hand and Of
fer his sympathy.
ANOTHER SCENE
The excitement of this having partially SUBJ
sided, several reporters advanced to Deputy
Sheriff Knox to ascertain who the man was and
what he wanted. Mrs. Lane briskly confront
ed them and said, with anger flashing from her
eyes: "You have got what you want now.
haven't you? You have got her hung. Il
gives you great joy, hope" The reporters
endeavored to paoify the excited and agonized
mother, who finally was persuaded to return to
her daughters side.
A number of friends of the prisoner remain.
ed near her and offered their heartfelt sympa-
thies. She received their coincidence with evil
dent appreciation, and with great composure.
1t was with difficulty that the courtroom
was cleared. The difficulty having been over
come, the deputy sheriff signifed his readiness
to depart with the prisoner, when she refused
to be taken to the county jail, and gave as her
reason that the jailor Kelley had said be would
have her hand d-cuffed and chained to the floor.
1t was not until Sheriff White had been sent
for, and had personally assured her that no
such steps would be taken, that she consented
to 60 without opposition.
TO THE JAIL.
The news had spread like wild-fre on the
streets. A carriage having been drawn up at
the Washington street entrance, a crowd of
hundreds surrounded it, eager to gain a
glimpse of the wretched woman. The hall
ways were so densey blocked that force was re-
quired for the melancholy procession, which
consisted of the prisoner, Deputy Sheriff Knox
and other officers, Mrs. Lane and number of
friends of the prisoner to gain egress.
The curious crowd at the Washington street
door were greatly chagrined, for instead of the
| prisoner being taken out at that exit, she was
conducted down to the Montgomery street
| door, to which point carriage rapidly wheel
| ing up received her, the officers, her mother
| and another ladv friend Mrs Hiphee \ and %