Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-05-02
Exciting Trial.


The trial of LAURA D. FAIR for the kill
ling Of Judge C~RITTENDEN, has excited more
interest in San Francisco, Cal, than any sim
liar event that ever took place in the State.
1t lasted for IS days, aud to the surprise of
the people generally, terminated in her being
found guilty Of murder in the first degree
Judge G. was we'll aud Familiarity known to
most Of our people aud his untimely end is
greatly lOmcpted by many of his former
friends and ncquaintances. His heart strick-
en- and bereavcd wife is a native of this town,
and we copy from the Baltimore Sun, in some
extended comments on the matter, The fol-
lowing tribute to her worth as shown by the
trial. After referring to the antecedents of
Crittenden, it says:
He seems to have been
willing for : long time to give up everything
for this woman, who finally, when he sought
to turn to his own family, took his life. But
whatever the solution of his strange and sui
cidal course, it is refreshing to turn from the
sad scene TO Mrs. Crittenden, whose dignity
and worth OF character are only rendered more
conspicuous by the dark Surroundings. and
whose department throughout the whole case.
- S'ASf" y SA A"S bCSNlLAOuI III IL WHICH re-
ters to her, exhibits a true wcmap, of noble
tortitude, enduring and torbearing, adheriDp
under all circumstances TO the virtues and
deiIcacy Of the lady, and animated to the last
only by a Christians Solicitude to reclaim her
wandering husband and do her duty by him
and her children. She might have taken the
course which the law opened to her, and
sought a divorce. She never thought of that
unworthy resort. She testified, and AL the
evidence showed that, for the sake of her chill.
drep, and not for herself, she pleaded with
Mrs. Fair, and she declared that even if her
husband abandoned her she would not ru,
upon her children the stigma Of Z DIVORCE
Her evidence upon the trial was in keeping
with the r"cCmp!hiDirg dignity, we might
almost say majesty. OF her whole conduct uu-
der a combination of the heaviest calamities
that can test human torti:ude. Even when
interrupted in her testimony by the giolent
aud vile words Of the prisoner, Its a lie"
she answered only by silence. The contrast
between these two women, which Mrs, Fair.
In that sn';eiul outburst, thrust upon the at
ten'ion Ut The jury, may have had its influence
upon the verdict which was afterwards render
ed. At all events, the contrast throughout
between the two suggests itself al every stem
Ia the development OF the case. In this pro>
grcs5tvc era, when new theories are constant.
iy preached, not only III art aud science, but
IN morality and religion, and when free love
mons'ros'''e~ and divorce made easy have their
advocates even in leading public Journals. 1t
Is instructive iO contemplate the fruits of such
u system IN the career of Mrs. Fair, and to see
At the same time an illustration of tho true wo.
man, one whose mission is to make homs han.
~ to show strength of character. not in de.
lance ct public sentiment and intruding upon
the sphere of man. but in heroic submission
to suffering. 10 relieve the distressed and com.
passionate the fallen, and to keep herself un-
contaminated, even though dragged into con-
tact with the foulest neutrality-suspicious.
ting, By practical example, that human virtue
may prove equal to human calamity.
Sc The famous Are dc Triumphe de
IEtoile in Paris, which is reported destroyed
by the guns of Mont Valcricn is situated upon
the grand avenue of the Champs EIysees.-
The foundation stone was laid on August Is.
1896, the anniversary Of the birth OF Napole.
on l. 1t was not completed, however, until
1886, in which year it was inaugurated. The
total cost was about 9,G5l, IS5 francs, about
equally divided between the empire, the res,
%toration, and the reign of Louis Philippe
The work c. building it was thus carried on
under three different dynasties. At the com.
pletion it was dedicated to 'the glories of all
the armies of France since 1892" The
height Of the arch was l52 feet, its breadth
49, feet, and its depth 6s feet. The founda.
tons were l6S feet long and 81 feet wide
The arch was adorned with groups of statuary
representing the military gIories Of France.
Under its giant arches cortcges Of all kinds
and distinguished people withou. number
have passed. The first to pass under it. while
it was still merely a skeleton, was Marie Leu.
Use Of Austria, when she came to Paris as
wife Of Napoleon. If it be true that it has
been destroyed, ne reported, Paris has lost
one Of its greatest and most celebrated adorn-
ments.
Scene on the Louisville and Nash
vile Railroad,