The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-06

The Trial Of Laura D. Fair for the Murder
Of L. P. Crittenden.
"A Jury Empane1lcd--Case
eN Opened.

"A ~ ury EImpanelIcu--O case
Opened.
SAN FRANCISCO, March -, 1871.
The most exciting criminal case ever tried before
eur courts IL that OF Laura D. Fair for the assasst
nation OF A. p. Crtttenden which has now been
commenced In the Fifteenth District Court in this
CITY, Hon. Judge Dwinee presiding The case was
called yesterday, and after much trouble jury was
Anally empancllcd, which consists of the following
persons:-Henry NJ. Beach, wine merchant; W. D.
Jischleld, butcher; Hiram Rosekrans. hardware
merchant; d. q. Littleneld market superintendent;
b. F. Sterett printer; ]. w. Shaeffer wine mer.
chant; Herman Wenzel Jeweller; John Il. Freeman,
bookkeeper; Asa II. Wells, contractor; Ernest May
risch, wine ana liquor merchant; George Morrow,
hay and grain dealer; Thomas Horobin, wood and
coal dealer. ftf Nnh NxfetH
At the opening Of the court this morning the
shrong Of persons was immense, and It required the
services OF a squad Of police to Keep the crowd
Rnder Contr0l.
Dts ~ HISTORY OF LAURA D. FAIR.
Mrs. Fair IL about thirty-nve years Of age. she
was the wife OF w. d. Fair, lawyer, OF SiskiyOu,
aud married. him ct YrekS about 6fteen years ago.
Iu 1890 he to this city and committed suicide
ny blowing his brains out while at DR.. Murphy's
once. Mrs. Fair. few years afterward made her
debut ON the stage at sacramento. and subsequently
appeared in this CITY and several other places the
coast. During the Washoe mining excitement she
went to Virginia CITY, where she kept boarding
house or hotel There her partner undertook to run
the national nag mp the hotel. she threatened
to shoot him, and lld wound him. She was tried
for the offence and Mr.. Crittenden was
her counsel for defense. The jury, without
leaving their seats, acquitted her. She
afterwards came to this city. where she married o
man named snyder, from whom she was soon d.
vorced on the ground Of hts adultery. Here, well
as In the State OF Nevada, she was very intimate
forms with Mr.. CrIttenden. The relations between
them we've not private. They were frequently seen
together In public, and sometimes her child. the
Little girl who sits by her in court was with them.
For several years the intimacy continued; but he at
last seemed determined to break it OIL. The mar.
riage with Snyder was temporary interruption,
bot the intimacy was renewed after the divorce. He
was advised TO repel her at once and forever, but
did not do so, alleging that he feared unpleasant
disclosures and thai she would kill herself In
the event OF his doing SO. She threatened to
commit suicide Ii ne left her. The approach of his
family from the East brought matters 10 crisis. and
even on the night before their arrival and the last
He is said % have talked seriously with her and
she tn re0tenlng ~ XIII herself II ne fOrsOOk her ana
s ner moi 70 make srcn a an attempt For
condition OF apparent del,rium at times calling on
her victim 10 come to her. and saying that he pro-
m6ed TO meet her NJ certain time. She was con-
stantly attended by nurse and one was admitted
70 her presence. physician attended her. and she
was Kept almost constantly under the influence Of
epiates. When removed to the county jail she was
carried In chair from her cell to the carthage
sto :. ANTECEDENTJ or Mr.. CRivTENDEN.
Mr.. Crlttendcn ct the time Of his DEATH was about
inI years Of age He WAS nephew OF the
Kentucky. While Andrew Jackson was President
ne received an appointments III the West Point mil.
tary SCHOOL, and graduated In the same class with
Be0ufeRar0 sherman an ar tho dto
coyery Of gold In California lie came nere aud made
this CITY NJ; place Of residence. he 6rotherln.
law oil the late Tod Robinson, who at the time OF his
death was Supreme Court reporter. He was a very
able lawyer, aud ranked higa In the profession 10
!. 20 THE TRIAL
e =, pns oS5 =, Ri: Honor p.ns Sea
District Attorney Byrpe asked the Conr. 70 make an orosr
be excluded from the court room during the examination Of
the prisoner medical Witnesses should 5: allowed 10 re-
ss, no g
sson s.s!SssS
then decided NOT 70 the order until til.
opening ''''s"s ans oprsrso STATEMENT
% sn Ss hen me !. s Ssr ssrs
II s1 .sa Of s sa:sssa e ss sss Grim:
s';a ;.ss
cuSUou
g.
hs shooting d. prooe the services q hackmsn to TAKE
her
sS isss
nrsd pis.o hn he passenger tho boat and he
IL soSs sR hs sn' m ds
% s ne II s se
xgsSd 70 that she wa: yssd posss to avoid
q 2 s h. nc s. me .s
n degree The wa: Of Deliberate
which had been scush and was committed D. Dy me
1t the hands of the l Jury: -s n
Another moey crowd had saherein tho hallway leading
s % s ' esa Is
%f: e allow Is. as the and
0'n n'' WITNESSES 'yyUs
H. .Rss court sa e
any conclusion about excluding witnesses After short
Of subpunsed in case, which fol-
70. ~ Pseph-Psrksr criendsn, Clara Q. Critenden.
.s Q nSs Tno%a, J. xGIsndsn William 4,
i.ln Wa Dr. ssxysl Pr 5oas.., John Bach, Mgpoa-
Ss 1n'yss $ Asss 4. a.:
Hsnmsssu.h, xb. ssn. and yho%ss Reed go. ~
Walter N Mrs
@ ss's ss.: .sa 9' nsa
physcians and attorneys be excluded from the room,
and il WAS 80 ordered BY the Court,
TrsTINoNY FOR rHx PERSECUTION -
The examination Of winessss was then commenced. The
CIV s.. W. - - WILLIAM v. xEsTzxL..
Tho va examined By Mr. Campbell and, being sworn,
gcsed II Captain q The nsTbor Police and was ~ No;
know he defendant before the evening he sho2nng on
y; SSys sgn s' over 70 9stisea TA.r
change and d. sh q: started On n s, is
arouYa On a Ss aSa %s p Mr.: o
Fair ntapdng tho saloon deck ~ tnc t
cabin net crs s, I'D ss N a.
doctors game kept the crowd back Il donn know
where Mrs. Fair was o. that umei when hrst saw
Crttendeni she standing perfectly still asked her