Weekly Trinity journal., 1871-06-10

SENTENCE OF LAURA D. FAIR.----ln the San
Francisco Chronicle, of June 4th, we find ac-
count of the conclusion Of the arguments for a
new trial in tue Fair case, which resulted in
new trial being refused. The following extracts
from the Chronicle gives the sentence and the in
cidents attending, The principal point upon
which the counsel for the defendant depended
to prove thst the Jury was prejudced
against the prisoner. In concluding bis prelm-
inary remarks, the Judge said:
You viii hardly make a Court believe that
men holding an honorable position in society
will come into Court of justice and work them
selves on TO Il jury for the purpose of securing a
conviction. | am convinced that the jurors
acted honestly and censcientiously. Ii now
only remains for NE TO pass the sentence the
seddest duty OF my life"
A: this ominOus utterance hush came over
tue Cuurt-room-a stillaess like that of death.
The faces Of the women present b!anched with
fear, and men looked with anxious eye at the
face of the prisoner, who leaned back in her
chair, and with her head bowed and eyes closed !;
her face was deadly pale. Mr.. Cook gave notice,
with percepIble tremor in his voice, that he
desired to file bill Of exceptions on appeal to
the Supreme Court on Monday next Runc pro
tsnc. His Homer, Judge Dwnelle, in a solemn
tone of voice, called out the name of the pris-
ouer Mrs. Laura D. Fair You were indict
ed by the Grand Jury of the city and county of
San Francisco of the crime of murder, for the
unlawful killing of Alexander p Crittenden.
That indictment sent to this Court for trial.
You were furnished with au impartial 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 p
The prisoner never raised her head or un-
closed her eyes as the Judge addressed her in the
above language
The ladies who have been in close attendance
upon the wretched woman since the first hour Of
her arrest could not restrain their sobs. Mrs.
Lane, the mother Of Mrs. Fair, sat rigidly, com
posed and erect at first, but, in an instant she
gave way TO uncomfortable sobs. The prisoner
partially recovered her composure, and buried
her face in her hands.
After painful pause of a few moments, the
Judge whose voice trembled with emotion,
said "The judgment Of the Court is that on
Friday, the 2eth-"
Mr. -(interrupting) )-'If your Honor
please, we hope that You will place the day Of
execution as far distant"
Tile Court Qnterruptng) y" On Friday, the
29th day"
Nr. (interrupting) -" We hope your
Honor will delay the day of execution as long"
TIE Court (interupting) -" That is what am
going to do. The judgment of the Court is that
you be remanded into the custody of the Sher-
if and that on Friday, the 28th day of July next
you, by the Sheriff appointed be hung by the
neck until you are dead, aud may G cd have mer-
cy on your SOUL
General expectation had fixed the time OF de-
Gliding the motion for new trial at late hour in
the evening, thinking that Mr.. Cook would be
followed by Mr.. Campbell for the prosecution
hence there was not very large attendance in
nrf htt Z tka -.
aud affecting. The ladies in attendance who
have been called the " strong minded ones, "
forgot the suffrage question, forgot their strong
mludedness and forgot all save the dreadful
doom just passed upon this wratched sister, and
gave way to sobs and womanly tears. Mrs. Fair
herself let her pale face drop into her mother s
lap, aud the tears which had been repressed
through all her misery came gushing to her eyes.
She was unable TO arise to be removed when the
Courtroom was cleared, and remained in her
CHAIR for nearly an hour. 10 the meantime the
news of her sentence had spread like wild fire
upon the streets and hundreds Of people rushed
up the stairs of the Court building and crowded
10 the passage way to catch II glimpse of the face
OF the doomed prisoner. Sheriff White ordered
a carriage at the Washington street entrance
a1d the crowd, seeing that gathered in hund-
reds on the street la the meantime another
carriage was driven to the Montgomery-stree
entrance, aud at half past o'clock, just one
hour after the passing Of sentence, the prisonel
and her mother, accompanied BY Mr. Knox Dep
uty Sheriff, decended the stairs, and entering
the carriage, were driven to the Broadway Jail
An appeal will be made on Monday to the Su
preme Court hut the Court will not commence
its tero until July-a long weary month of help
less hopeless brooding in the solitude of prison
SERIOUS CHARdE.-A correspondent of the Sac
ramento Bee, in late number of that paper
gives currency to n report that the monumen
erected to the memory of Senator Burdett wal
paid for out Of the Contingent Fund of this State
and that the money drawn by a warran
signed by the Controller. This monument bear,
an inscription to the effect that it was erected b,
II. II Haight as tribute of friendship and ad
miration for deceased bis little Excellency ha
been ''pulfed " to the skies for his liberaity il
thus striving to perpetuate the memory Of pri
yate friend. The Bee credits the accusation an,
says the matter sho\ / be investigated
HURRAH FOR REED In n late communicable
TO the Sacramento Union, Hon. Chas F. Reed
the man who is to represent this District in tn
pext Congress, says that he IS ''altogether op
posed TO railroad subsidies and docs not thin
eny person would dare offer himself as a candi
date foF Congress were he otherwise, after suc
an expression by the people as has been mani
Tested on this question" Reed is for the peo
pie and the people are for Reed