Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-05-02

with greater promptness and facility the
increasing demand for Maine granite.
THE CALIFORNIA MURDERESS.
The trial of Mrs. Laura d. Fair, in San
Francisco, for the murder of A. P. Crit
tenden, was concluded last week by a
verdict of murder in the first degree. The
interest in this trial was intense in Cali
fornia, and hardly less in the eastern
States where the facts were known. 1t
was the general opinion that the woman
would escape conviction, though her char
acter was of the worst and her crime I'M
doubted, but to the credit of California
jury be it said they have for once set an
example which eastern juries would do
well to initiate, giving little heed to the
plea Of insanity and the pressure for the
prisoner by the depraved class to which
she belonged. The history Of the muir
deress is one of the blacklist in the annals
of crime. Richly gifted in personal at
fractions. she used her destinations to en-
snare her victims into marriage or licen-
tiousness, and the pistol to rid herself of
them when they stood in her way, or to
satisfy her revenge when they were not
compliant with her wishes and demands.
Mrs. Fair was born at Memphis, and is
now thirty-four years of age. Her maiden
name was Lane. When she was fourteen
her parents moved with their family to
New Orleans. AT sixteen she married
man by the name of Stone, who died
during the first year Of their union. At
eighteen she married one Grayson, who
left her in six months. In about year
afterwards she removed with her mother
to Shasta, California, bearing with her
beauty, grace. accomplishments, and a
knowledge of the world of which she made
such use as her depraved mind suggested.
After three years she was married to Col.
William d. Fair, lawyer of Siskiyou
county, whom her conduct drove to sui
eide in few months after their marriage.
She had then become a resident of San
Francisco, and in her mourning at the loss
of her third husband, this gay young
widow of twenty-four was solaced by a
large subscription raised for her by the
gallants of the city. Then she tried the
stage, and made money. though no ac-
tress. In 1868 she bought half hotel in
Virginia City, took a partner. and COM
menced the hotel business. Her partner
to raise the stars and stripes
over the house. when she mounted to the
roof, cut the halyards and shot him severe
ly, thus displaying her devotion to south
ern principles. and the desperate spirit
which she had acquired with her licen-
teousness in southern society
1t was at this point that Crittenden
makes his first appearance. He was a
kentuekian, nephew of Senator Critten-
den, a lawyer of repute, democrat and
sympathizer with the rebellion, and a
boarder at the Tahoe House, when the
above shooting took place. Mrs Fair was
tried for pistoling Thompson (the name of
her partner and Crittenden defended
her with so much zeal and success that the
jury acquitted her without leaving their
seats. Although he was then fifty-two
years old and had wife and several chill
dren. she became his mistress, travelling
with him in the East as well as living with
him in Nevada and California. He promis-
ed it appears to obtain divorce and mar
ry her. Last Juneshe separated from him
and married a man by the name Of Snyder,
from whom she was persuaded by Critten-
den within week to seek divorce. and
they separated by mutual agreement. Hay
ing accomplished this. it seems that Crit
tenden became weary of his mistress and
determined to shake off the spell which
she held over him, and return to his wife
an estimable but much abused woman
To this Mrs. Fair violently objected
threatening, expostulating, and endeav-
oring by all ways possible to cause him to
leave his wife again and return TO her
Failing in this she shot him dead last No.
vember while he was sitting in a San
Francisco ferry boat by the side of his wife.
Having had four husbands, and run car
Ger as fast woman that onght to have
been sufficient to satisfy her ambition in
that direction if anything could, she MUIR
dered Crittenden because he left her at
last for his lawful and virtuous wife, and
the last chapter of her infamous life is to
close upon the gallows. The defence
was insanity ofcourse. but this urged by
eminent counsel and aided by the beauty,
and fascinating arts OF the mur-
deress failed to save her. The most of
the newspaper correspondents in Cal
ifornis expressed during the trial doubts
IF obtaining verdict of guilty, believing