The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-10-04
LAURA FAIR
A Chicago Editor Interviews the Condemn.
ell lIGrdereSS.

A Chlsag0 Editor Interviews TIE Condemn.
ed lIurdereSs.
SHE WILL ACCEPT NO CoMMUTATION-
HER WRONGS.
[ PoliutO's San FrnuriscO Letter to the
Chicago Times
Much has been written about this
WOMAN, but very little, | fancy, that is
not either the result of an effort to Sc,
cure IL highly seasoned sensation, or of
one to paider to existing rreju,licrs.-
In view of this, | tanci.d that Il Chi
cugn community wonli like to see her
through II pair of Chicago eyes.
| may say before proceeding to the
interview, that, not alone in this city,
but IN other places, there is setting in
II reaction with reference to her ease
1t is not that anyone defends her act
but that there is arising feeling that
there was some blame on the other
side, and that it is nnmanly for an en-.
tire community to pile the. conde,nna.
tion upon one weak woman.
With these preliminary explanations
let me proceed to the piece dc resistance
of this article, tO-wit:
LAURA FAIR.
Everybody who visits this town from
the East has great curiosity in rrgart
to Mrs. Laura Fair. shared this cu
rinsily, and determined, 1T possible, I,
crafty it. Such determination, how,
ever, is much more easily made than
executed.
interviewing this renowned cfarac
ter is labor to W lich many are Gale,
but few chosen. Every. wau.ltlin:
Bohemian from the Orient, represent
ing ever! thing from the Weekly Grass
hopper to the Daily New York Herald
has clamoled at her iron door FIR adj
mission until the thing has beronie
gigantic inundation that is reinforce,
by every prurient curiosity hunter q
consequence, ar of no consequence
from every partOf the continent.
| : l was informed of this fact, and q
the further one that she had conceive
Il dislike for
/ NEWSPAPER MEN,
and now absolutely refuses to see an
one of the profession under any pr.
tence whatever.
Nevertheless, with this difficult
staring me in the face. was unt!o,,n
ed, and determined to make the efio
to see her. Aided 10y the friendly c,
operation of my old Chicago friend,
n. Higgins, now managing editor
the Morning Call, secured admissi.
within the Jail, and permission to st
her if she were willing. This WAS
long step gained, for the reason th'
the outer door of the Jail is ROT
against wl,icl, the largest waves of c'
riosity hunters split.
THE JAIL
is roomy building, whose interior
reached by ascending about as MAJ
steps as one hescends il reaching Il
black hole called II Jail under the CT
cago Court House. 1t consists of "
tiers of cells, which correspond to t
first and second stories of Il hou
raised above the street. it is whit
: washed, is free from odor, and is j,
as unlike as possible the dingy a
= swelteriug dungeons in which Co
county confines lis offenders.
; | noted these particulars while I
f matr0n Of the institution was climb
the steps leading to the upper tier
! which vel had selected in old nj
: tary friend to sllare the advance vi
followed her. Arriving ut the
r she stopped before the first cell at
IS left, aud which was entirely closed
q au iron door. In the center was
). small door which opened downwa
4, and which was probably construct
II so that conversation could be carried
d with q prisoner witlIont opening
J. main door itself The Warden open
,e this small door and said:
W ssMrs. Fair, here are Il couple of g
1t tlemen who wish to see you If you
'g willing" -
d ..Wlo are they 2" responded rat
,e musical voice from within.
pr Eve are residents of Chicago, mi
1T am,' said l, "who are ON a temp"r
ut visit to this city"
s. "You are newspaper men, are
X not ~ -
| here ordered the Colonel by s
a to advance, which lie did by repiyi,
ct c"No, madam, we are not. l am
to the regulararmy, and this gentlen
I'll is travelling for pleasure"
re All this time we saw nothing of
I'd speaker, save that white band, "
It, long, sliapely fingers, was thrust, f,
he siugle instant, like white fl;
he through the aperture.
us "Why do you wish to see me
n; have been cruelty deceived by ]
he who come and say they are not ne
paper men, and who then go away