The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1872-10-12
T,,r ElIR AcQvlJTAl.
Ar.,- n,.sorssiss q ~ Tsos 0SAe tresl
Prom fine Evening rOst.

the FAIR Aeev'TTAl'
AIR u,.ss.sis. q - Tsss TsAs rfes''
From the Evening rort.
A verdict of scquittal this morning tcrmi-
mated the most remarkable and Interesting
criminal ttiulshas has occurred in the history,
Of California. o. No evening Of the 81 Of
November. 1e7o. Nn. Laura D. Fair shot
and killed The nop. A. p. CdtteDden., Both
tho parties OsAl,s tragedy were widely
known Mn. Fair MAS VIGOROUSLY bad
character, and had figured consptcuously In
connection Win another terrible shooting
affair. Mr.. Crittcnden was IN eminent
LAWYER and . leading politician, although
never seeking Office. His long residence in
the State, distinguished reputation and high
social standing rs the head of large and
respected family, gave unusual Interest to
the case, aud excited public attention ~ IA
greater degree than was ever known OeIore.
The Press tccmcd with details OF the crime
and did not scrupIe to lift the curtain which
had screened the private conduct OF the
pariics. Mrs. Fairs whole life was exposed
to tho public gaze, and the dark and. bloody
incidents of her strange career dwclt upon
and portrayed in strong colors. Under these
circumstances Il Is not surprising that great
difficulty was experienced IN getting jury
of unbiased and impartial citizens. Nearly
every man of sufficient intelligence 10 sit on
n Jury had read about the case and formed
q decided opinion. Finally, however,
twelve men were found capable of serving
In that capacity. and the trial proceeded un.
der the management Of powerful array OF
counsel Week after week 1t dragged Its
slow length along. bu, the public interest In
the proceedings appeared never TO flag. The
newspapers published all the testimony in.
GLIDING mass of correspondence which Ind
better hay, been omitted. The trial at last
came to nj end; 4. The expiration of thirty
days. resulting in verde, Of guilty OF MUIR
der IN The frs, degree An appeal was
taken to the Supreme Court and new trial
granted After patient investigation OF
twenty-five days. The second jury brought
in this morning verdict Of mot Guilty"
Noi,ody, now, We think. expected Ms
Fair to hang. but this verdict OF 'not
guilty." IL the face Of all the evidence.
strikes the community with establishment.
II there ever was deliberate murder it was
that Of Crittcndcn. II Mrs Fair was insane
thc.. everybody who, moved by evil passion
commits vi cktd Mt Is also insanc--thcrc
csn be no such thing rs crime, and there
should be no such thing Us punishment.
Fur il must bc remembered that MIS-. Fair
was not maiden scduccd and betrayed, or
. virtuous wife whose life had been blasted
by al unLoly love. She was notorious
woman of the world, who, during her years
Of open coIcuhinsgc with her victim had
drawn from HIM large sums IF money, and
the provocatiOn which prompts her 10 the
deed was that her paraMour, who in living
with her had disgmccd his wife aud dis.
honorcd bis children, had made up his mind
to again yield 10 his better impulses, and
return to the woman whom he had sworn 10
love, honor aud cherish, and who as the
mother Of his childen, had stronger claims
I
man being on Garth could have. This was
the pro vocation which induced Mrs. Fair 10
shoot down her SvaMOur ut the moment Ut
his meeting with his outraged tamily-.o
send him into eternity with crimes unan-
ncaled, just as tho much injured wife bGd
again come u him after III abscncc and q
living death Of years. And the deliberate
killing of u man upon such provocatiOn rs
this is what the verdict OF the jury declares
no crime! We do not cxtcnua,c the con.
duct Of Cnttcndcn. he had piaced himself
outside the pxlcot sympathy but hers were
not tho hands which should be held guillless
In taking hisIifc. Ii ~ WAS no better than
she was, shc ut least was ne bud Us hc The
real victim Is the devoted wife aud heart
broken widow.
There orc many morals 70 this verdict.
Tho first and most striking IL th"t money is
the best defense criminal Tan have. Had
Mrs. Fair been destitute Of bank account,
she would ere this have been swinging from
y ga!l0ws Or have been looking forward u .
life Of imprisonment. The next 10 that the
requirement Of law which excludes from
jury every man Of average intelligence IL IN
impeachment u justice; aud the tnird moral
II that 10 the unwrittcn law ut tho land the
man who makes illicit connections II Nh Ish.
mselitc, asuiust whose life any womau's
hand may be raised with impunity. .
So strong was the feeling in regard 10
this, that We think there are very few ip
the community who would have wished 70
see Mrs. Far hung. The general desire was
ti'st sue should escape through some blind>
ness or technical fault OF the law, or the
disagreement Of the jury, but not that sup
should Oe formally declared not guilty.