Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-10-16
The Fair Verdict.

interesting criminal trial that has oc-
CURED In the history of California =
On the evening of the 3d Of Novem-
Der, 1870, Mrs. Laura ID. Fair shot
and killed Hon. A. p. Crittcnden. =
Both the parties to the tragedy were
widely known. Mira. Fair was of no
toriously bad character, and had fig
ured conspicuously in connection with
several terrible shooting affairs Mr..
Crittendcn was an eminent lawyer
and lepdinh politician, although never
sqesir ofiicc. His long residence in
the State, distinguished reputation
and high social standing as the head
of a large and respected family, gave
unusal interest to the case, and excited
public attention in greater degree
than was ever known before. The
press teemcd with details of the crime,
aud did not scruplc to lift the curtain
which had screened the private con
duct Of the parties. Mrs FAIRS whole
life was exposed to the public gaze
and the dark and bloody incidents OF
her strange career dwclt upon and
portrayed in strong colors Under
these circumstances it is not surpris-
ing that great difficulty was expert
cnced in getting II jury of unbiased
and impartial citizens. Nearly every
man of sufficient intelligence to set on
a jury had read about the case and
formed decided opinion. Finally,
however. twelve meG were found capa-
ble Of service in that capacity, and
the trial proceeded under the manage
ment of IA powerful array of counsel.
Week after week it dragged its slow
length along, but tho public interest
in the proceedings appeared never to
flag The newspapers published all
the testimony, including mass OF cor
respondence which had better have
been omitted The trial at last came
TO an end, at the expiration of thirty
days, resulting in vordict of guilty
) of murder in the first degree. An ap-
peal was taken TO the Supreme Court,
and new trial granted. After a
patien. investigation Of twenty-five
days, the second jury brought in, this
morning, a verdict OF mot Guilty"
Nobody, now, we think, expected
Mrs. Fair to hang, but this verdict of
"not guilty. in tho face of all the evi-
dence, strikes the community with as
constituent, If there ever was de-
liberate murder it was that Of Crtten-
den. Ii Mrs. Fair was insane, then
: everybody who, moved by evil pas
sions, commits wicked act, is also
!, insane--there can be no such thing as
:, crime, and there should be no such
y thing as punishment. For il must be
+ remembered that Mrs Fair was not a
maiden seduccd and betrayed, or a
virtuous wife whose iiic nad bocrl
s blasted by an umioly love. She was
notorious woman of the world, who,
u during her years Of open concubinage
: with her victim has drawn from him
u large sums Of money, and the provo
: cation which prompted her to the
- deed was that her paramour, who iv-
"a ing with ber had disgraced his wife
II and dishonored his children, had made
: up his mind to again to yield TO hi;
s better impulses, and return to the wo-
% man whom he had sworn TO love, honor
. and cherish, and who, as The mother
/" of his children had stronger claims it
Z his lovc and devotion than any olhei
'e human being on earth could have :
'e This was the provocation which in
dncca Mrs, Fair TO shoot down hcl
" pnram,ur at the moment of his meet
g ing wih his outraged family--to sent
Sc him igto eternity with crimes una
:" neled, Just as tho much injured wife
, had again come to him after an ab
" sence aud living death of years.
e. And the deliberate killing of u MAJ
" upon sach provocation as this is wha
'u the verdict of the jury declares nj
crime We do not extenuate th
rs conduct of Crttendcn. He had place.
IN himself outside the palc of sympathy
u but hcrs were not The hands whicl
10 should be held guiltless in taking hi
NJ life II he was no better than sh
." sas. she a. least was as bad rs he.-
cy The real victim is tho devoted viii
u and hcart-broken widow.
VT There are many morals to this vel
''e diet. The first and most striking
" thai money is the best defense Grim
" innl can have. Had Mrs rhir pee
u- destitute Of a bank account, she wou
nc crp this have been swinging from
IA gallows OF have been looking forwar'
en- toa life OF imprisonment. The mex
on is that the requirement of law, whic
n excludes from jury evcry man
he average Intelligence, is an impodjmen
OF 70 justice and the third moral is lha
in the unwlitten law Of the land tn
man who makes illicit connections
no 40 Ishmaolite, against whose life an
OK womans hand may be raised with in
ny punity. 9lg0 ieli sAs ~
'n' So strong was the feeling in rcgar
10 this, that we think there are YER
few IN the community who woul
an have wished to see Mrs. Fair bung--
II IasN. Il I...l