The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-10-19

and in few hours his soul had fled
to that vague eternity where woln-
| ans treackery is unknown"
The commission of such crime is
enough to drive any woman crazy
who is possessed Of the least ordinary
sensibilities or finer feelings which
commonly animate the, human breast.
But one who could deliberately plan
such q murder, under such circum-
stances, is proof against any such
mental reaction; and insane people
do not murder in that methodical and
business-like manner. The testimony
of medical experts was conclusive on
that point, among whom was the SUI
perintendent of the State Insane Asy-
lum, who lived among crazy people ];
had constant charge Of over 1000, male
and female; knew crazy people "by
the back,' almost, but could trace
none Of that ailment in Mrs. Fair ; yet
the jury, not being troubled with too
much sanity, thought different, and
she is now at liberty to kill another
victim, after bleeding him of a for
tune, as she did her last, from whom
she had extracted the snug sum of
about 100000. Counsel at the first
trial cost $4,000, less S25OO, which
amount the widow of one of her coun-
sci, since deceased, has brought action
to recover. Her two attending ply.
sicians were to receive $4,000 each for
services Testimony as to insanity not
counted, bf cO,rse), one Of whom has
sued for his fee. Her counsel iii the
last trial, it is said, is to get $4,000.
As yet, strange to saN he has not
named his price nor asked for the
money. The other expenses during
the trial necessary to secure an ac
quittal, it is, Of course, difficult to es-
innate. But do not think she has
much more than enough topurcllase q
through ticket to your city, for which
place she will leave in a few weeks.
This intention was eloquehtly limited
at by counsel i'll his closing pcroration,
and no doubt had some little effect i'll
the formation of the verdict. -
Mrs. Fair claims to have been born
in Montgomery, Alabama, and enii-
grated to New Orleans shortly after.
At the age of sixteen-about eighteen
years ago-against her own will, she
was induced by her parents to marry
u wealthy merchant, named Hunt.
They lived unhappily, and in six
months he died from the effects of
dissipation and grief at her unfaithful
conduct. She pat on mourning and
retired to a nunnery. After Il years
contrition she forgot her sorrows and
departed husband, md again entered |
the gay world. In few months she
married Il Mr.. Grayson, friend of
the former husband, and alsoa "fricnd
Of the family" in the full "acceptation
of the term," who is now, or was q
few years agd, still living in New Or
leans. Her intidelity soon became
notorious, and Grayson abandoned !
her,-but to avoid scandal, no public
ity was made of the matter. divorce
was not even applied for on his part.
At the instigation of her mother, who
is also in this city, they both packed
up their feminine apparel and with
out as much as formal leaye-taking,
embarked on u steamer the next morn
ing for California-the land of gold
and the refuge of criminals-where
the setting sun sinks into the bosom
of the ocean.
After marrying Colonel Fair, she
returned to New Orleans to perfect !
the obtaining of a divorce, through
her attorney, Randall Hunt, Esq, but
which, for some reason or other, was
never granted. Her course caused
Colonel Fair to shoot himself in his
office, in u building about square
distant from the scene Of her trial.
She was the only person present when
it was discovered that Fair had com
mitted suicide. Even then many
doubted that it was stlicidc-his
most intimate friends, who were in
that position to know him better,
could not be induced to believe that
he was such man as could be induced
to take his own life under any irclim-
stances.
A few years after, she met Colonel
Crittenden, while she was running Il
hotel in a mining town, where he was
visiting in u professional capacity.
She the landlady, he the guest. From
that time-in 1864, l believe, their
intimacy began, and continued until
the day, aye, almost the very hour of
his death. For, like "Fazio," he had
but that afternoon left her with AL
labella's kisses warm on his checks, to
meet his virtuous and injured wife,
who did not act the accuser and aven-
ger in this instance.
The public feeling against the .ju-
rors is one Of disgust and contempt
that they could bring in verdict of
insanity, for such it was-being the
only question, the crime having been
admitted-when they themselves hon
estly did dot doubt her sanity, and so
themselves on the street af-
ter the trial was over. The press of
this city denounce their action and
motives in the most bitter terms, with
the exception Of two evening journals,
one of which defends her simply be-