The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-27
LAURA D. FAIR.
Her Second Trial for The Murder of
Judge Crittenden.
THE APPEARANCE OF MRS. FAIR.
TESTIMONY FOR THE PROSECUTION.
Mrs. Crittenden and Her Children
Examined.

from the San Francisco Morning Call, Sept 19l
The actual trial OF the case OF the People vs..
Laura D. Fair began in the Fifteenth District Court
yesterday.
As Mrs. Fair came in the crowd made passage
way through which she walked with firm step.
Bhe was dressed usual, in deep black-black silk
dress, black hat and veil and black gloves. Every
thing was black except her face. which was as
white as Parlan marble. Her golden curs traed
down through the folds Of her sombre veil and
seemed like rays Of sunlight streaming through
blackened cloud. She seated herself at the lawyers
table, and resting her head on her hand, seemed
lost in a sad, sad reverie.
About ten O'Clock Judge ReardOn took his seat
upon the BENCH The jury was then called, the
Clerk read the Indictment and District Attorney
Murphy rose to make the opening address for the
the prosecution to the jury. He reminded them Of
welfare OF the community and the peace of society
might depend upon their verdict. He urged them
amer GUY as tney an tS or
erits Of the case and the good Of society He then
brieny sketched the main facts which, he said, the
proven e in '1 the evancs prntea ssIow f.
that asse fs Fats 1 asa sfS sa9 e tEfsssss s
II violence against the deceased; that two or
hee days before the shooting she had exchanged
that she employed q hack to take her to the boat;
that she had previously asked where she could
Prosecution would ask at the hands Of the jury a
verdict of guilty Of murder IN the first degree.
He also read to the jury the sections Of the stat
ute which defined the crime OF murder.
At the request of Mr.. Curtis all witnesses were
excluded from the court room, and the eXamina-
ton Of witnesses began.
THE CITY AND COUNTY SURVEYOR,
Mr.. Stretch, was called and sworn, and explained
to the jury, by map the position OF Oakland wharf,
to show that the steamer Ell Captain, at the time
Of leaving it, was within the boundary line of San
THE OFFICER VINO ARRESTED MRS. FAIR,
Captain Kentzell, was called and sworn, and test-
fed that in November, 1870, he was Captain of the
Harbor Police; that he was on board the FL Captain
pm the evening Of the shooting; that he was told
Crittenden had been shot he, In company with
Parker Crttenden, found Mrs. Fair In the cabin;
'Yes l don't deny it,, that he then took her into
custody; first saw the defendant as he went across
the deck a. that time she wa twenty feet from
had no conversation with her at that time said,
.Vho fred that shot ?' she was right by at the
time she said nothing then; from the shooting to
the time OF arresting her was about five minutes
pay be ten; went round toook for pistol Captain
pocket 1T here at last trial was In charge of the
county Clerk; 1t had one barrel discharged: (The
After arrested defendant put her in hack; took
her TO the city Hall; gave her in charge Of the
e W @ e
sent deputy sheriff for Dr.. Lyford to get some
drops; she said she had been in the habit of taking
ten or nfteen minutes there; she was dressed in
waterproof travelling dress-a green veil; the
yell was tied around her head, not over her face;
arrested her with her veil up when witness
arrested her she was sitting between two persons
first saw Mr. Crttenden on the right hand side
Just ait the wheel-house, between that and the
T ss c SAY e "a NJ she was
Cross examined-To Mr. Curtis-when first saw
al OF npfy yoI ,yipr. that
After the shot was fired; she was about ten feet
eastward of Mr.. Crittenden, further back In the
boat-further away from Mr.. Crittenden than the
cabin door, her lace was visible at that time;
asked who fred the shot p, when Twas close to
don't know whether she heard me; SPOKE loud
enough for her to hear; when Parker Crttenden
pointed her out, he said-(witness repeated the
very much excited; she said he had ruined her and
her daughter; she was much excited; she said all
her daughter; after arrested her she was
much excited, and continued to talk all the
barney Mag in 10 the caSn ;' he rs Was saw
deputy sheriff., he was not with me when
her. ala not hear her tax Barney
thing for her. she asked me to go for some drops,
&c. on the way to the City Hall she talked in the
ruined did not hear her ask Barney Murray to
look for her child; did not hear her say anything
features perfectly; she said nothing that night ex-
cept about her child and her spell" and the drops
6nu the physician.
Q. At the last trial you said that she talked about
her ''troubies;" is that soY A. Yes, Sir; the
troubles about herself and daughter being ruined;
when she was talking her tone was loud; did not
hear Barney Murray speak to her at all.
TO Mr.. Campbell~ParKer Crittenden said, "That
ls the woman that shot my father"
THE CAPTAIN OF THE CAPTAIN.
Captain Bushnell was called and testified that he
1870; that he recoliected the Shooting Of Mr. Crit
tenden; that he saw him after the shooting sliding
noV va n MT al n
Kentzell; that he searched in company with alaLy,
for the person who had done the shooting, and
could not find her,
Captain Bushnell was not crossexamined.
' PARKER CRITTENDEN
was next called and testified that he was on board
Ing gone over to meet his father; that he met him
Rt San Antonio; came on board with them left
TO the baggage; in consequence Of something said
70 him went up stairs and found lis father
on tns tee n @sck ao stsra e nnG out who
Mrs Fair In the eah;y and said, 'rhis Is the wo.
man. s,n ncfE s. nt q the murder Of
ss son ana sd s vs aS are!e as
'ahd he went back to his father; foTnd him in.
sensible; Miss Carrie Crittender Tom Crttenden
and Mrs. Crittenden were all near each other on
the boat. witness detailed the taking home of
Mr. Crittenden his death, &C.; all particulars well
known to the public, and having no special bearing
Cross-examined-To Mr.. Curtis-when found
my father said, Il think know who did IT." had
not seen Mrs. Fair on the boat; said that because
had heard that she had made threats; found her
in the cabin; Ibelieve said, THAT is the woman
accuse her OF the murder OF my father;' she
said witness repeated) the tone OF voice in
which she spoke was loud enough for me to hear
was standing three ieet from her; she spoke dis
tlnctly.
DIR. N. J. BIRD
was called and testified Am physician; have
been practising twelve years: was on board the FL
captain at the time of the shooting; was on deck
ana heard the shot; went across the deck and
found Mr.. Crittenden lying on the deck w0unded
examined the wound. witness described Mr.. Crit
tenden's condition and detailed the surgical aid
which lie rendered until he left him in Dr. Sawyer's
and Dr.. Douglass hands at his hone
DIR. Bird was not cross-examined.
MRS. CRITTENDEN
was next called. She testified to being present on
She FL Captain when Mr. Crittendeu was shot;
when they went on board they sat down on the
reck by the wheehouse; Mr.. Orittenden sat down