Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1872-10-17
The Verdict i'm, the Fair case.

The San Francisco Cal of October LIST
gives the following scene in court on the jury
rendering their verdict: ~ '@
At a few minutes after yesterday morning
the iury informed the sheriff in charge that
they had agreed upon verdict, and messen-
gers were at once dispatched for Judge Rear
don, District Attorney Murphy, Alexander
Campbell, Jr., Judge NJ Green Curtis and
Leander Quint, while an officer was sent to
the Jail with carriage for the prisoner. A
favored few were quietly informed that the
jury was ready to come in, and these found
their way to the court. The. Jurors all sat
with solemn faces in the jury-box, while the
officers of the court and the few spectators
that were present watched them intently,
hoping to discern in their countsnances some-
thing that would give an idea of what the
verdict would be. At "A few minutes before
8 O'Clock Mrs. Fair came into the courtroom,
accompanied by her senior counsel Judge
Curtis and q Deputy Sheriff The prisoner
had on the same dress which she had worn
upon each day of the trial and heavy black
vail covered her face. She walked up to the
table i'll front of the Clerks desk and stood
by the side of her counsel, where she re-
manned standing while the Clerk called The
names of the jurors and the prisoner. The
utmost silence then reigned while the Clerk
turned to the jury and asked the usual ques-
ton: |".i" - ''a5. ..'ls ~ Li'S.
''Gentlemen of the jury, have you agreed
Byiagton, the foreman, arose and said, 'sWe
have" ....''s ..
''What is your verdict Pr asked the Clerk.
The foreman did not reply, but handed the
Clerk piece of paper on which was written
the following words: .-.. .., E.....-, t...r,,
t'We, the Jurors in the case of the people
Of the State Of California against Laura D.
Fair, indicted for the murder of Alexander p
Crittendsn, find the defendant not guilty. .
While the Clerk, was reading this, Mrs
Fair leaned little forward, as il anxious to
catch every word that fell from his lips, and,
as he pronounced the last words, she gave q
sudden start forward and fell into the arms Of
Judge Curtis 1t was expected by the spec
tators that she would faint, but she did not,
though the effect was good enough to answer
all purposes After Mrs. Fair had rested her
head for q few, minutes on the manly breast
OF her senior counsel, he led her to one of
the benches outside of the railing, on which
she reclined, with her head on his hap She
remained in this position for several minutes
until the Clerk, who had concluded making
an entry of the verdict, arose and said "a ~
"Gentlemen of the Jury, listen to your
verdict as it stands recorded You say you
find the defendant, Laura d. Fair, not guilty,
and SO say you all2"s Each individual juror
responded with a nod of assent, after. which
Judge Reardon said '''.''' ',''''* d" ,'''. ~
"Gentlemen. of the jtfy,, you are dis.
charged and then turning 10 the Sheriff, he
said. "Mry Sheriff, let the prisoner bedis4
The Jurors then left the box and were met
by Judge CUNT, who shook hands Withthetn!,
after which they proceedAetlo to where Mrs.
Fair was still seated by the side of her coun.
Sal n. II, 49,,
Mrs. Fair then left the courtroom in COM
pany with her counsel and the Sheriff of the
county, descended the stairs leading to- Mont
gomery street, entered a carriage in, waiting,
and, by her directions, was, driven to the
County JAIL ''''''''I ~ 'f'0'" ! ' q" ~ p'