Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-10-31
The Acquittal of Laura Fair.


of the incidents connected with the
second trial of Laura Fair for murder Ia
that city. 1t says that the jury assem-
bled amidst almost breathless silence In
the court room. AS the last name was
called, the Clerk announced that all the
Jurors were present. Another dead 81
lence fell upon the court room. Every
eye was upon the Judge. For mo-
ment he sat with his head resting on his
hand, and then turning to the Clerk, ne
nodded and said something in an inaudi-
BILE tone. The Clerk nodded to Judge
Curtis, who at once arose and lifted the
nervous and terror-stricken prisoner to
her feet, and placing his arm close around
her waist, held her with her face to the
jury. Judge Quint also stood up and
held one of Mrs. Fairs hands. Both
counsel on the other side also got up
and faced the jury box. The spectators
bent forward in breathless anxiety to
catch every word that should now be
uttered. Then the Clerk spoke:
Gentlemen of the jury, have you
agreed upon verdict?"
Mr.. Byington, the foreman of the jury,
arose and passed to the Judge folded
slip of paper. Phe Judge, without look
ing at it, passed it over his desk to the
Clerk below. The Clerk slowly opened
the paper, and for several seconds kept
his eyes and brains busy with the words.
During this little scene Mrs. Fair rested
her eyes on the floor. She seemed to have
lost all physical power, and fairly hung
like child in Judge Curtis's arms.
The Clerk then read from the paper,
amid the most breathless stiffness, these
words:
We, the jurors in the case of the Peo-
pie, of the State of California against
Laura D. Fair. indicted for the murder
of Alexander z. Crittenden, do find the
defendant not
Before the word "guilty" could be
uttered a low, thrilling moan was heard
which went through every heart in the
court room, and in another instant two
thin, white, chalk. like wrists were clasped
around Judge Curtis neck, and wealth
of golden hair lay streaming on his
breast. The little black figure lay in
the arms of the strong man as senseless
as corpse. The next instant all was
confusion. The ladies rushed UP to Mrs.
Fair and rendered their assistance.
But the piping notes of the big bailiff
soon restored order. Judge Curtis car
ried his lifeless burden to settee and
laid her gently down. Water was called
for, and in a moment she had returned
to consciousness, but could not seem to
comprehend the turn affairs had taken.
Judge Curtis, who was now completely
unnamed, started with his charge to-
ward the door, but was called back by
Judge Reardon.
Judge Reardon-Judge Curtis, lei
the defendant remain till the verdict is
recorded.
Judge Curtis, who had reached the
gate of the bar with his client, seated
her on the long, continued bench next
the railing. She seemed too weak to
sustain herself, even in a sitting posi-
tion, and lay down again nearly at full
length, her attorney still by her.
The Clerk-Gentlemen of the jury,
listen to your verdict as it stands record
ed. You find the defendant at the bar
not guilty? SO say you all? Each and
all of you answer as your names are
called.
The regular formula was gone through
with each man answering "not guilty"
as his name was called.
After the ceremony of recording the
verdict was finished, the Judge formally
discharged the jury, thanking them for
their patience and cheerful acquiescence
in all the requirements, and then, turn
ing to Sheriff Adams, he said: Mr..
Sheriff, Mrs. Laura D. Fair, by verdict
of the jury, is no longer prisoner. She
is, therefore, discharged from your GUS
tody." The Sheriff bowed, and then
saluted Mrs. Fair, who smiled in a sickly
way. In a moment the Court was adj
iourned, and ther crowd soon gather
ed around the freed woman. Jurors
crowded around her, and several Of them,
as they took Mrs. Fairs hand, cried like
children. From all sides came warm
congratulations, from lawyers and others
to Mr.. Curtis and Judge Quint upon
their success.
HIGH VALUE. husbands are
sometimes spoken of as worthless, but
there is Mrs. Granger in Cincinnati
who appears to set pretty high value
on hers. He has finished dissipation,