The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-06-29
OFFICERS IN THE CELL OF JOHN
Z. PHAIR.
The Hole in the Wall that Anthony,
the Murderer, Made.
A FABLE KNIFE FOUND nv TsE
IlOIE.
Does NE Contemplate suicide or
Escape

Chief of Police Crawford and Justice
b. W. Marshall were visiting the cell il
which Phair is confined ON Saturday
last. Their visit was not specially for tho
purpose of examining the cell, but merely
to tall, with phair. Not the least sus
picion existed in their minds that Phail
was making preparations for an escape, OF
even medltated one. Several years ago, us
our readers will remember, one Anthony,
who murdered man by the name of
Green, was confined and hung himself in
the cell which is now occupied by Phair.
Anthony made n hole in the wall for the
purpose of arranging the gallows, by
which he hung himself This hole had
never been repaired, Int remains the same
rs Anthony left it. The attention OF
Justice Marshall was called to this hole,
and out of mere curiosity he thrust his
hand in and there discovered tablc-knilc
which, from its appearance, had recently
been placed there, and by none other than
phair himself.
1t is a pretty well established fact. in the
minds of the officers in charge of the Jail.
who the person is that furnished Phar
with this knife, aud in the future they will
be more particular and cautious about
whom they admit 10 see the prisoner
That hc has rot ilicnls who would
do all in their power 10 free him
fran, his t,,ie,n COLL - Il;
dent, and il behooves the officers IN charge
of the jail 10 watch we'll lis moves and
acts. and especially those of his friends
who visit him.
What Phar's intentions TO do with this
knife were-hc alone knows That the
knife was given To him for some special
purpose is certain. II is possible, hut not
very probable, that he is mcdiatng
suicide. If he is really ruilIy OF the crime
of which he is charged (of which there is
little doubt, his conscience if he has
any must surely torture him 10 a fearful
and almost unhearahlc extent, and under
such pressure Of remorse il would require
hut little nerve for him Ia Put an end 10
his miserable existence. 'fhe most
plausible theory, however, is that he was
contemplating an escape, and this knife lac
was to convert into saw, which, with
other tools that would have been FUR
nishcd him 10y the same party from time
to time, would have aided him in making
his escape from the dleary dungeon
Phair slill maintains n bold and defiant
front, bnt even casual observer Of human
nature can easily discern that there is a
great change in his looks and appearance
since his incarceraion-such a marked
change rs could not have been brought
about by the short time in which he has
been confined. 1t is very clear 10 those
who have visited and seen him often since
his arrest, that there is n something which
is weighing him down and knawiug at his
vilas.
II is the desire Of all that Phair shall
have a fair and impartial trial, and if found
guilty Of the crime of which he is charged,
that he shonld suffer the full penalty of
the law, anu ii Is 10 be hoped that he will
not be allowed to either commit suicide or
cscape-and he surely viii not if precau-
ton and waichfulness on the part of the
officers in charge of the Jail, can prevent
it. The finding of this knife has laid bare
the fact that Phair has some evil designs,
and that he has outside friends. Ills plans,
whatever they may have been have, luck
lily and by mere accident, been thwancd.