Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-06-19
The Rutland Murder.
The Watch and Some Clothing at the MUIR
dered Woman Found-Evidence Against
PhaiI.


The Rutland authorities worked
thoroughly and promptly in the recent
murder case in that place, and consid-
cradle evidence has already been accu-
INFLATED against Phair, arrested as an
nounced last week. On Friday last Of
ficers Thornton aud Stearns visited Bos-
ton to see what trace of Phair might be
found there, where they also had sent to
them description of Mrs. Freezes mis-
sing watch, which was of Swiss make
and No. 56,376. There are some $50
pawn shops in Boston which they began
to visit aided by the Boston police. We
copy the result from the Rutland Globe.
At about II o'clock that morning they
came to the
PAWN SHOP OF MR., ABRAHAMs,
at No. Is Salem street, which was about
the sixtieth shop of the kind visited by
them that morning. Mr.. Abrahams
was in, and to the inquiry if there had
been any watches left there during the
week replied that there had. On Tues
day afternoon at about three o'clock, he
said, man came in and said he wished
to pawn his watch and chain; that he
and his sister were in town stopping at
the Adams House; that he was dead
broke" and must have some money.
He wanted $40 on the watch. The
broker offered him $50, and finally split
the difference, giving the man $50, and
taking the watch, chain and case. The
man further gave his name, as being
&c. F. Smith of St. Albaus, VT" The
broker then went on and described the
man infinitely, his features and appear
anee, and showing some clothing of his
own which he said was similar to that
worn by the man Smith. This descrip-
ton answered to the person of Phair,
the prisoner, and after all this was given,
the officers then showed the broker the
picture of Phair taken the Thursday be.
| fore, which he identified at once as being
a perfect likeness of the man who called
himself Smith. This proof was almost
staggering in its convincing force, and
as the watch was the identical one own
ed by the murdered woman it was taker
in charge and one link in the important
chain of evidences was found.
The officers then went to the
ADAMS HOUSE
for further Investigations and there they
were also successful. They found reg
istered on Tuesday the name Of &c. f
Smith, st. Adams. VT" The clerk was
Intercepted with regard to the man ant
at first could remember but little abou
! him but on thinking further, remember
ed he was the the same man in whose
room was found shawl, the next day
after he had left. This shawl was pro
. duced and was at d glance identified as
the same which Mrs. Freeze had worr
on the streets in Rutland. The clerl
i recollected something of the man anc
D that the room which he occupied was on
j, in which they never put lady !; tn
+ circumstance of finding the shawl was
s therefore, rather surprising. The pic
n ture of Phair was shown to the cler
s who recollected the features as that {
= the man Smith but thought the com
3, plexion q trife too dark The shaw
d was found in the top of ward-rob
1t which stood in the room it is "A blac
,t Paisley shawl, with colored borde
rs Half of it was known to have bee
e, given to Dora Wilson of Vergennes VII
of boarded with Mrs. Freeze some weel
Or before her decoase.
y Armed with these proofs, which the
n, had gone to secure, toe officers returne
as to Rutland Saturday night, bringin
or with them the pawnbroker, Abraham
for wise purpose, as will be seen flu
Their on. Sunday morning Messr
Thornton and Stearns visited the jai
- first apprising Judge Everts, the pros
:, cutting attorney for the state, and judy
!. Dunton, one of the prisoners counsel,
- the result of their visit in Boston, an
a taking them with them to the Jail,
!. about seven o'clock in the morning, [
"a gether with Abrahams. Arriving at Il
- cell door, Mr.. Abrahams was "comm
90 ted to Jail like criminal. In the j
,rs we're all the prisoners together, and {
no the instant Of his stepping behind
"a. bars and CRATES, Abrahams spotted
ad man, identifying the prisoner, Phair,
~ the man who pawned the watch at
IN. shop on Tuesday, aud who gave
- name as Z. F. Smith.
IN. THE SCENE AT THE JAIL
vas was one of decided interest. The pl
Id oners were aroused, some of them fir,
vas their slumbers, to receive the new-com
v" Loren Perkins said he had been tn
,de before-none of the Others recopni,