The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-04-09

names or places, and could not, In the time
and with the opportunity allowed, secure
my fair investigation of his own alega-
tons.
Should our publication of yesterday re-
suit in bringing forth the evidence which
prisoner could not obtain on his trial, and
Of establishing the claim that he was not
the man who registered at the Adams
House and disposed of the property of the
murdered woman among the pawnbrokers
OF Boston, there will be very little left OF
tho circumstantial case against him. 1t
will be another evidence OF the value of the
public press in disseminating information
and aiding the cause Of truth and Justice.
Without it an unfortunate human beng
would have been sent into eternity with no
chance to establish his innocence of the
crime with which he was charged. 1t is
better that score of guilty men should es-
cape than that one innocent man should suf-
fer. Hence 1t is that the law, when wisely
administered, allows the accused every
privilege and advantage in making his de-
fence, and gives him the benefit of every
doubt. 1t would have been disgrace to
the state OF Vermont il this man had been
executed and II had afterwards appeared
that he was sacrificed TO a hasty and
thoughtess failure to administer justice.
Whether or not that which promises to be
new and important evidence shall turn out
to be 80, the four weeks for which the
prisoner has been reprieved should be used
in giving the fullest opportunity for that
fair investigation which has never yet been
made. We are convinced that there will
appear sufficient ground at least for new
trial, which can be careful and thorough.
Then, If he is clearly proven guilty, there
will be nothing lost whereas If his innc-
cence lie established the state of Vermont
will be saved from an awful crime. She
can then only make such retribution as may
be possible for the wrong already done.
The public will watch this case with keen
interest from this time forth, aud with an
earnest desire that justice may at last pre-
vail.
[From Correspondence Of Boston Globel
Whether Phair is innocent or guilty, the
position the Globe has taken is noble one.
The civilization of New England should
be a guaranty of justice TO all, rich or poor,
influential or triendless. "Let Justice be
done though the heavens fall !"
DEXTER SMITH.
Boston, April G.
A correspondent signing himself Justice
says After reading the statement Of John
p. Phair, which appeared in your issue of
Friday, do not believe any intelligent
person. after reading his plea of innocence,
can help feeling sympathy for him. and
admit that he should at least be granted a
new trial. If this statement had appeared
after the man had been hung nine people
out of ten would have believed him inno-
cent. |. will
close my communication by saying that In
case Phair is now granted new trial and
money is needed to procure him proper
counsel and evidence, will give $40 to.
wards that purpose and have no doubt
there are others who would also give some
thing towards furthering the ends of
JUSTICE.
From n. Y. Tribune.l
| Opponents of capital punishment will
| find picturesque text in the narrow mar
| gin by which probably innocent man es
capped the gallows yesterday in Vermont
A mere accident led to the disclosure of i'm
portant evidence tending to prove an albi
the governor of the state was telegraphet
to barely few moments before the houl
fixed for the execution, and, happening Il
be atthe time in the telegraph office, sen
an immediate reprieve. A single break II
this chain of happy accident, and the con
demned man might have been beyond tn,
reach of mercy.
| From N. Y. HERALD
PHAIR, THE MURDERER-AN ALIBI.
Vermont furnishes an event that Is mild
ly sensational in its way, as an apparen
departure from correct and methodical con
duct on the part of the authorities. In tina
| fat IN, tho una 1874 tho f.ripna Of Ia
was brought home to young man by ev
idence satisfactory to jury, and this cul
prit is now under sentence of death. Blu
person has "turned up" who promises t,
prove that at the time the crime was com
mitted in Rutland, Vt, the alleged muir
derer was not in the place, but somewher
else, on his way to Providence. That tn
executive should stay the arm of the Law
out of regard to a mere expression
of opinion of this nature must be attributed
to the readiness Of the authorities to ex
haust the smallest chance that may presen
itself in the culprit's favor-to disposition
not to hang anybody in favor of whose in
nocence word can possibly be SAID. /
is nearly three years since the occurrence
Of the crime. On the trial the whereabout
of the murderer on the day of the murde
was made out by consistent train of cir
cumstances, and did not at all agree witt
his own account OF his whereabouts. N
evidence was produced on the trial to sus
tain his own account, and the jury decided
against him. Now man comes FORWARD
whose statement amounts to an express.ol
of opinion that the prisoners story wA
true. 1t seems not according to ordinar,
methods to stay an execution on sucl
ground Doubtless the governor attache
weight TO the story, and that of course /
sufficient; but 1t is evident that man VIII
knew SO little OF the prisoner that he d
not appear on the trial, and who yet know
30 much that he can swear as 10 the cul
prlt's whereabouts on particular day il
June, 1874, is person who knows at one
too little and too much.
From the New York World.
The case Of John p. Phair, who was /
have been hanged at Windsor, VT, yester
day, but has obtained months respite
presents some very singular features. TIL
circumstances of the crime laid to his &C
count were described in the. World O
Thursday. 1t is thirty-tour months sine
Mrs. FreeZe was murdered; since Septem
Der 1874, Phair has been a convict; he ha
lain under sentence of death since Febru
AIRY 1875. 1t seems almost incredible tina
such length OF time should have elapse,
without the theory Of his defense-he hat
able counsel-being proved conspicousl,
false or in some detail true. Yet so late a
the 2lst of last month, presumably after
full presentation and consideration of H.
evidence in the prisoners behalf, Governo
Fairbanks refused positively to issue tn
reprieye he granted yesterday. To news
paper readers generally the prisoners gull
seemed reasonably clear. He was know
to be intimate with the murdered woman; /
was PROFESSIONALLY her property that wa
pawned IN Boston on the day of tn,
murder and the day succeeding 1t 1t wa
her shawl that was found in the cupboarC
Of the room at the Adams House occupie,