The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-04-30
One Wav or the Other.

One Way or the Other.
Editor Rutland Globe:-Wo have always
understood that in practicing the art of
music it will never do to pitch a tune too
high nor yet too low. The effort to pro-
cure good music will always signally fail
undertaken under either Of the above con-
ditions. We have thought that not few
who are probably convinced beyond per-
adventure of the guilt of John p. Phair are
justly chargeable with violating the rule
just named-they pitch their "key note"
both too high and too low at one and the
same time in other words, in bringing out
the alleged mode of procedure on the part
of Phair at the time of the murder of Mrs.
Freeze, he is represented in some respects
as about the shrewdest person that history
gives any account of, and almost in the
same breath, his alleged doings as set forth
by these same parties, make him the great
es! fool that ever lived
The taking Off of his victim without
getting the fist particle of blood upon his
clothes; the arranging of slow match that
should work to perfect charm; his get
ting back to the depot from the building
that he ER6lo 3odS to burn, (wonder If most
persons would not have betrayed a slight
tremor for fear that by some means the
conaagration might possibly take place q
little too soon, and yet, SO far as any evil
dence we have seen to the contrary, he was
''as cool as a cucumber" Now, John p.
Phair knew perfectly well that he was
guilty, Qf such was the case,) whether any
one else knew ii or not lie could not kn0io
for a certainty but what he had been seen
coming out of the building and making his
way in hot haste for the depot, to take the
first train that should leave and yet this
same red handed murderer, this master of
adroitness, coolly comes back from Boston
to the very scene of his terrible crime, lust
as though nothing at all had happened that
would make it at all unsafe for him to do
so. This is not the way those stepped in
crimes of this nature do; they put all the
space possible between Themselves and the
place-.o them the most dangerous place in
all the world, is where their God defying
crime was committed. The records of CAPT
tai crimes will show this TO be the case to
such an extent as to establish 1t as rule.
There may be kind of shrewdness in this
procedure, but apprehend not over and
above apparent 10 the generality of man
kind. Bear IN mind what we have said
above, that Phair could not have known but
what the damning proof of his guilt stood
ready to confront him as soon as ever he
allghted from the cars at Rutland, and his
returning as he did, is presumptlve evidence
that it was safe for him TO return which
could only be on the suppostion that he was
not guilty of the act of killing.
1t is said that "straws show which way
the wind blows" 1t will be remembered
that Phair says in his statement that Mrs.
Freeze was owing some bills which were
being pressed for payment, among others
one for coal, and that he furnished her
with money to pay at least the coal bill.
Now il so happens that the man lives in
Rutland, to whom she paid this bill, Col.
j. M. Putnam, who at that time dealt in
coal, He is perfectly open and free to tes-
tify that Mrs. Freeze just at the time indi-
Gated by Phair, paid portion if not all of
the bill in question. This may be small
matter in and of itself, but shows Phair's
statement that he lent Mrs Freeze money
for the purpose he faid he did, to have
been founded in truth. II shows another
thing-and please mark the utter stullif-
cation Of the law of cause and effect on
the theory Of his being guilty, so friendly
yes, friendly is this came Phair to this
Freeze woman, that short as he was for
money with which to help himself he will
lingly divides with her in her extremity
and then what? Why, within an incred-
IDLE short space Of time thereafter,
he deliberately plots TO murder this
same unsuspecting individual, this friend
10 whom he had advanced his hard
earned dollars-what for Why, that he
may possess himself OF a few second hand
trinkets of doubtful value, take them to
pawnbrokers, aud realize If possible, not
certain at all (for the jewelry might have
been marlborough" for all Phair knew to
the contrary. | say realize if possible
enough to reimburse him for the money he
had actually lent, and run the rick of hav-
ing his neck stretched by so doing into the
bargain This specimen OF shrewdness
probably belongs with that displayed in de-
nuding himself of all clothing at the time
he did the killing 30 that no blood should
by any possibility be found upon his cloth
ing II joins on admirably with the
theory Of the slow match, and some other
things we have not space to enumerate.
One thing more and we are done. If, as il
now looks, there should be pretty good
proof that Phair actually went to Provi-
dence at the time he has always said he
did, If guilty, he never, probably, went
there for the purpose Of finding job; just
think OF person under the circumstances
in which Phalr actually was, on the pre-
sumption Of his guilt, going to Providence
coolly, deliberately to obtain work, and for
no other purpose The thing is barely sup.
posable at all events, IN my judgment, il
guilty, he had another purpose in view, some
thing that would have little of the re-
deemable quality of actual shrewdness
and that was to lay the ground to prove an
abb, should it become necessary. | say
this would look like good management on
the score of his guilt. Now then, what
are the facts? He never did the first thing
never made the first move, never made
the first mark that could be used for this
purpose.
/, There are any number of ways in which
this could have been done, safely done
and yet, not the first move in this direction,
so all important to him in case of an ar
rest, does he make. / have said very
much more than / intended when | com
menced have ideas how this whole mat
ter could have transpiredi one theory
would wholly exonerate Phair the other
would not entirely, but It would make the
crime infinitely less than murder and that
the last is that which seems to accord with
the facts 30 far az known, / am willing TO
concede. EAST OF THE MOUNTAIN.