Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-04-21
SAVED FROM THE GALLONS.
Circumstances that seem Like a special
Interference Of Providence.

lucrIcrcuce OI ErONiucuccs
A Boston letter says: Tho extension
of life granted to John p. Phair, who
was to be hanged in Windsor, VT, for
the murder of Mrs. Annie Freize on
June 8, 1874, was granted under singular
circumstances. To Mr., Marshall ID.
Downing of this city is due the credit of
staying the execution of Phair, and per-
haps of clearing from him tho charge on
which he was convicted. Mr.. Downing
was sitting in his office one morning
about nine o'clock, when Robert Lowhee
of South Boston, young man EN-
ployed In tho Office, came in and sad
that a morning paper had glowing &C.
count OF an innocent man who was about
to be executed in Vermont Downing
asked Lowhee who the man was and
what he was to be executed for. Lowhee
replied that he did not know. Mr..
Downing then gave Lowhee some money
and sent him out to purchase the paper,
thing he never did before, as he was
not in the habit of reading during busi-
ness hours. The young man soon re-
turned with the paper, and Mr.. Down.
ing began reading Phair's statement de-
clnring his innocence, and followed it
through in detail. When Downing came
to the clause in which Phar said he was
not able to prove to the satisfaction of
the jury where he was at the time the
murder was committed. and especially to
that portion where he positively as
serted that he was in Providence, R. l.,
seeking employment of the American
Screw Company, but was unsuccessful
in 80 doing, it flashed across Down
ing's mind that sometime in June, 1874,
he visited Providence on some business.
and on the train returning from that
city had q conversation with man who
told him that he was just returning from
Providence, where he had been to seek
employment ; that he was machinist
by trade, and had applied to the Ameri-
can Screw Company for situation, but
strongly was Downing impressed with
the recollection that he referred to
little memorandum book, which he was
in the habit of keeping while travelling,
and ascertained that the day he was in
Providence was on the tenth of June,
1874, the same day on which Phair said
that he was there. Mr.. Downing says
that in the course of the conversation
the man stated that he came from Yer
mont. Downing, being a native of that
State, asked from what part, and was
informed that the traveller had como
from Rutland, where he belonged, the
previous day. Downing then said that
he was convinced that the man whom he
met on the train on the day above men,
toned and the man whose statement he
had just read were one and the same
person, and getting up from the chair in
which he was sitting he remarked:
"That is the man they have not got
the right man." The young man to
whom he made the remark asked him
what he knew about it, and he said that
he did not know that he knew anything,
but although never before to his knowl7
edge had he seen the man with whom
he had the conversation on the cars re-
turning from Providence, still he was
firmly convinced that that man was the
one who was to be executed for murder,
and was innocent of the dreadful crime
for which he was to die.
The telegraph operators to whom Mr..
Downing intrusted his dispatch to Gov.
Fairbanks, acted with acuteness and
promptitude, and Phair's life was saved.