Daily Kennebec journal., 1877-04-11
The Reprieve of John r. Phair.

II was an extraordinary combination of crcum-
stances which led to the repreve of Ohm P. Phair,
who had been condemned to be executed at
o'clock on Friday afternoon at Windsor, VT. The
history of the crime, and of Phairs supposed con-
necton with it, is too familiar to require fresh
recital. Strenuous effort had been made to Sc
cure his reprieve, and he had himself addressed
letter to Gov. Fairbanks, maintaining his nno
cence of the crime, introducing statements to
prove an abi, and asking for a new trial of the
case; but the Governor had given an adverse re-
ply. The preparations for the execution were
made; the gallows was erected in the morning
as the hour Of execution approached about seven
ty-fve persons were admitted to witness the scene,
and everything was in readiness, when, at l36 2.
NJ, Sheriff Stimson received dispatch from Gov.
Fairbanks, granting a reprieve until May L. All
present received the news joyfully, and Phair was
completely broken down by the unexpected delv-
erance.
The circum stances which occasoned this result
were briefly these On Friday morning, the
Globe of Boston published from an autograph
manuscript detailed statement by Phair, IN
which he renewed his protestations of innocence
with the utmost solemDity, and gave an account
of his movements during the time just before and
after the commission of the crime. lie made no
secret of his relations with the Frieze wcmau, OF
whose murder he was accused, but claimed that he
was many miles away from the place when the
crime was committed. The murder occurred on
the morning of June g. lS14-the house of the
Frieze woman being found TO be on fire between
$50 and o'clock that morning Phairs story
that he left Rutland for Providence X. L., al
4.30 that morning, and was at Bellows Falls at the
time the fire was discovered, and could have had
nothing TO do with it. He reached Boston, he
said, at 2.l5 =. NJ took the o'clock train for
Providence, and reached the latter city at 9. HIS
mission in Providence was TO secure employment
with the American Screw Company, or the Corliss
engine works, but he was unsuccessful, aud re-
turned to Boston the next day. Mrs. Frleze's
jewels sold in Boston at the time Phalr
claimed to have been in Providence, so that it was
of the utmost importance for him TO establish
these facts This be was unable to do by other
evidence than his own as he had not registered at
the cheap boarding house where he stopped, and
had met one in Providence who knew him.
Phairs statement chanced to fall under the eye
of Mr.. NJ. ID. Downing, manager oil the Ameri-
can Novelty Company of No. 50 School street,
Boston. When he reached this portion of it, 1t
flashed upon his mind that he had himself seen
Phair on the train between Providence and Bos
ton on the morning of June 10, 1874. He con-
suited his memorandum book and found that he
was right as to the day He remembered that on
the trip up from Providence he occupied the same
seat with the man whom he now supposed to he
Phair. Falling into conversation with him, he
found that he came from Vermont, aud in
quired from what section, he was himself a
native OF that State. The man said that he had
come from Rutland the day before and tried to
get work with the Screw Company but
business being dull, had failed. Mr. Downing rec
ommended him to take agency for Rutland and
vicinity for the goods manufactured by his compa-
ny, but the subject was soon dropped and the men
separated, each without learning the name of the
other. Thinking it very improbable that two men
left Rutland on the same day TO go to Prov ldence
for the same business, and returned to Boston on
3 lla trat ba pnppluHpH at nba hlP
that Phair the man who had talked with him.
1t was now about II o'clock as he reached this
conclusion and the execution was to take place in
two hours. Acting on advice given him at the
Globe office, he went at once to the telegraph
office, and sent despatch to Gov. Fairbanks at
Montpelier stating his reasons for doubling
Phair's guilt, and Mr.. Taylor of the Globe sent a
corroboralive dispatch. The dispatches were sent
at once, but the Montpelier operator was at dinner
and some moments of suspense followed. 1t was
o'clock before any dispatch flom Vermont was
received Meanwhile the Sheriff at w indsor was
notified what being done. When the Mont
pelier operator got back, it was found that Gov.
Fairbanks was not In town, but the operator
promptly sent the dispatch to st. Johnsbury. think
ing the Governor would be there. Providentay
1t happened that the Governor was in the tele-
graph Office when the dispatch received at
LIS, and Immediately telegraphed to the Sheriff
at w Windsor to stay the execution. Mr.. Downing
has since been shown picture of Phair, aud is
pos tive he is the man whom he met. Should this
new evidence be the means Of establish ing the in
noceDce of Phair, the case will be one of the most
singular and dramatic in the annals of crime.