The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-06-07
A LETTER FROM JOHN P. PHAIR.

nave Interested TnombelVob III us oohhh |
An Appeal for Funds, ETC., Etc.
Since the strong arm of justice and :
mercy has stretched forth its mighty hand {
and saved me from an unjust and ignomin- /
ious death, and since so much speculation
has been made by the public press in gen.
eral concerning my supposed death state
ment, think 1t no more than right that l !
should submit the following facts to the
people relative to it, and to those in whose
care entrusted its publication. |,
In.the first place my statement was pre-
pared and written wholly by myself and in
tended for publication in THE RUTLAND
GLOBE Immediately after my execution and
arrangements some weeks previous to the
| 9th day of April had been made with the
editor Of the same. In justice to the ed
| itor of THE RUTLAND GLOBE, it Is but right
that l should say that he must have felt
perfectly justified in his belief and assur-
ance to THE GLOBES many readers that my
statement would first appear in its columns
as agreed to by myself and its editor. Rut-
land being the place where all the bitter,
childish and disgraceful abuse was pub
lished about me and where my unjust con-
viction occurred at first thought it the
most proper place to have 1t published.
My reasons for making and leaving with |
the people a statement of all facts connect |
ed with my strange conviction after my |
death wei purely because great wrong had |
teen dope me and in the interest of society |
and humanity thought it my duty to leave
and make public facts that might make it
appear after was in my untimely grave
and thereby enable the people to correct
any future mistake of the kind. l had
nothing to hope for in this world from its
publication more than that if my life were
taken from me under the circumstances my
innocence might clearly be established af-
ter death. Providentially as it were,
have lived to see it in print and the strong
efforts of editors of certain papers to dis
prove what had submitted as strictly true
to the best of my knowledge when written.
: l was willing to die by that statement, and
i am now will x to live by it, notwithstand-
, ing the random comments which have been
D made INC, rning it. Furthermore the
u story which was at one time current in the
% press that e. G. Carrigan, the Dartmouth
college student, obtained my statement by
undue influence is entirely wrong and un-
true. The first time ever saw Mr.. Carri-
gan was the Goth day OF last NJ, rch, just
=, eleven days before the day set for roy exc
cution. o. that day while sitting in my
cell conversing with Major Farr, gentle
man from st. Johnsbury, a card was sent
a. in to me bearing the name of e. G. Carri-
" gan, who asked permission for short
TX interview with me which was granted. A
o. :, few nj utes la er this gen lemaa came in,
ID accompanied by the super ntel dent OF the
IN prison. After shtki 4 hands asked b m
Sc to be :, ated and immet lately entered into
y conversation. After converting few min
utcs, asked him II he was not a regular
reporter and correspondent. He informed
me that he was, and asked me If had any
thing that would like to have made pub
~ lie concerning my fast approaching doom.
=, told him had just received letter from
90 Governor Fairbanks denying my applics-
ton for executive clemency, and had dis
missed all hope of life after the sixth day
~ of April, and that had prepared state
ment of all facts and circumstances con.
nected with my case, which l intended tc
~ have published the next day after my exc
~ cution. He then asked if any person had
n, been appointed to take charge of and pub
~ fish it. told him had talked the matter
10 over with two different parties, and that one
:. party had agreed to publish 1t verbatim, but
was fearful lest he might change his mint
after reading it, and be induced to MAKE
some change or abridgement. swell, sir,
said he, 81 did not call on you for the pur
ay pose of asking you for your statement
1t, h,, ~ Won hovo any fear that I
40 will not be placed before the public by thu
in party with whom you have proposed t
10 trust it, / will il you so desire, read 1t anC
=" if it is proper document for public peru
,ha sal, will pledge you my word and homo
a. that it shall be given to the people verbatim
i,v and exactly as you wish and direct"
Co told him that all desired was that m
v. statement should be published exactly as
~. had composed and written it. Yet as l ha
ver been much abused by certain papers whic
~ had taken undue advantage of my cond
in. ton, had become perhaps too suspicion
moo of reporters and members OF the press. H
,e,l replied that he knew comparatively nothin
nee Of me or my case, and he had no doubt mil
on representations had been made concernin
new me to the public, he could not see why
of should dstrust the whole class of reporter
wn because had been abused by few Of Ii
7 members. then asked him what assn
Mr. ance he could give me that my statemer
of would be safe in his hands, He said
nal could give me nothing but his word. II
ous truthfulness of which l should be oblige
init to weigh myself after showing hispr CT
) ot dentials. 1 felt confident that he was
ond person whom he could trust, and influence
rom by this belief gave him the statement
read. After reading it partly through
returned it, saying he had not time TO Fl
ish 1t then, AS the Dartmouth college 81,
isor club, of which it afterward proved he vi
ram manager, was to give a concert in tow
90 that evening, and required his immedia
presence, but if agreeable, he would c'
ie'y again on the following day. After assuriI
and that / should be pleased to have bo
the him, and especially the glee club visit m
-. | he took his leave In the forenoon OF h