The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-04-06


Hon. Martin G. Everts, municipal judge,
by Dire. John A. Mead and Charles L. AL
len.
The examination revealed the fact that
tho woman had been murdered. The body
was much burned, the lower limbs having
been entirely destroyed, but in the charred
and blackened neck were found five gashes,
one long one apparently made with an
AK or Ratchet, and four stabs made by
some sharp instrument The peculiar evil
dent cold-blood with which the deed was
perpetrated, and the mystery which en-
shrouded the affair all conspired to make
it matter of more than ordinary import
ancc. Speculation at once began az to the
motives which prompted the deed and the
whereabouts of the dastardly murderer.
The woman had well furnished apartments,
valuable jewelry, and it was supposed quite
an amount of money. The purpose OF the
murder was evidently for plunder. Almost
every person bad theory af the murder,
and boldly promulgated them. The ex-
element in the community ran high, and
the town authorities promptly offered a re-
ward Of $4,000 for the arrest and convic-
ton of the murderer.
Supposed clues were followed in various
directions. At first it was supposed that
some of the hangers-on of Barnum's circus,
which gave an exhibition in Rutland on
the saturday previous, and was quartered
in town over the Sabbath, possibly might
be the authors of the deed, hut all attempts
to connect them with the transaction
proved unavaiiing. The ruins gave no
clue, and no further facts being probable
to be brought out from an examination of
the body, it was buried on the Wednesday
following in the Weel street cemetery.
John p. Phair, workman in the railway
shops, was soon brought under suspicion,
as he was known to have accompanied the
woman to the circus on the Saturday even
ing previous, and he had not occupied his
room at the Berwick house since. 1t was
found that he left early Tuesday
on the Boston train, and Officer
George w. Crawford was on the alert to
intercept him, and on the even ng of the
next day, Wednesday, be arrested him on
board the train from Boston at Cuttings
vile. Messrs. N. S. Stearns and j. G.
Thornton Immediately went to Boston
where they found shawl which they
identified IS belonging to Mrs. Freeze
also watch which was found in the pos
session CT a pawn broker. The property
was found through the aid of Boston de-
tective. Myer Abrams, the broker, oaid
theswatch had been left by man giving
the name of e. f. Smith of st. Adams,
Vermont, and said he was stopping at the
Adams house with hiS sister. The name
was found upon the register, and in the
Ioom which.he occupied and never given
to ladies', was found a half shawl which
was readily recognized as belonging to the
victim.
On tho Monday following Phair was ar
raigned for examination. The property
was fully identified blythe family friends of
Mrs. Freeze, and Phair was identified by
the broker as the person who pawned
them. An opera glass Of hers was found
at another pawn shop, also left by e. F.
Smith. Phair waived an examination and
was held by Judge Everts to appear at the
next term of the county court to answer to
to the crime Of murder without bail, and
for arson in the sum of $4,000, and for
larceny 49, 800. On the 18th of June the
testimony of the Boston parties was taken
for preservation and use at the trial. The
articles were identified by various parties
as belonging to the murdered woman and
Phair was identified by the brokers as the
person pawning them in Boston. He re-
ceived the sum of $50 on the watch and a
pawnbroker's ticket for redemption a
shawl and the opera glasses were pawned
at another shop for $40. These were
| among the circumstances tending to fix the
guilt upon Pheir. Soon after further eff
forts were made at identification, such as
having his photograph taken, to which he
demurred and contorted his face to prevent
the procuring of a natural likeness. He was
| asked to write his name which he did in q
| bold hand, but when asked to write the
| name of Z. +. Smith, st. Adams, he OBJ
| jected, but after time wrote it with an
evident attempt TO disguise his hand but
not 80 but that 1t bore a strong resemblance
to the name on the Adams House register.
On the 23d Of June three rings wero found
at another pawnbrokers shop in Boston,
which were identified as having formerly
belonged to Mrs. Freeze. Phair was again
identified as the man who pawned them.
The chain of circumslantial evidence was
now nearly complete, with the exception
of the money which it was almost certain
the woman had in her possession. which
has never been accounted for until this
day.
The prisoner was confined in dungeon
OF the Rutland county Jail. On the 9th of
June kniie was found In an opening in
the wall made by q former murderer, An
thony by name, who made IN attempt to
escape. 1t is supposed Phair's purpose
| was TO escape.
Having given the chain of evidence, lit
Tie more romans of the history of his case
beyond
| HIS TRIAL,
which was commenced at tho court house
in Rutland, Tuesday, September Goth,
Judge Hoyt IL. Wheeler presiding. The
trial occupied five days. The verdict OF
guilty OF murder was brought in at a late
hour on Saturday evening, The state was
represented by Il. j. Ormsbee, of Brandon,
at this time states attorney, and Col.
Charles Ii. Joyce, the present member OF
congress from this district. Phair was
ably and faithfully defended by Hon. Wal
ter @. Dunton, Col. Wheelock G. iVeazey
and Hon. David Il. Nicholson. The jury
men who sat on the case were John p
Sheldon, Fairhaven, William II. Farnham,
Poultney, George Loomis, Pawlet, Jamei
I IN. -. \