Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-11
The Case of John p. Phair.


The case of John p. Phair is one of the
most singular in the criminal annals of the
century. Phair, it will be remembered, was
convicted of the murder Of Mrs. Anna
Frieze, loose character at Rutland, and Of
setting fire to her residence for the purpose
of hiding his crime. The alleged crime was
committed in June, 1875, and reward Of
two thousand five hundred dollars was
offered by the town authorities, aud vigor-
GUS search for the criminal was at once COM
menced. Phair was known to have been in
innate with Mrs. Frieze, and suspicion at
once attached to him. He was traced to
Providence, X. l., and thence to Boston,
where he was arrested. He was identified
by the clerk of the Adams House, in Boston,
as a party who had stopped at that house,
registering under the name of Z. f. Smith,
of St. Adams, Vt. Upon searching his room
there, one-half of shawl identified as being
that of Mrs. Frieze was found. Two pawn
brokers testified to having loaned the same
party money upon jewelry known to belong
to Mrs Frieze.
The evidence was purely circumstantial,
but was so strong as to secure his conviction
and he was sentenced to be hung on Friday
of last week, at two o'clock p. NJ. Public
sentiment in Rutland is strongly AGAINST the
prisoner, and there appears to be but little
doubt of his guilt Nevertheless he strongly
protests his innocence, and has persisted in
so doing ever since he was first arrested
Phair prepared a statement in which he
claimed that at the time of the murder he
was in Providence, Il. l., seeking for work.
He went into the details of his trip and of
his former life with great minuteness, and
the full account was published in the Boston
Globe of Friday morning, the very day of the
execution The statement was very cleverly
prepared, and had an air of frankness and
truthfulness which carried conviction of his
innocence to many parties who were not
conversant with the details of the crime.
Those who know most about the case, how
ever, say that it is conspicuously nexact in
many particulars, aud largely untruthful.
This statement happened to be observed
by Mr.. NJ. d. Downing Ga native of East
Brookield in this state), manager of the
American Novelty Company and he remem-
bered having met man on the cars on the
day in question, who told him that he was
from Rutland, Vermont, was a machinist,
and was just returning from Providence
after an unsuccessful tri in search of work.
Upon seeing Phair's photograph he at once
identified it as of the man he had met on
the cars, and upon reference to his diary he
knew that the day was the same on which
the murder was committed. Mr.. Downing
Immediately went to the office of the Globe,
and sent dispatch to Governor Fairbanks
at this place. Colonel Taylor, manager of
the Globe sent a corroborative dispatch.
The operator here was out at the time Of
turn he promptly sent them to the Gov
ernor at st. Johnsbury. Fortunately the
Governor happened to be in the telegraph
office at the time, and he sent a respite for
one month, which was received about one-half
an hour before the time set for the execution.
What may be the result of this newly dis
covered evidence, no one can of course pre-
dict, but should it result in the vndication
of an innocent man, we shall all have occa-
sion to rejoice at the lucky chance which
brought this result about.