St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-06

prisoner IN his old quarters. He ex
pressed some surprise, and asked why
he was there after the Governor had
pardoned him? He replied that he had
changed his mind; that he was not
going to leave his present quarters until
the weather was warmer, and there was
a better chance of getting a living out
side. On enquiry, he said he had de-
stroyed the pardon which was granted
him. The Governor was informed of
this unusual proceeding, and another
pardon was at once forwarded, and this
time to the jailor, and it is believed
that the prisoner will have to leave his
comfortable quarters in Jail and shift
for himself, Notwithstanding the unset
tied condition of the weather.
Execution of Phair.
Tomorrow friday John P. Phair
will pay the extreme penalty of the law
at Windsor, for the convicted crime of
numbering Mrs. Frieze, at Rutland, in
1874. Phair asserts his innocence per-
sistently, and in such a manner that
many who are brought in contact with
him have some misgivings in regard to
the verdict; but on careful review of
the testimony which convicted him,
there can scarcely be doubt as to his
guilt. Phair is a single man, under 80
years of age, we understand, and has Il
mother who is broken hearted at the
conduct of her son. Phair spent several
years in the Windsor prison, for some
minor offense, and was pardOned by
Gov. Hendee little while before he
was arrested for the murder of Mrs.
Frieze. He pleads his innocence with
great earnestness, being a man of fair
education and good natural ability.
His letters to the Governor have been
remarkable ones in several respects,
and show a man of strong mind, and
one whose powers if turned in the right
direction, might have distinguished him
for good instead of evil deeds.
The history of the crime for which he
is to suffer, is briefly this: The house
of Mrs. Frieze, dissOlute woman who
lived in the outskirts of Rutland, was
discovered to be ON fire about seven
o'clock one morning. Those who were
first at the fire found the remains of the
owner inside, who had evidently been
murdered, and the house fred over her
head. At half-past four the same
morning, Phair took the train for BOs-
ton. The next afternoon, Phair was
arrested neal Bellows Falls, on his way
back to Rutland. 1t was proved at the
trial that on the day of the fire man
as Smith, whose handwriting and
Phair's are identical also that Phair
pawned the same day watch and
jewelry which were identified as Mrs.
FREEZES. Phair's story is, that he went
directly to Providence in search OF
work, and after applying ut the Corlss
engine factory and one other large es-
Establishment, and getting no encourage
ment whatever, he returned to Rutland.
AS his money was quite limited, he
claims that on the advice of II workman
in one of these Providence shops, he
stopped over night at private lodging
house, and after paying fol his bed and
breakfast, started back to Vermont.
But Phair utterly fails to bring forward
any one who saw him in Providence, OF
tell where he staid over night. 1t is
generally believed that if he was there
he could have proved it by some one OF
the many persons who he claims tC
have met and talked with.
Major Farr of this place, spent Sun
day with Phair, and many sympathiz-
ing people have tried to do him good
He evidently hopes for Il reprieve, al
though he is hoping against hope.