Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-05-12
John 4. Phair.

1t has been more than Two wears
since John Z. Phair was tried, con-
vcte and sentenced TO dea.A, for the
murder OF Mrs. Frieze, OF Rutland.
Since that Sine until within few
weeks Of the day appointed for his
execution, he has been engaged in
hard labor in the States Prison at
Windsor. The crime had ceased to
attract attention; the criminal himself
in the seclusion OF his prison, had
almost passed out of thought. Ii
was known that upon his trial he had
persisted in asserting his innocence,
bat the public did not creditit, neither
did those who took part in the trial.
Some who had known OF his former
lie and condnct, in the city Of Y er-
gennes, regarded him as a dangerous
man, and The crime for which lie was
to forfeit his life more than usually
,trocious. As the time approached
for his execution, pablo attention was
again directed towards hin, and it
was though5 that he might, perhaps,
make confession. But it was found
That he still persisted that he was
innocent. The immediate approach
Of death unJe" judicial forms, could
not cxtort from him the least ackaowl-
odgment Of guilt. laasmuch as he
had been convicted upon circumstau-
tlal evidence, it began to be Il question
with some, whether after all, he might
not be Innocent, whether he had not
unfortunately been made the victim of
circumstances, or OF the detectives in
Boston. \ snort time before the day
Of execution, the Dartmouth COLLEGE
Glee Climb gave an entertainment IN
the prison at Windsor for the benefit
OF the prisoners. fine door of Phair's
cell was opened and he was permitted
share III the enjoyment Of the occa-
stnn--B Before tile Club left the prison.
! it, by request, gath red around Phair,
and sang the hymn commencing, "ln
the sweet by-aud-by." Both the pri-
70ner and the members of the Glce
CLUB were overcome with emotion
during the singing. Capt. Carrigan
of the Club, noticing especially the
emotions Of the prisoner, entered into
conversation with him at once, and Us
the result became firmly persuaded OF
his innocence, He wrote to Coy.
Fairbanks expressing his convictions
Of Phair's innocence and asking thai
his case might be- farther considered
The Governor sent a man to Windsor
to interview PhaIr, who returned and
reported his belief in his innocence
These and other circumstances finally
+ leu the GoyernO" to grant a reprieyl
ior four weeks, which reached Wind
scr just in time to stay the execution
The Boston Globe, through Capt
Carrigau, who was acting as It's cor.
respondent, became interested in
Phair'5 case, and on the day he was te
have been executed, published state
Dent from him, in which he sought tx
maintain his innocence by proving al
a.ibi, anu closed by reiteratiag in TIL,
strongest terms his innocence of th(
terrible crime With which he was
charged, The reprieve expires OF
Friday Of this week. In the mean
time the Globe has been busy in try
i!ng, in a general way, to prove Phair'.
statements true, and at the same time
f create a public sentiment in his favor
throughout this State. The object o
this, IS, OF course, to bring such al
influence to bear upon the Governol
as may secure another reprieyc o
E sufficient length to enable the Legisa
ture to take his case in hand and gran
new trial, The various newspaper:
in tue State, following the lead OF The
Globe, have discussed the matt I, Il
e&tenso. Petitions have been cireu
lated to secure signatures, and jus
now it seems probable that the effort,
Of Capt. Carrigan and others will b
rewarded with success.
Public opinion upon the question o
Phair's guilt is much divided. Their
are those who believe that whethe
innocent or guilty, his guilt has no
seen sufficiently established to justif,
bis execution. 70 all such, it seem
best that new trial should be grant
ed. Another class stand ready Il
sign d petition for reprieve on th
ground Of th@ir opposition to capita
punishment in any case, There or,
others who think that should ncy
court confirm the decisions Of form
er ones, and the guilt OF Phair be cs
tablished beyond reasonable doubt
the sentence OF death should not b
carried out against him. The penal
ty should be commuted to imprison
ment for life, il such Communication
can be secured uader forms of law
; We are inclined to join with th
class. We beliye in capital punish
ment, but we believe that the guilt 0
Phair be estabNhcd beyond reason
, able doubt, the sentence of dealt
? should not be carried out against him
! It is not humane to han.
. man first and try him after
$ wards. Phair has already passe;
through all the mental suffering ant
= anguish attendant upon an execution
Z lie was brought up TO within iiteel
/ minutes Of the gallows and had made