The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-04-23
THE PHAIR CASE.
Aurelia Brooks and the Bloody Clothing-The
Washerwoman's Story-Is Aurelia Brooks
Accessory to the Murder Of Mrs Freeze

| WaSueTWOluanb OIOIy-AS huItllt bNOVhs
Accessory to the Murder Of Mrs. Freeze
OF the many subjects of popular COM
ment which are daily before the reading
public, that of John p. Phair is to Yer
monters especially interesting. The fear of
the many that the death penalty may be H.
flicted upon an innocent man contrasted
with the over jealous care that the stern
hand of justice may not Withhold lis power
full grasp from. its victim fairly tried and
Justly sentenced, affords a topic of deep
reflection to all interested in the general
welfare of the state, as well as individual
protection and safety. That of the many
thousands guilty of heinous crimes too few
are compelled to make full aud just atone
ment, is apparent to all conversant with the
criminal history of the country and state.
While the guardians of the public safety
cannot fail in too strict application of the
law and execution of its DEGREES, it is posi-
bic that the inexorable penalty may be in
flcted upon some unfortunate, unjustly
convicted aud totally innocent of the crime.
OF the so cases of execution for supposed
murder-disregardi the probability of
hundreds yet unknown-not one presented
a less strong and conclusive chain of evil
dence than that which convicted John p.
| Phair for the murder of Anna Freeze in Oc-
| tober, 1874 The fact that Phair was init
mate with the woman and known to be q
frequent visitor at her questionable house,
together with the seemingly positive iden-
| tiicstion of his person by substantial evil
dence, and the startling similarity Of hand
writing could scarcely lead any juror or
court to different conclusion. The ques-
ton then arises why all this popular COM
ment and detective investigation We
answer by query! Was John p. Phair
the only person intimate with
Mrs. Freeze, and subject to the
suspicious craving eye of the Rutland de-
| tectives OF the several names well known
to Rutland and especially given to press
| correspondents, are there not others up
on whom suspicion rested. Where is Sar-
| gent the itinerant artist, the subjec. of the
| fury Of Whitehall mob, the suspected
murderer of helpless wife? Where is Au-
relia Brooks, the unworthy associate Of
a murderer much less that of the murder
| ed woman Freeze? But it is claimed by
the detective, Thornton, that this subject
was thoroughly investigated and nothing
found 10 warrant her arrest. Does this
| custodian of the commonwealth remember
| his interview with the washer-woman at
Vergennes few days subsequent? Has
| he forgotten that the evidence given by
| Mrs. Mclaughlin and Miss Lizzie Ayeres,
| now Mrs. Coffin, was pertinent to the in
terest of the state and justice? Was he as
| deeply interested in the detection of the
real murderer as the security Of the covet-
ed reward ? To test fairly and fully the
issue space and time forbids and we find
| ourselves necessitated TO present but Sne
phase of the many important and interest
| ing features of the case.
The question we would consider in this
| number is the so-cal!ed
/ FABULOUS bIOk1 Ot AUkELlA BKOOhb
and the bundle of bloody clothes.
The last interview held by your
correspondent with Mrs. McLaugh-
lin and Miss Lizzie Ayeres, now
Mrs. Coffin, took place Friday afternoon
in the presence of the gentlemen mention
ed in Saturday mornings edition. The
statement by the women was substantially
the same as that already published though
somewhat more explicit. 1t appears that
Mrs. Mclaughlin was accustomed to do
washing for Aurelia Brooks and that few
weeks previous to the Freeze. tragedy she
| (Brooks) for short time boarded with the
Mclaughlin family. This Aurelia Brooks
was poor, 30 poor that when she went to
Rutland just before the murder she was
obliged to beg or borrow money to pay her
fare. She also left her trunk and clothes
at the house in default Of the payment of a
small bill The day before leaving she sent
| young man named - to an apothecary
to procure small bottle of laudanum.
This was done on the day before she was
detected in the act of taking portion Of
the same. The bottle was afterward found
by Mr.. Mclaughlin, and the contents
thrown away. She also stated before leav-
ing that "by - she would not work but
would have money or die" AS to her
natural disposition both Mrs. Mclaughlin
and Coffin as we'll as others, state that she
was vicious and cruelty disposed to torture
anything whether it provoked her much or
not One instance was cited in which she
is said TO have vented her feelings on a
small kitten by holding it up by the throat
and saying die, damn ye, de- On another
occasion, for trivial matter she threaten
ed the life of certain Vergennes clerk,
whom when he made reply she immediate
ly knocked down on the street walk, and
being asked whether Aurelia Brooks would
actually commit murder If 80 induced, both
Mrs. Mclaughlin and Mrs. Coffin asserted
she would.
But what about
THE BUNDLE OF oLoTHIs?
According 10 the story of Mrs. McLaugh-
lin, corroborated by Lizzie Coffin, Edward
Hayes and others, a package of clothes was
recsived early the week next after the
murder. This package was from Rutland
and marked Ms. Wells Mclaughlin. II
was delivered y oAe john Gravel, driver
of the United States and Canada express
1t was not receiptei for but the sum Of %
cents was paid Gravel by Mrs. McLaugh
lin the same evening. The bundle wai
thrown into the window of the house
facing School street, by the expressmat
Gravel, who said swell, here is bundle
from Brooks" or some such remark The