The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-04-20


The Boston correspondent Of the New
York San says: The extension Of life
granted 10 John Il. phair. who was 10 he
hanged In Windsor, w., yesterday, for
the murder Of Mrs. Annie Frcize, on
June ., 1874, was granted under singu-
lar circumstances. TO Mr.. Marshall ID.
Downing Of this city is due the credit Of
staying the execution Of Phair, and per-
haps Of clearing him from the charge on
which he was convicted. Mr.. Downing
was sitting in - Office yesterday morn
ing, about = O'Clock, when Robert Low
hce Of south Boston, young man EN-
ployed in the Office, came In and said
that morning paper had a glowing ac-
count Of an innocent man who was about
70 be executed in Vermont Yesterday
morning. Downing asked Lowhee who
the man was and what he was To be ex-
ccnted for Lowhee replied he did not
know. Mr.. Downing then gave Low
hee some money and sent him out to
purchase the paper, a thing he never did
before, as he was not in the habit
Of reading during business hours The
young man soon returned with the
paper, and Mr.. Downing began reading
Phair's statement declaring his nno-
cence, and followed il through in detail.
When Downing came 10 the clause in
which Phair said that he was not able 10
prove 10 the satisfaction Of the jury
where he was at the time the murder
was committed, and especially to that
portion where he positively asserted that
he was in Providence, H. l., seeking
employment Of the American Screw
Company, but was unsuccessful in 30
doing, il flashed across Downing's
mind that some time in June, 1874, he
visited Providence on some business,
and on the train returning from that
city had a conversation with man who
told him that he was Just returning
from Providence, where he had been "a
seek employment; that he was ma
chinist by trade, and had applied to the
American Screw Co. for a situation, but
was not successful in obtaining one. So
strongly was Downing impressed with
the recollection that he referred to lit
tie memorandum book, which he was in
the habit Of keeping while travelling. and
ascertained that the day he was in Prov
idence was on the 10Th Of June, 1874,
the same day on which Phair said he
was there. Mr.. Downing says that in
the course Of the conversation the man
stated that he came from Vermont.
Downing, being native Of that State,
asked from what part, and was informed
that the traveller had come from Rut-
land, where he belonged, the previ-
Gus day. Downing then said that he
was convinced that the man whom
he met on the train on the day
above mentioned and the man whose
statement he had just read were one
and the same person. and getting up
from the chair in which he was sitting
he remarked: "That i the man; they
have not got the right man" The
young man 70 whom he made the re-
mark asked him what he knew about ii,
and he said he did not know that he
knew any thing, but although never be-
fore TO his knowledge had he seen the
man with whom he had the conversa-
lion on the ears returning from Provi-
lence, still he was firmly convinced that
hat man was the one who was to be
executed for murder. and was innocent
II the dreadful crime for which he was
10 die.
The telegraph operators 10 whom Mr..
Downing intrustcd his dispatch to Gov.
Fairbanks, acted with acutencss and
and Phair's life was saved.