The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-11-21

Press, visited Phair in his cell, and had
IN interview with him. He found him
to his fate. He persistently
md passionately asserted his innocence,
but as the universal conviction seemed
strong against him, he had made up
his mind to die, and prepared minute
statement of where he had been and
what he had done during the several
days before, after and Including the
9th of June, the day of the murder,
intending to leave it behind him for
publication after his death, in the hope
that it might in some way lead to the
vindication of his memory. Mr.. Car
rigan asked him for this statement that
it might be given to the public before
the day OF execution, but the prison.
or refused. Mr.. Carrigan, whose
mind seemed to be vaguely impressed
with sense of the prisoners inno-
cence, entreated and pleaded with him,
and at last induced him to consent that
the document might be printed in the
Boston papers on the morning of the
day OF execution. The day came. and
the statement was published. In it
Phair related how he had slept at his
hotel in Rutland, on the night of the
9Th; left Rutland at four o'clock on the
morning of the 9th of June; that he ar
rived at Boston in the afternoon of the
same day. He detailed all the Incl
dents of his stay in Boston and his trip
TO Providence the same day in search
of work; how, having failed to get
work in Providence, he returned to
Boston, sitting in the same seat with
man who said he was engaged in max
ing novelties, and wanted Phair 20
travel and sell his fabrics on commits
sion. Phair declined to engage in a
business he did not understand, and
told the stranger he would 90 back to
Rutland. The two rode together till
the train reached Boston, when they
separated. Phair remained in Boston
till five O'Clock in the afternoon, and
then took the train to Rutland. Before
he reached there he was arrested on
the train, on the morning of the 10th
of June, for the murder-his trip, as
narrated by himself, embracing the
UAAAV WHVA WIG AuuluC1 1uuSL nave
been committed. Mr.. Nj. d. Downing,
Manager of the American Novelty
Works, Boston, read this statement on
the morning of the publication, and on
coming to that part where the prisoner
related his meeting with stranger on
the Providence and Boston train, in
stantly recognized himself as the
stranger, and, springing from his chair,
exclaimed: my God, they have got
the wrong man; this man is innocent!'
This was nine o'clock on the day APP
pointed for the execution, and it is 200
miles from Boston to Windsor, VT,
where the execution was to take place.
Burdened with the thought that a
probably innocent man was to be exc
cuted within two hours he went from
one Boston newspaper Office to another
to ask what was the best course to pur-
sue, and finally sent off the following
dispatches Endorsed by Charles H. Tay-
lor, managing editor of the Boston
Globe:
BosroN. April, 1877.
Gov. Fairbanks, Montpelier, VT:
l think saw and conversed with the man who
from Providence to Boston, June 10, 1874. send
by advice Of Chief Of Police.
6lSiRned] M. d. DOWNING. so School st.
To the Sheriff at Prison, Windsor, VT:
A reliable man here states after reading
Phair's statement, that he is certain that he met
Phair on train from Providence and Boston
June 10 1874. and thinks he can identify him
The man he met was large man; said he wa
from Rutland. and had applied to Screw Com.
pany. Providence, for work. Had you not bette,
communicate with the Governor before hanging
[Signed] CHARLES H. TAYLOR,
Manager of Globe,
1t was ten o'clock when these dis.
patches were sent off, and half an hour
later news was received that the Gov.
ernor had granted reprieve. The
rest of the story is thus told:
The scene in the Prison when the
news of the reprieve was received beg.
gars description. At an early hour
the scaffOld was made ready, and al
one o'clock, Phair, dressed in plain
black, was ready for execution. He
was calm and collected, and fully rec
onciled to the ordeal. He spoke freely
of the execution, expressed the hope
that death would be instantaneous, said
he was determined to die bravely and
to affirm his innocence while on the
drop. While he was waiting to be con
Quoted to the scaffold, it was announced
to him that respite had been granted
On receiving the joyous tidings, SC
wholly unexpected, he exclaimed, Goo
be praisedr and, apparently bewil
dered, he was overcome with emotion
and tainted. With few exceptions al
present expressed great relief and JOY
at the announcement of the Governor
respite, as Phair had made a good i'm.
preston during his term of confine.
ment in the Prison at Windsor. MIS-.
souri, ReDublicQn.