The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-21
SyATCHED FROM 4 HANGMAN
ugY pHtIR WAS EEFRIEyED At THE
rrDI FOOT or THE GILLOUS.
~. chance nnd Timely Di.c"very "fEvidenee
:, nj. Tnvor-A Boston Newspaper Render
,..m.m,,r. Something Imp"rtnnt The
,... uefpre the Icgisiature Of Vermont.

a.. ri. Tnyor-A Hostou NeWspnper henuer
I..m.mhrr. something Important The
,... urrpr. the Legislature Of Vermont. |
Tho case of John =. Phair, accused and |
,o,v;.-el of the murder ot Ann +. FricHo In |
pn.l,nl. w.. on June Q. 1874. is to be called be-
for, the judiciary Committee OF the Legislature
ofthat state tomorrow.
rh, dartmouth G!oc Club. composed Of stu |
,.,,, ., dartmouth College. went to Windsor.
VI. on March y, 1917. for the purpose oil giving
.,,rcor, nm on that evening made a visit to
cha Vernon, stnie prison. through which thcy
-, shoyu under the direction OF II. p. Spon-
", ,hc sprerin,endcnt. While there. thcy met
sn1 ,rsre introduced to John T. Pnair. who
~ ro, under sentence OF death. The
w., -,s rainy. and the interview with
a.. .,,lsp,ncd man was restrained and
sI.,,,r until r. c. Carrigan. the manager Of
- sinh in order to break the embarrassment
=, ,bo OCCASION tcndered to Phair. in \ pleasant
,rer a complimentary ticket to tho concert.
pbair repied with n smile. that II was too
,ainv and that no was afraid OF taking cold. and
therefore begged TO be excused. This opened
the way for brief conversation. in which
phair expressed the wish that the club would
como In the next day and sing for him. The
reouest was 'ceded to. Several choice selec-
tions were xiv, :. and then an attempt was made
10 sing In tie Sweet BY and By" but tho
nathos O, the lines and the occasion prevented
its conclusion. and every one present broke
down in tenrs. phar had then only ten days to
live. his execution being set for April g. between
he hours OF and o'clock.
After the other mcmbers Of the company had
depar,ed. Mr.. Carrigan. who then represented
he Associated Press. went into the cell and
entered upon conversation with Phair con-
cerning the case in which he learned that Phair
had written statement in relation to his where
abou,s q, the time Of the murder. To be given to
his mother fer publication after his death.
At,r much solicitation. and the imposing OF
strict conditions. Phair consented that Carrgan
should have tho control OF this statement in
which entire innocence was asserted. in the
presence OF God and man. An agreement was
drawn up in writing. attested by the Superin-
tendent Of the prison. that the document should
not be given to the public In any form until
after the execution.
The reasons alleged by Phair for this condi-
tion were that his enemies. and those who were
convinced OF his guilt. in Rutland and YER
gennes. would not believe him IL his statement
was published before his death. and that II
would be thought TO be an effort to save himself
from the gallows. He argued that II II was not
puolisned until after he was hanged. and il it
was known that this was by his request. he
might be believed by some md. as he said, II
can die by 1t. they will surely think II OF
enough importance at least 20 read II.
Subsequent % the signing OF the agreement
Carrigan saw Phair again. and urged that ne
statement might be given on the morning ofths
execution. in the Boston press. He argued.
first that the trnin from Boston would not ar
rive at Rutland until o'clock. the moment set
by sheriff Stimson for the drop. and would not
reach Vsrgennes until O'Clock; second that
as tho Boston train would arrive in Windsor at
oGGcS Phsr , you'd naye & ,he p oppor.gnY IN n
accordance with his stiea alations. Finally. with
the advice OF others. Phalr consented 70 THIS
P6sion Globe 10 which Cmrrignn had sold II
alter tho Associated Press papers had declined
was irnwn up before and witnessed by Director
rettirrew and other prison officials,
On tho night before the day on which the ex;
cruion wes appointed. Carrigan spent several
hours with PLair. who was found seated be-
tween two guards. writing farewell letter to
his mother Cgrrigan had special instructions
from Coy. Fairbanks. and an earnest request
irtn other cltizens OF the St0tc. to try and OBJ
tain from Pnnir a confession ot the crime.
Accordingly. Carrigan pictured the awful re9l-
tiles of the sraffold scene. and dwelt upon the
fact that Phsir was soon 20 pass before the
alone could pardon sin. and abjurod him to tell
the truth. as II was important 10 him and for his
soul's salvation that he should not die with n
rgen AMI the guards. and Phair was solemnly
promised that his confession would not be
diyused by them II he desired II TO be kept
secret.
Alter they had finished their plea. Phsr
srose. and with streaming eyes and the de-
snairlne look Of one utterlyforsaken. he said no
kuow there WAS Ono at least who believed his
story; but now tho whole world was against
him, and, not satisfied with executing him.
they must stgmRtize him rs n perlurer. He
i'nuly ayerred that II any truth was ever ut
trslty man. what he had written was true. SO
rasGs nyoTp,ory Mp E eRiaimed eh @ Thst hat man M, Is
Innocent" and the other one was equally con-
vn 'ed.
Ctrrigan. however. still doubted. and at once
began critical and minute cross examination
o. Pnair, upon tho basis OF his written state
ment. Every point was covered by Phair in
cnrrotn nrhton. the substance OF his verbal an
sNr~ h"ine in complete harmony with the
s.,em ~ written weeks before.
,.HS story s that in the latter part OF March.
l@i /" worked In the mandatory OF Mans
he.d Sumpson oi Rutland. remaining there
uni about. the 2Oth OF May when he engaged
WA ne Lincoln Iron Foundry Of Rutland.
vi r. he worked until the day Of the murder.
giu4 ., lvi All this time he boardsd ut the
i!"rW!nk House. and about three weeks beioro
" huri ne was introduced to the woman.
ann T.. rio7e Sne wns attractive in mannnr,
sh4 hc ha'dme somewhat enamored of her, lie
e"omphned he. 10 q circus on Saturday, Juno
., eh Stunning 10 her house about midnight,
remained there until ? o'clock in the morning.
er ne went ~ his hotel. This hc AYERS. was
Nr,l Rutland on Sunday. June T. with L. 4.
!n4rhari, an Old acquaintance Of his.
by nng 9 Aursa asa Brc6e ' an
stlae q Mrs. Friez~. and particularly win
lS and attractive She told him thnt she was
gong o. Brandon on Monday TO attend the cir
w. thI Fhaig. desiring 20 meet her. decided 10
Lsp. Ia N" morning he took the traln and
.rhl 70 Brandon, but mol meeting her during
,e day, remained until evening. He WIS no
~ ~ r. successful then AMI returned 10 Rutland
o." ur w l.anigut train. gOingat once 10 nls room
~ '9e D'rwick House. Here. after packing q
S.e. yAiia" with canngc of linen. he turned
uoWh mo counterpane and laid down for short
i'iNi id,rE a. take the enry train for Bos-
p. IN route 10 Providence (which journey il
noon shown. b. investigation. he had pre-
s arranged iog. He loft Rutland. accord
To lIa story. at Gtoui $3.50 A. VI. on Tues ,lny.
y.r - ana arrived in Boston IN the afternoon.
we '"p4t hr rode IN q hn"k with Il Mr..
war ana MS VIII" Of huilnnd T. the Provi-
9n, d"l u. and there took the 3 O'Clock trnin
llT3N'trlcc. where he arrival shortly after
u.ln'h. u said that he passed out OF thu
,! On ibe Ieli-hand side. being a stranger. hy
-' hf w ]Neit WAS a monument. crOsrrd Oif
"Ni"fel upon another. RnI from TINS
''-'l NpHWider one. Here ha met work mon.
won Do" asked II omuoyment could be-
rom "tunr IT," (orliss Engine Com
i} "a" Protldeurr Screw Company. but
:. 'h lfltri h,in twas WpOss lbc, as efficient
N"ra %" ng discharged every day.
' ing stranger, rctracoG his steIs as
i Pr H' I4 rnurtnler. ana stOpLed NJ
w. n~t iha' bore a blue sign with white
trS, b"I'tng md Lodging" lie said tho
,ll Yves appRr"ntiv 40 yrurs OF age. ard
i.l i.i' Au lod sHyruty-liyo cents Tor his
nN.l. 1s he renIemhered, saw u large
t W't collar ANA lock that in the