Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-04-18
SUNIIARYOFNEW
Eastern and Middle States.

Five large buildings in Philadelphia were de-
stroyed by fire and twelve more damaged, en-
failing a total loss of $4,000. One man was
killed and two others were seriously injured by
a falling wall.
Nearly one thousand CANNES OF every de-
scription we're on exhibition at the third annual
bench show OF dogs in Gilmores Garden, New
York, and prizes for various points OF excel
lence were given.
The Pennsylvania Senate has passed bill
establishing State board of health.
At Clark's Falls, Conn, two boys, each
about four years old, the sons of George Mason
and Bradford Perrin, were drowned in a mill
trench.
William Simpson, the most famous Of New
FORK pawnbrokers, is dead.
John p Phair, formerly machinist at Rut-
land, was executed at the Vermont State
prison in Windsor for the murder OF Mrs Ann
Frieze, on the evening of June 9, 1874. The
condemned man maintained his innocence up
TO the last moment. Phair said that he for
gave the judges and all who were concerned in
his death, but he believed that his innocence
would yet be made clear to the world. He
maintained that on the day of the murder he
was at Boston soliciting work. In his state
ment affirming his innocence he said "And to
Almighty God, the maker of heaven and earth,
who knoweth the secrets of all hearts, do /
now most solemnly appeal in this the hour of
my extremity, to hear me and bear witness to
the truth that | am innocent of the crime of
which l stand convicted; and as | am inno-
nent or guilty so may he deal with my soul in
the day of Judgment and eternity" Public
opinion on the subject of Phair's innocence or
guilt was divided. Upon the trial two Boston
pawnbrokers and several of their associates
identified Phair as the man who had sold them
the murdered ETooWa4,,s pJ5gt6Ttv stI6re That a
person who registered as "E. F. Smith, ST.
Adams, W.T." resembled Phair, and the sigma
lures upon the hotel register and the pawn
tickets were said to be almost fac-simile of
that name and address as written by Phair in
jail at the request of the detectives. Phair
was condemned to be hanged April 6, 1877;
but on the day of execution Boston manu-
tacturer named Downing happened to see
Boston paper which contained Phair's last
statement. In this statement Phair gave an
account of his whereabouts previous to and
during the commission of the crime and de-
tailed conversation between himself and
gentleman on the cars while on his way to
Boston. Downing remembered having had
such conversation on the cars on the date
mentioned in Phair's statement and at once
took steps to have the execution postponed.
Telegraphic messages reached the governor
in time, and the hanging was postponed to
y 4th. The governor atterward reprieved
air until the present month, and the Ver-
int Legislature passed a special law which
owed his case to come before the courts
hin. Phair's story was corroborated by
owning and by persons in Providence, who
6tified that they saw him in that city on the
y Of the murder. But every effort to secure
new trial failed, the judges holding that the
ya xtyoc Of,
circumstance of the pawned effects was
EN- into consideration. He received last
Fieve Off few days, but nothing could be
e to save him. He walked up the gallows'
8 firmly and betrayed little agitation. Two
gymen offered brief prayers, the cap was
vn over his face and he said, in calm but
net voice: Lord, remember me in the
day Of judgment" The sheriff then
ned the spring and Phair fell seven feet,
Sing his neck, and died without struggle
body was taken down and placed in a
casket and conveyed on the midnight
to the home OF Phair's mother, in Yer
es.
Glastonbury, Conn, Miss Julia Z. Smith
SURVIVOR of the Smith sisters, famous
lghout the country for the repeated sales
leir Attorney cows to meet taxes which
refused to pay because they could not
was married to Amos G.. Parker, of New
oshire. He was widower, is lawyer
ofession and of the same age as the bride
six years.
regard to the great worlds fair to take
in New York city, in 1883, the executive
iittee has already invited the governors
mayors throughout the country to send
oates or commissioners to great national
Fention to be held in the metropolis on
Is next,
he lower house of the Massachusetts Legis-
re has rejected the bill to secure women
right to vote on municipal affairs in cities
towns. The bill giving women the right to
e for members of school committees came
pa the Senate for its third reading and was
led.
Western and Southern States.