St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-04-18
Phair.

ECUTION GOV. PROCTOR's REASONS
FOR REFUSING FURTHER RETRIEVE
THE GOVERNOR THREATENED.
Some people think that if John p.
Phair had been guilty, he would have
confessed. There is no good reason for
thinking so. He was man of iron
nerve and his criminal career (Which Is
not disputed even by his friends) had
accustomed him to maintaining false
position. He doubtless reasoned that
as murder is the highest of crimes he
could hardly make his future worse by
lying, and if he protested his innocence
to the last, the case would be much
easier for his friends because they could
believe him a victim now and an angel
hereafter. Such reasoning as this would
be perfectly consistent with the cool,
deliberate and practical way in which
he met his death. In answer to Phair's
request, Sheriff Simpson visited him
while he was eating breakfast, and the
fact that he was to die so soon did not
seem to spoil his appetite. While ut his
meal he alluded to his execution. He
begged the sheriff to make sure work of
him and do the job quickly. Feeling of
his muscles and showing them to Mr..
Stimsen, he said he was pretty solid.
Then putting his hands to his neck he
said it was very thick and he thought
it would be better to place the knot at
the back, as by so doing the chances of
breaking the spinal column would be
increased. He hoped the sheriff would
not think that he entertained any feel
ing against him. He iPhair) had receiv-
ed the best of treatment at his hands,
and while he understood the duty to be
an unpleasant one it had to he per-
formed.
After the sheriff left his cell, Phair
spent almost the entire time up to the
hour of execution with his spiritual add
NlseIo, rhantliu MICh tsiIi n
Geo. S. Pratt of st. Albans. They beg
ged of him to make n confession, but he
protested his innocence to the last.
THE LAST RFFoRT OF COUNSEL.
Phair was ignorant of the final at
tempt to secure another reprieve from
the governor that morning. Messrs.
Nicholson and Barrett waited upon
Gov. Proctor at Sutherland Falls, and
begged his excellency to grant re-
prievc in order to permit them to APP
peal to the legislature for a commuta-
ton of sentence. The fact that such an
attempt was being made was well
known at Windsor, and there was great
satisfaction when it was announced that
the governor had refused another re-
prieve. Of course there were some dis
satisfied persons, but they were greatly
in the minority. At 100 o'clock Gov.
Proctor denied the application for
further respite.
THE LAST STATEMENT.
In conversation with Mr.. Eddy with
view to obtain a copy of Phair's last
statement, that gentleman said the doc
ument would not be given to the pub
lie for few days. He had to revise it
and to do so properly would require
some time. The statement refers main
ly TO protestations of innocence. and
charges that he did not have a fair trial
and was convicted on prejudiced testi
mOny. There is little new matter be-
yound that in the original statement
published in 1877.
LETTER TO THE SHERIFF.
Phair sent letter, of which the fol-
lowing is copy, to sheriff Stimson the
last morning.:
APRIL lO, 3 a. m.-Sherif Stinson
Please do not let the so-called detec-
tlves, Stearns and Thornton of Rutland,
III at time of execution if possible tell
them that it is my request that they
shall not be allowed to be present
then, if they will do so against my
wishes, they show what they are. Re-
spectfully yours, j. P. PHAIR.
Also consult with Mr.. Rice as to pro-
priety in admitting reporter of Burling-
ton paper; he lied about me the dav
Gravelin was executed. Mr.. Rice will
explain.
A THREAT.
On Friday, the day after Gov. Proc
tor granted the reprieve, he received n
letter signed Justice" which stated in
substance that unless a Ieprieve was
granted his excellency would die a yio-
lent death before the end of 1879. But
Gov. Proctor is not man to be intimi
dated.
THE FINAL SCENE.
Shortly after p. m. the prison doors
were opened and about 60 spectators
entered the corridor. The crowd was
not very solemn one, and a lively
buzz OF conversation resOunded through
the hall till the gallOws procession ap-
peared, Superintendent of the Prison
w: +. Rice and S. W. Stimson, sheriff
OF Windsor county, leading. The par
ty assembled the scaffold, short PRAYERS
were said by Chaplain A. M. Mick and
Rev: Mr.. Pratt, and the sheriff read the
original death-warrant and the three
reprleves. During these exercises
Phalr's brow contracted, but he lost
none OF his self-possession. He then
shook hands with the ministers, bidding
them good-by and whispering to them.
and thanked the sheriff for all fayors
shown him. As the black cap was
drawn over his face, he uttered the
Words' Lord remember me-" twice.
sheriff said, "John p. Phair. the time
has now come for the sentence of tbe
law to be executed upon you, and NAV
God have mercy on yonr soul - ~