Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-16
Execution OF John =. Phalr.

Judges Ross and Powers, before whom the APP
plicaton for leave to present petition for new
trial in the case of John p. Phair was heard at
st. Johnsbury, last week, decided mot TO grant
the request, Judge Powers stating that this was
the third hearing Of the before lin, and that
every hearing only made his conviction the
stronger that Phair was properly found guilty.
The hearing closed on Wednesday, and on Thurs
day. at two o'clock, Phair was hanged Mt the
State Prison. The execution was witnessed by
large number OF newspaper men from all sec
tons Phair protested his innocence to the last,
and left manuscript, which he delivered TO the
sheriff upon the scaifold, to be handed to Mr..
Eddy, his counsel TO he revised and landed to
Mr. Carrigan Of the Boston JOurRR Phairs
statement contains little less than complaint
against the courts, the Judges and the laws OF
Vermont in capital cases. It was evidently writ
ten or dictated by some newspaper man or law
yer. and the extrvagant praise bestowed in It on
Mr. Carrigan renders It highly probable that the
latter had considerable to do with It's production.
The following account Of the execution we copy
from the Boston Journal.
"At ten minutes of two the sheriff opened the
doors and led the way, and about sixty persons,
including reporters from all parts Of thu country,
entered the new prison, where the gallows was
erected. There they awaited, talking in low
tone about Phair's impending fate, the proba-
bility of his innocence, etc, till two minutes past
two, when he was led from his cell The pro-
cession was headed by Superintendent Rice and
Sheriff Stimson, accompanied by Rev. Mr. Pratt
Of st. Adams, who had been sent for at the
special request of Phair and Chaplain Mick
Deputies Amsden, Hewitt, Wallace and lanel
Phair walked unsupported, and with firm step
mounted the gallows. He was dressed neatly in
black, and shaved His moustache and goatee
are the same now as when he first entered the
prison, over four years ago, the prison officials
having granted his request that he might look as
natural as possible.
"Chaplain Mick offered a short prayer, followed
by Rev. Mr. Pratt, of st. Adams. The sheriff
then asked Phair ifhe had anything to say phair
calmly turned around, faced the audience and
said in substance, that he had little to say that
he was sorry to have ever come to such place,
and that whatever causes may have brought him
there he was innocent Of the crime of which he
was convicted that he had written ont all that he
wished to make known, and that he wanted it
of as he deemed right lie then handel Sheriff
Stimson the statement, which was rolled up COM
pactly. lie then calmly shook hands with Chap
lain Mick and Rev Mr.. Pratt and babe them an
affectionate goodbye.
"The sheriff then read the original warrant
issued by the Rutland County Supreme Court in
January, 1875, and the first and second repreves
from Ex-Governor Fairbanks and the repreye of
April 3, by Governor Proctor. During the read
ing OF these Phair stood with his left hand in his
coat and with contracted brows. lie presented a
firm appearance Mt that dreadful moment upon
the verge of death. The sheriff then said John
p. Phair, the time has now come for the sentence
Of the law to be executed, and may God have
mercy on your soul
deputy Sheriff Hewitt held him, though he
made no resistance, and Deputy Sheriff Amsden
tied his hands and feet pulled the black CAP over
his face and fixed the fatal moose around his neck.
Intense solemnity and silence pervaded the whole
scene. Phair stepped back on the drop, and the
last words uttered by him, and after the black
cap was drawn down and he was on the drop,
were Lord, remember mel Lord, remember me =
Almost instantly the drop was sprung ut eleven
minutes past two, and with dull thud which
one will always shudder to remember, John p.
Phair was launched into eternity.
Or. Furness, the prison physician, DR. Morse,
DIR. Clark and others watched the body as it
swung heavily between earth and air, and in just
eleven and one-half minutes DR.. Fumess an
nounced that life was extinct.
The body was at last taken from the gallows
and delivered to L. C, Carrgan, who received il
for his mother Mrs. Mary J. Phair of yergennes,
and who had requested Sheriff Stimson to deliver
the remains OF her son to him.
"Phair told the sheriff that he thought he should
die hard, as he had good deal of muscle and
was nervy and told him to arrange the drop
right. Phair wrote to Stmson requesting him
not to let the so-called detectives (Stsrns and
Thornton) in at the execution These two men
were instrumental in convicting him Neither
were present Phair was dressed in black, clean
shaved and presented fine appearance.