Daily Kennebec journal., 1879-04-16
Phair's Statement and Funeral.

The last statement of John L. Phair, who
was hung last week in Vermont for the muir
der of Anna +. Freeze, has been published
in the Boston Journal. 1t is a lengthy state
ment, reviewing all the proceedings in the
case and asserting his innocence of the crime
for which he was hung. 1t closes as follows ::
/ have always said, and will finally say.
that never harmed the unfortunate Anna 4.
Freeze, of whose death am unjustly accused,
by either word or deed, in her lifetime.
Neither have appropriated to myself, or for
any person whomsocvcr, one pins worth of
property. jewels, or any article whatsoever
belonging to the poor woman. | have in
common with other young-as well as some
old men, made mistakes in life for which |
sought and obtained forgiveness at the time
But. thanks be to God. the mistake of taking
Il human life, or ever attempting such a thing
is not among them, as my final judge can at
test. No man could have been more wrong
fully accused in this respect than have been
by a certain ring who were bent on my de-
struction, right or rrORg, and they have sue
ceeded, but bv what means the Supreme
Judge of all shall decide. In the meantime
freely forgive all my enemics-ycs, even
the worst of them-and if | have ever
wronged any person in my lifetime whose for
giveness have not already asked and OBJ
tained | now ask it in all sincerity. All
hopes of human justice are exhausted and
death is inevitable.
(Signed) JOHN p. PHAIR.
Windsor Prison, April 10, 1879.
The funeral was held at Vergennes, where
Phair had resided, on the 18th inst. Rev.
George +. Hall, pastor of the Congregational
Church, of which Phair was a member, con-
Quoted the exercises. Rev. Geo. s. Pratt,
pastor of the Baptist church at St. Albans,
offered the following remarks
This is not an occasion for many words,
and il is the expressed wish of his friends that
these services should be as quiet and simple
possible. However, as | was with our
friend during the last hours of his life, and
can thus speak from personal knowledge,
wish to say, and to say it emphatically, be-
cause of various reports to the contrary, there
was nothing of bravado or stoical indffer.
ence in his manner; his eyes would overflow
with tears, and his whole being would shake
with emotion as he realized his sad situation
and the suffering of his friends, and he was
not ashamed of these manifestations of his deer
feeling. He was no less free from all appear
ance of cant and hypocrisy. His words were
few his whole mien was of one who pos
sesscd an humble and contritc spirit. He
rose above all feelings of vindictveness and
hatred. The serenity of his last hours OF
earth was marred by no shadow of unknt
feeling toward any man. His last words
were Lord remember me-" If any are care
lessly inclined to say that his life was a fail
ure, ! would simply remind you that of thi,
we cannot yet certainly know. In the Ian
guage of the hymn which has just been sung
and that hymn expresses true sentiment
God moves in mysterious way his wonder,
to perform speak by permission when
say that while the friends are deeply grateful
for all the kindness that has been shown then
during all these sad years, they share tn,
! feelings of the departed. and in their heart,
to-day they bear no malicious or bitter feel
ings toward any one
After short prayer by Rev. George Hall
and singing by the choir, the procession
formed at the house and attended the remain,
to the last resting place by the side of hi,
father in the family lot in the new cemeter,
in Nergennes."