The daily gazette., 1883-05-14
A RICH GRASS-WIDOW.
RESULT OF THE FAIR DIVORCE
SUIT.
OVER S4,o0o,oOo IN ALTMONY.
Mrs. Fair Wins n Divorce From the SeDa-
tor, With S4,25OOOO in Alimony and
the Control of the Younger Children.

VIRGINIA CITY, NEv., May 13.-The d.
vorce suit of Theresa Fair against United
States Senator James 6. Fair was called in
the District Court yestC rday morning. Coun-
sci for the plaintiff asked that the court ap-
point time to hear proof, aud that the ex-
animation be conducted privately. The Court
appointed IL O'Clock, and at the specified
time the court met, but reporters were ex-
cluded. The examination occupied a little
less than an hour, and resulted in the grant
ing of decree in favor of Mrs. Fair with
an allowance OF $4,250,000 in money aud
United States bonds and the family resi-
| dence in San Francisco. Mrs. Fair was
awarded the custody of the three minor
children, Virginia, Theresa Alice, and
Charles Lewis, and the Senator the custody
OF the eldest boy, James G. Fair, Jr.
The complaint in the case was filed on
Wednesday, May 2, aud the papers were
served on the Senator the same day. The
cause of action was adultery on the part of
Senator Fair. The plaintiff set forth in her
complaint that she was married to defend
ant in Calaveras county, Cal, in December,
1862; hat she came to Nevada with him in
1866, and had lived with him ever since
until IA few months ago, when she became
cOgnizant of certain acts of infdelity on his
part, since which time she has not lived
with him. She alleged that the de-
Fanny Smith at house in Jeseie
street, San Francisco, some time
in November, 1881, and also with Inez
Leonard at a house at Dupont and Port
streets, San Francisco, on April 27, 1888.
She stated that as the result Of her marriage
with the defendant she had four children
james G., Jr. aged 20 years; Charles Lewis,
aged 10; Theresa Alice, aged Is, and Vir-
ginia, aged s years. She also said that the
a., ,la,,,N - L q
large amount of community property, the
particulars of which she could not state.
She therefore prayed judgment as follows:
First-That divorce be granted her, and
that she be awarded the custody of the chill
dren.
Second-That such portion of the com
munity property be allowed and set apart as
shall be equitable and just.
Third-That the defendant be required to
pay into court reasonable sum TO defray
the expense of the action and counsel fees,
and that defendant pay alimony in such an
amount as the Court may deem just for the
support of the plaintiff and children during
the pendency OF the action, and further re-
lief as may be deemed Just.
Mrs. Fair was represented by r. s. Mes
sick of San Francisco. and Senator Fair by
s. M. Wilson of San Francisco and N. NJ.
Stone of Virginia City.
lne SENATOR was IN J0lS city Wneu the
complaint was filed, but left the same even
ing for San Francisco. 1t was the general
impression then that he would make no de-
fense, but allow the case to 90 by default
| and agree to such a settlement Of the prop
erty as might be determined by counsel, to
avoid notoriety and scandal. This course
seems to have been pursued by him,
although he is reported to have said soon
after the complaint was filed that he
would defend the case and charac.
terized the allegations made against him
as lies, "having no more foundation than
the story about his eldest son shoot
ing him." In a later conversation, how
ever, he said that he regretted keenly and
bitterly the notoriety given a matter SO ex-
clusively concerning himself and wife 81
am the man." said he, "and am willing to
bearall the odium which the public, in ig-
norance of the real facts, may choose to cast
upon me- But my regret is that the name
of my wife should be associated and incor-
porated in dispatches transmitted all over
the country. Now, as always, my desire
has been to do that which would contribute
to the happiness of my wife and children
| If my wife thinks a separation will contri-
butte to her further happiness, then her mind
and mine are alike. / have done nothing to
merit the obloquy cast upon me-"