The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-09
SENATOR FAIR.
Something of the Life and Habits of
the Man Whose Wife Is Asking
Divorce
Chicago Tribune.

Chicago Tribune.
Quite scandal was created about the Sen
ate, last January, by the reckless conduct of
the distinguished Senator. Within the pre-
ceding two years he had taken to drinking
very freely, and there was hardly a day
when he went to the Senate that the close of
the afternoon did not find him under the in
auence of liquor. As he was very quiet and
scarcely spoke to any one when he was drunk,
bis conduct escaped the notice OF all but his
friends. These friends watched over the
Senator, and when they saw him reaching a
condition where he would be noticed they
invariably led him off to a committee-room,
where he slept until his carriage
came to take him to dinner. Once he
started on spree so far beyond any previous
effort of his to alarm his friends. He had
ordered during two days in the restaurant
below the Senate Chamber four dozen quart
bottles of champagne. While he did not
drink all of that wine himself he had never
bad more than one or two friends with him
during those two days. He ate nothing.
Whenever he got hungry he drank cham
payne. The result was that he was threatened
with an attack of delrlum tremens
Welcker, the proprietor of the Senate res
taurant was directed by the Senator's friends
to refuse to sell HIM any more liquor. Then
the rule forbidiing the sale of liquor in the
capitol was called to the private attention of
the acting Vce-president with a view OF
heading off the Senator's supplies at the
Senate, and the spree was thus brought to
close.
James G. Fair one of the original quartette
OF Bonanza Princes" was born Dec. 3, 1884.
in Cloughor, Tyrone county, Ireland. He
came to this country in 1S43 with his parents,
and for some time resided at Geneva, ILL.,,
t.AaO h i .4lNA T.. s
Chicago he received good business educa-
ton. In 1919 he went to California, and has
ever since been engaged in mining. In 1867
he became Superintendent of the Ophir mine
and the Hale d Norcross mine, in Nevada. 1t
was during their connection with the latter
mine thst the BONANZA Princes made the
tirst $500, 600 of their enormous fortunes.
Fairs associates were Flood, O'Brien and
Mackey. Fair is five feet and eight inches in
hight and weighs about 225 pounds. He
wears long owing beard, tinged with gray,
and has ford complexion. He was chosen
to the United States Senate january, 1881,
He was married in 1866.
The Fair Divorce the Absorbing Topic.
SAN FRANCISCO, May 8.-The Fair divorce
ease is the absorbing topic on the streets.
Public sympathy appears to side with Mrs.
Fair the mother of the senator's four chill
dren. Hopes are freely expressed that the
court will grant the mothers demands, both
for expenses control of the children, three
millions cash. and a million and half in
property. The Senator in an interview ae-
knowledged knowing that his wife was
bringing suit. but he would not defend
the case. He characterized the allega-
tons as a vile lie, having no more
foundation than the story of his eldest son
shooting him. Mrs. Fair being informed
that the Senator proposed to contest the case,
expressed surprise, and asked: Did Senator
Fair say anything about me?" Learning that
he had not she added: Then I also have
nothing to say" She declined reciting the
cause inducing her to make the demand for
divorce, but having made up her mind, was
bound to carry the matter through.