Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1884-05-01

gsuator rairss Domestic xroubls APP
proachfug . Happy End-rair's Mag
nanamtty-A Lawyer xad o S5co.ooo

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gsnAtor Tair's Domestic xroubls APP
preaching . Happy End-Rair's Mag
nanimity-A Lawyer HAD . ssoo'o0o
rec,
Al social event that has often been
predicted seems Mt last about TO come to
pass. Senator Fair and his late wife,
from whom he was divorced last spring,
have effected a reconciliation, and the
long separated couple will be reunited
in marriage soon. The property in
terestes at stake have been SO large, and
the in~tercessions Of the children have
been 50 potential, that the parents have
found ii impossible to resist the in
fuences which seemed to draw them to-
gether.
Mr.. Fair was the practical man ofthe
bonanza firm. He, like Mackey. was a
miner. rs was . ns:::e foreman, and,
understanding his business thoroughly,
he became invaluable to his associates.
He knew every detail Of the business,
could tell what was the matter with a
machine, and was a good Judge Of ore,
Of rock, and ofthe hundred things which
enter into the calculations of a minor.
He was quiet and business-lik
Mrs. Fair is a large, ~ine-looking
woman Of the irish type, with dark
hair and eyes. In the early days Of the
silver mining excitement, wnen Fair
was poor, she was his mainstay. She
economical in a hundred ways and en-.
couraged him 10 persist in his efforts
many times when he was disheartened
and inclined TO abandon his enterprise.
She was a good wife, as all adr>tt and
Mr.. Fair himself never made a COM
plant against her, except that her de-
votion to the Roman Catholic church
was too great, -Four oiIiidae. were
born to them, two boys and two girls,
the eldest being James G. Fair, Jr., now
81 years old, and the Youngest Virginia,
aged Mr.. md Mrs Fair lived on
tentedly together until q year ago last
winter, when they separated, and a doz-
en- different stories were put in circula-
tion concerning their cause. After the
separation Mrs. Fair took up her resi-
dence in the elegant home belonging to
the family on Mob hill in this city. The
senator, with his eldest son, took a for
eign tour, and on their return secured
quarters at a hotel here.
In the meantime, the prospect which
q divorce suit a family of such enor-
nous wealth opened up had caused
several attorneys and others to take q
hand in the matter, and this influence
was not calculated to allay the ill-feel-
ing. Mrs. Fair filed a bill for divorce
at Virginia City on the 7th of last May,
alleging infdelity on the part of the
husband, and duplicating several women
in this city. The allegations caused
something of a sensation, and it was ex-
pected that n long trial would be the
result Lawyers. detectives, and go-
betweens imagined that they had rich
picking within their grasp, and Mr..
Fair found himself annoyed beyond
measure by their solicitations.
Feeling that Mrs. Fair had been inn
properly influenced by some of her coun-
celors the senator determined TO make
contest to the suit. Ina card to the
public he denied the allegations made
in his wife's bill, and a day later ION the
9th of May he issued the following.
II am the man, and am willing to bear
AL the odium which the public, in igno-
rance of the real facts, may choose to
cast on me; but my regret is for my
wife, whose name has been improperly
associated and Incorporated in the dis
patches transmitted all over the coun-
try. Now, as always, my desire has
been to do that which would contribute
20 the happiness of my wife and child
len. II ! have in any way failed, God
knows it has not been prompted by a
desiresto do so. Now, as ever, / want
that which will best contribute to the
happiness Of my family. II my wife
thinks a separation will contribute to
her further happiness, then her mind
and mine are alike. / have done moth
ing TO merit the obloquy east upon me.
Those who best know me will tell YOU
what my desires are. God has blessed
me with wealth, and / have never used
it for any mean or unmanly purpose.
My heart and hand have always been
spen to those in distress, and will con-
tinue to be TO those who seek or require
my help. i repeat that in this matter
with my wife, which has been made so
public, | have nothing to say further
than that ii pains me to see her name
hnd mine associated with such bastard
" and vindictiye dispatches as have
gone forth to the world. / am the
man, she is the woman, and in these
relations / win shield her name at every
point In my power
1t became painfully evident to the
lawyers and detectives that Mr.. Fair
was not going to defend the case. On
the 18th Of May the matter was called
in court at Virginia City, and after an
hours hearing with closed doors the
Judge announced that a decree would
be given 10 Mrs. Fair, that the minor
children would be given into her keep
ing, and that the senator world pay TO
her in cash and United States bonds
S4,250, 900, besides giving her title 70
the residence on Nob's hill in this city.
The settlement was a profound surprise
10 most people here, for no one believed
thet Senator Fair was so wealthy as the
sum paid his late wife would seem TO in.
dictate. II had been generally under.
stood that he was not worth more than
$4,000, 600, but II came out soon after
the settlement that he could command
four times that amount. IL Is currently
reported that II. s. Mesick, attorney
for Mrs. Fair, received a fee Of $500.
600 for negotiating the settlement Of the
senator's estate.
After tine diyorce Mrs. Fair, with he
SON and two little daughters, took up
her abode in her p~alatial home in this
city. Here she had beautiful grounds
and an extensive conservatory. She
has gone out but little, and seems to
have slight taste for social life, devot-
ing herself to the education of her
daughters and to charitable work
She has great confidence in the increase
n value of real estate, and has built
near her own residence a large private
hotel which she expects to rent on
profitable terms. The senator still
owns the finest building lot on Mob hill,
around which be has recently construct
ed q massive stone wall. 1t over-Iooks
Sianford's place, and has q much less
~obstructed view than the lofty castle OF
the widow Hopkins across the street.
The reunion Of the Fairs will be an
amending source OF gossip, but Of a little
more cheerful description than that
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