Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-08-28
HIS LAST DAY ON EARTH. ,

Pathetic Scene at the Parting of Brothe
and Sister-The Crime.
COLUMBUS, o., Aug. although this
was the last day on earth for Ed Blair,
it passed unnoticed by any particular in
cidents. The murderer was very pale,
but did not exhibit any signs of weaken
ing. He passed a sleepless night and
marks of the terrible strain were borne
on his face. During the morning Father
Logan baptized him in the Catholic faith
and left him in better spirits. Shortly
afterward Chaplain Sutton attended him
with prayer and scriptural readings. The
remainder of the morning was spent in
company with Miss Laura Blair, his sis
ter. Conversations were directed mainly
upon home topics and the young lady
spent considerable time in making
bouquets for each of the five condemned
men in the annex.
At S p. m. Laura Blair was admitted
to the reception room of the annex to bid
her brother the last farewell. She re-
manned nearly an hour and Warden
Dyer was obliged to send for her. When
told this would be the last opportunity
to say good bye, the most pathetic scene
ever witnessed in the institution followed
and the strong hearts of the guards were
momentarily softened and tears were
shed by them. She elapsed her brothers
neck, kissing him and calling his name
over and over again. Suddenly she fell
from his arms and caught Guard STAN
zell around the neck and arm, nearly
overpowering him, but soon lay CULVER
ing and PROSTATE in his support. At
this opportunity Blair was removed to
the death chamber. When the lady re-
covered he was gone from her side for
ever. She again went into Mysteries,
shriekng wildly for assistance. Her
cries were heard at the front office and
assistants were sent to bring her from
the annex She was placed in the war
denis apartments and a physician at
tended her. The prostration was so Sc
we're that she cannot be taken from the
p~enitentiary for some time.
The crime for which Ed Blair paid the
penalty with his life was indeed O hienous
one and it was committed while he was a
fugitive from justice, at Hartsberg, Put
nam county, March II, 1890. Blair was
serving a seven years sentence at the Ohio
penitentiary for burglary and it became
necessary to take him out to testify
against one of his pals. At Manchester
he made a daring escape from his guards
by jumping from the train. In ompan
with w crooks he went to Hartsberg
where he had planned to rob the station,
of which Arthur Henry was agent. The
young agent was summoned to his office
by Blair who protested urgent business
with him. When he arrived, the two pals,
Stout and Shoemaker, remained on the
outside and Blair went in. He immedi-
ately pulled his revolver and demanded
that Henry open the safe. He refused and
was shot down in cold blood. Blair fled
to Parkersburg, w. Va, where he was
captured some weeks later. His convic-
ton speedily followed and the sentence of
death was passed, to be carried out April
20, 1891. He was respited until June Z in
order to carry his case to the supreme
court, and again until Aug. 81 to get it
before the pardon board. Each effort
failed and the murder of Henry is avenged.