The San Francisco call., 1896-11-24
SOME LIGHTS AND SHADOWS
IN JAMES c. FAIRS LIFE
His Likes and Dislikes, Cunning, Caution and Love
of Small Talk Shown in His
Letters.
way of referring to some conduct of his
correspondent that pleased him:
ANGELES, Nov, 25, 1858.


correspondent that pleased him:
ANGELES, Nov 25, 1853.
Ny Dear Friend: l want TO write, but ]
scarce know what TO say by way OF condolen ce
for your bad luck. and doubly so from drag
ging my debts along wi tn you in these hard
times, but if years OF attention will earn
enough to repay you you will find Will act
the part OF man with you for your noble con-
duct with me. / saw Hunter here OF yester-
day, he sold us without doubt, his own
story would convict him. ]. G. F.
Next in the exhibits comes quaint ref
erence 10 matters known only TO the cor
re spondents. There is strange reference
to blood drying up and reference to
the safety of letters put in the United
States mails. This letter shows In a strik-
picion blended in his transactions. He
often signed himself "Whimtown."
CHRISTMAS DAY, 1884.
Dear Observation-Disclosures may be the man
of course, such thing must exist in super
stition only. The Idea of blood drying up.
Then as to H. am unable to guess who it
may be.
There is no risk in the mails Letters
dropped in the cars on leaving never go
through postofices and are not handled.
Men never undertake to open sealed letters
without wax The latter the best.
said nothing TO Lyman, but he is honorable
and true-any hint you give him that l was
always kind to you. Father and your mother
in need would place you right. Stone is my
lawyer and anything you learn about Dick
Deys sayings and doings he would be glad TO
KNOW. l near Fanny Will marry soon.
WHIMTowN
hear old Joe Smith, the wagon-maker and
blacksmith was great enemy of mine. Is it
so? Also that he was in Dick Deys' employ.
The man of many millions, the king of
large estates, had little use for men who
talk too much. The following throw
light on this phase of his character:
February 1884
have yours OF the 21st 1 intended to tell
you to send me back my letter after you had
jotted down certain things In it. Such things
might fall into the hands of some one who
talks. You must work slowly and with great
care 1t will turn up to you quite easy after
you get start. / know Lab knows all
but you have little hope there-he is so
cunning. Fitzgerald and perhaps Prentice, or
one of them, it has been told u me, were to
do the work don't let any one mail your
letters. Do your letters come to the Con. Va
Offices? am glGd that it the impression
that will not return to the coast.
What reason do they assign? Was ii Tom
that your man saw below that looked so con-
tented and was lining on the fat of the land
or some one else?
had letter from your brother Charles and
am trying TO get him place. He writes
good letter. Yours, J.G.F.
Under date of May the writer mys-
teriously hints that somebody was once
hired to kill him, discusses his wife's af-
fairs and inquiries for current gossip:
MAY 6, "a
Dear Fay: 1 have two letters from you, he
last April 30 In the former you said that
Fannie had given Patton hard talking to- l
do not know who this Fannie is but suppose
1t was the old madam. If So what had She to
complain of. Part of your last letter cannot
guess. Twas aware Rooney sent letters 10 his
sister through the servant girl. l have % of
them.
know nothing of the Fitzgerald you speak
of. have never given him any coin or caused
it to be given. know OF no papers he had or
aught about what suggested there l ALWAYS
thought Rooney hired him to kill me- know
nothing OF the great crime you refer to-
guess that there is no one afraid 10 go TO Vir-
ginla; they will find this so when l return.
l have heard nothing of the second boy going
TO the bad Tell me all you hear about it.
Why should Lamb hate F. so? don't believe
II. l wish you to report that you heard was
going to Europe soon. Yours, in great haste,
SHAws FLAT
Correspondent Caldwell is next in
structed on the methods of penmanship
that best pleased the Senator. Incident
ally he discusses many personal and
minor matters:
UNITED STATES SENATE
WASHINGTON, d. c., May %, 1884.
have just read your answer of 18th and
note all said-I now understand who Fannie
is and ask YOU 10 use this name hereafter for
her-I do not know Patsy Connors-I think
you mean Patsy Cotter-get all the particu-
lars what she said against Patton-I know
nothing OF the killing of any one or how
Shaws Fiat could De concerned in it
am glad you reported me'goiDg to Europe.
Shaw's opinion OF The Fair family refers to
what his wife knows about Fannie.
What has Charlie been doing? Find cut all
the particulars from Thomas.
| wish | knew Shannon's reasons for being
disappointed at my trip. It may be he is em-
Ter. Mackays health is giving way. He looks
bad, am informed.
Try and write smaller, more fully and with
lacc 7 orIu n
believe Lamb is down on you. Yours truly
yours, SHAws FLAT.
While in the kalls of the United States
Senate the busy statesman of many mill
lions found time to write many lie tiers,
marked bv style wholly their own.
which will be recognized as characteristic
of the man:
UNITED STATES SENATE,
WASHINGTON, D. c.. June 16, 1SS4l
Dear jan, c. e.: have yours of May 10Th &
June I'd & 3d. am in my seat and cannot
write much 1 have been to York twice
in West Va. five days or I would have
wrote. you oftener-lts shame Jim did not
kill himself with either Pistol or Poison he
and Tom are terrible FOOLS
The madam has gone 10 Madam Mackay in
Europe. The children came here all tLey
could before leaving for Paris. They had but
that rough one. Your statement that Shaws
Flat killed some one is absurd. Jim said he
| spoke very fully. II SO, in Gods name why
| did you not say what he said?
Thomas is all wrong in his statement. She
/ had $1,000 TO come back With, but played this
as a trick and succeeded; even Taylor now
knows this. The report OF old Shannon that
| we would disncorporate the mines is all bosh.
Pat Cotter is an honest boy and tells only the
truth. He is simple minded.
1t is impossible Tor me to write much You
| are very faithful and collect great deal. In
| time may be able to assist you if things give
| out in Virginia Keep on the run of your
brother, as I may want him before long.
| Yours, SHAws FLAT
On June %, 1884, amid the noise and
hustle of legislation, the Senator found
time to discuss loafers and men who stand
Oh the street corners and watch women:
UNITED STATES SENATE,
WASHINGTON, d. G., June 49, 1884 !
Dear JeroMe: have Your kind letter of the