The Topeka state journal., 1902-08-15
FAIR TRAGEDY
Continued from First Page.)

N>OiAeAfAN~N -AS--- --NN - ~~o~->
gatekeeper's lodge. Here they lie on
mattresses and flowers have been
strewn over them. In the room are
three wax tapers burning dimly.
The accident was evidently due to the
bursting of a tire At the time IL oc-
Cured the automobile, wmcn was
capable of running "a miles an hour,
was going at the rate of 81 miles an
hour. The local police authorities hold
in their possession and have sealed up
valise belonging to the Fairs, wnlch
contains iewelry. two letters of credit,
a French bank note worth $500 and some
gold coins.
WAS COMING HOME SOON.
San Francisco, Aug 15--Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Fair left San Francisco in the
latter part of May last for a trip to
Europe. Charles Fair was the son of
the late Senator Fair and was one of
late Senator Fair. 1t is peculiar that
the son of the late John w. Mackay,
one of Senator Fairs partners, was also
killed near Paris a few years ago, by
being thrown from his horse.
Charles Fair had been enthusiastic
about automobiles ever since the ma
chimes came into use abroad. He was
one of the first to bring automobiles to
this coast and he owned three or four
of them. He had what was perhaps the
largest and swiftest automobile in Cal
ifornia. 1t was a large French racing
machine and capable, it is said. of go
1t had a forty horsepower engine. He
imported it from France and with it
imported a chauffeur.
The machine is well known on the
streets of San Francisco and in all the
neighboring counties. Many a time have
townspeople and farmers in San Mateo,
Marin and Alameda counties rushed
out of their houses only to see the huge
machine already in the distance and
leaving a trail of dust and smoke be-
hind.
Fair was interested also in yachting
and owned the steam yacht Lucero.
1t is thought here that Louis Brety
was the chauffeur who was in charge
of the automobile at the time of the
accident. Mr.. Fair had Brety with him
when he was in this city a short time
ago to take charge of his Panhard.
Brety left the city for Paris with the
Fairs.
Charles Fair was the third of the four
children of the late Mr.. and Mrs James
G. Fair. Teresa, who is now the wife
of Hermann Oelrichs, is the Oldest of
the heirs. Then came James, who died
about ten years ago. Charles was the
third, and the youngest was Virginia,
who is now the wife of w. K. Wander
bilt, Jr
In the spring of 1894, Charles married
Maude Nelson. The ceremony took
place in Oakland and it was almost
secret one.
Charles Fair was one of the three
heirs to an immense estate, estimated
in value at between $4,000, 900 and $780,.
100000. The other two are his two sis
ters.
When informed of the tragic end of
his brother-in-law and his wife yester-
day, Hermann Oelrichs said:
Il am terribly shocked but not sur
prised- | said only a few days ago that
If Charley persisted in carrying on his
experiments along this line the result
would be fatal sooner or later. I have
warned him repeatedly, but he always
laughed and said there was no danger
Mr. Fair left this city on last Decora-
tlon day for Europe to stay two or three
months. Last week a letter arrived
saying that he intended sailing for the
United States on the 26th of this month.
Mr.. Fair went to Europe to see what
improvements had been made during
the last year or two in automobiles y
said Mr.. Oelrichs. He had purchased a
new one. he said, that could sustain a
speed of 25 miles an hour for several
hours. 1t was built along radically new
lines and would be one of the first ma
chimes of its class to be imported into
the United States.
Charles Fair was born in Virginia
City. New. on April 81. 1857. and was
consequently 35 years of age. He
brought the first automobile across the
continent to this city. He was also
greatly interested in photography and
constructed one of the largest cameras
ever built in the United States
Mr.. Fairs lawyer. Mr.. Haggerty, says
the death of Charles Fair will not I'D
set the present ARRANGEMENTS for the
management of the Fair estate The
property is now managed by Hermann
Oelrichs. Under this arrangement
Charles Fair decided certain property
to his sisters.
There is now much speculation as to
what will become of Charles Fairs
share. On this point Mr.. Haggerty
says:
"Under the law of California when a
couple are victims of common calam-
ity and both are between 16 and "a
years of age and there is no evidence
which died first, the man is presumed
to have lived the longer.
In such a case all the property would
go to Mr.. Fairs relationships sisters.
"On the other hand, If there is evil
dence to show that Mrs Fair lived
longer than Charles Fair, her relations
in the east would inherit the property
involved"
Mr.. Haggerty will not discuss the
matter of the will From other sources
it is learned that Charles Fair had q
will which is now supposed to be lock-
ed up in his safe here in San Francisco
So little is known here of Mrs. Fairs
relatives that Mr.. Haggerty says he
does not know where her heirs reside
1t is supposed, however, that they live
In New Jersey.
CHAUFFEUR's STORY.
Paris, Aug. 15.-The bodies of Mr.. an6
IdIS NSldTleS FdlT. WHO were killed IL
an automobile accident yesterday neal
Evereux, were placed in collins and for
warded to Paris whence they will go tt
San Francisco.
The chauffeur said today that befor,
the accident he noticed the tire of tn,
left hind wheel of the machine was de
fated and that the rim of the whee
was rubbing on the ground. He tolt
MIR Fair, who tried to stop and the ac
cident followed. Peasants who saw tn
automobile say it was going at such
terrific pace at some points that it wa
impossible to distinguish it's color. Th
firm that sold Mr.. Fair the AUTOMOBILE
last June says he paid $4,000 for it an,
ordered another at the same price to b
of so horse power. The second machin
was almost ready for delivery
Mr. Fair was passionately fond of au
tomobiling and never missed a day OF
the road. Several times he attempte,
to beat the one hour record.
Danger is Over.
BANGKOK Auo 15-(.reat anxiety rre