Evening star., 1902-08-15
SKETCH OF MR.. FAIR.
Multi-Millionaire and an Enthusiastic
Automohilist

A dispatch from San Francisco says: Mr..
and Mrs. Charles Fair left San Francisco
in the latter part of May last for trip to
Europe.
Charles Fair has been enthusiastic about
automobiles ever since the machines came
into use abroad. He was one of the first
to bring automobiles to this coast and he
owned three four of them. He had
what was perhaps the largest and swiftest
automobile in California. 1t was a huge
French racing machine, and capable, it is
said, of going at speed of seventy miles
an hour. 1t had a forty-horSe-power en-
gine. He imported it from France and
with it imported a chauffeur. Fair was
interested also in yachting and owned the
steam yacht Lucero.
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 eldest of the
heirs. Then came James, who died about
| ten years ago. Charles was the third, ani
the youngest is Virginia, the wife of w. K.
Vanderbilt jr.
In the spring Of 1894 Charles married
Maude Nelson. The ceremony took place
in Oakland and it was almost a secret
one.
Charles Fair was one of three heirs to
an immense estate estimated in value at
between S25O00,O 600 and $50, 600, 600. When
informed of the tragic end of his brother
| in-law and his wife this. afternoon Her
man Oelrchs said:
II am terribly shocked, but not sur
prised I said only few days ago that if
Charles persisted in carrying on his expert
ments along this line the result would be
fatal sooner or later 1 have warned him
repeatedly, but he always laughed and
said there was no danger"
In letter received last week Mr.. Fair
said he intended sailing for the United
States on August 26.
"Mr. Fair went to Europe to see what
imnrovementS do
last year or two in automobiles said Mr.
Oelrfchs HE had purchased new one
he said. that could sustain speed of
eighty-five miles an hour for several hours
1t was built along radically new lines, and
would be one Of the first machines of it's
class to be imported into the United
Charles Fair was born in Virginia CITY,
New, on April II, 1867. 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 upset
the present arrangements for the manage
ment of the Fair estate. The property IS
now managed by Herman Oelrichs. There
Is much speculation as to what will become
of Charles Fairs share of the estate, On
this point Mr.. Haggerty says:
Under the law Of California when a
couple are victims Of a common calamity
and both are between sixteen and seventy
years of age and there is no evidence as
to which died first, the man is presumed
to have lived the longer.
I'm such case all the property would
go to Mr.. Fairs relatives. On the other
hand, II there is evidence to show that
Mrs Fair lived longer than her husband
her relatives in the east would inherit the
property involved"
Mr.. Haggerty will not discuss the mat
ter OF the will. From other sources 1t is
Eofr hoJ
which is now supposed to be 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 II is
| supposed. however. that they live in New
Jersey.