The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-11-15
SENTENCED
FOR HIS LIFE
Fairbanks Guilty of Murder
in Second Degree.
JURY OUT ALL NIGHT
But Only Twelve Ballots Were Neces-
sary to Determine Degree OF Guilt
Sentenced Pronounced Saturday
Trial Cost State $4,000.

-otHttuItu AASASsaNNe
Trial Cost State $4,000.
William Fairbanks, whose trial on
the charge of having murdered Mrs
Mary Grout at Saxtons River, May 20,
consumed nearly three weeks and cost
the state fully $4,000, was found
guilty of murder in the second degree
-at Newfane Saturday morning and
sentenced by Judge Seneca Haselton
to life imprisonment in the state s
prison in Windsor. Unmoved through
out the entire trial by any of the dam
aging evidence which was offered by
the counsel for the state, Fairbanks
maintained his stolid demeanor to the
very last, showing only the slightest
appearance of relief when he learned
that his life was not to pay the pen
atty for the crime with which he was
accused. The jury took the case un-
der consideration shortly before 4
o clock last Friday afternoon at the
close of a day taken up by Attorney
General Fits with his closing argu'
ment for the state and Judge Hasel-
ton S charge. At S.l3 Saturday morn
ing the II men reappeared in the
court room and solemnly announced
their finding. Before the noon recess
Judge Haselton pronounced the sen
fence and Fairbanks was taken back
to the county Jail where he remained
until taken to Windsor. The trial was
the longest ever held in Windham
county court. According to Charles
S. Chase. court stenographer, the tes'
timony alone amounts to more than
100000 words.
The crime for which Fairbanks has
been sentenced was committed on the
night of May 25, last. His victim had
had a varied career. She was mar
ried when 10 years old to Henry CLARK
of Grafton, go years her senior, from
whom she soon sought and obtained q
divorce. Her second marriage 70
Fred Grout was unhappy, and foi
more than year previous to hei
death they had lived apart. Mrs
Grout had lived much of her time IL
Saxtons River, supporting herself py
housework and general cleaning, She
was very pretty woman.
Fairbanks, on the night of the
crime. called at Mrs. Grout's home
and asked her to go to keene, N. ii
| She refused, whereupon he drew a re
volver and fred twice, shooting hel
through the heart. She fell across
the doorstep and died instantly Far
banks then shot himself over the
heart He was at once put under ar
rest. Jealousy was attributed as al
incentive to the crime.
Judge Haselton made his charge t'
the Jury Friday afternoon and 1t was
generally said to be fair and just II
ANYTHING. however, it inclined toward
verdict in the second degree. h'
spoke briefly as to the degrees o.
murder and explained what constitut
ed manslaughter. More in particular
he said that if mere accusations pro
yoked the shooting and the evidence
showed that names were called ina
would not be sufficient in itself U
find a verdict of murder in the trs
degree. Regarding Myra Tuttle's tes
timony, he said that it was uncorroo
Grated and should only be considered
in the light of all the attending CIR
cumstances. 1t could not be supposed
he continued, that the white shoe
and stockings were bought for th'
purpose of having them placed on tn
dead girl if the respondent had Il
mind suicide. Carrying the revolve
was circumstance but 1t was not
violation of the law to have a plsto
in one g possession. Judge Haseltol
further said that Fairbanks 8 comics
sions were not enough in themselve
70 warrant a conviction in the mrs
degree. The case went to the jury a
3.53 clock and an agreement wa
reached at 1890. The verdict wa
rendered at s.13 Saturday morning
Amos Gallup had been elected fore
man of the jury and when asked p
Judge Haselton what agreement Tn
inrv had arrived at, he said: "GulI
tv - A silence ensued in which every
BODY was at fever pitch of excitemen
for Mr.. Gallup paused for some tim
before he continued to give the re
mainder of the finding OF the jury
, | Even Judge Ilaooiooh !.
plexed but the words "of murder l
: the second degree" came as a relie
TO all concerned. 1t is said that th
iurv were of widely differing opinion
when the voting began. In fact, II
understood from one of their numbe
that he little supposed when they n'
: gan to express their views as to I'll
fate of Fairbanks that an agreeme1
would be reached in the time 1t wa
accomplished. From what can .
learned the jury voted IL times, te
; first ballot resulting unanimously,
Fairbanks's s guilt The remaining ba
! lots cast were for the degree.
At the request of Judge E. W. Gll
: son. counsel for Fairbanks, the Jul
was polled, each man affirming n
concurrence in the verdict. VINE
= asked if he had anything to say b
! fore sentence was imposed Falroani
l. raised his hand and said: NO, 81
only that l am not guilty. The 7
S snondent remained unmoved when u
sentence of life Imprisonment at hal
: labor was imposed, but it was evldei
/. to those who had watched NJ
throughout the trial that he was 7
lieyed and quite content at the :
=; cision of the jury. Shortly after
I was taken back to the Jail he was Sc,
X otnf