Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-02-03
POSEY ACQUITTED

VII n NV ~ = a 80
After being out three minutes, jury
in the Oirc1it Court of Primes william
county, a. O'Clock yesterday evening
brought In a verdict of not guilty 10 the
csse sga nst Thomas Pcs y, charged with
the murder OF Edward Fair, on October
s, 1908 Tue same jury, without
leaving the jury box, returned verdict
Of not guilty in the case against MIS-
Minnie Posey, indicted as an accessory
to the killing
Edward Fair, who lived 10 Prince
William county until he was 20 years
old, moved to Maryland II years ago,
and there married Miss Keys. In
May, 1908, Fair and his vile moved to
Prince WilIism county, near the old
Fair homestead. A week before the
tragedy, E1asrd Fair and bis wife
qusrreled, the husband accusing his
wife Of being upfaithful. This quarrel
result ed 10 Mrs. Fair leaving home, aud
goicg with her two children, to the
home Of Allan Fair, brother OF Edward
Fair, one Of the men about whom the
husband and wife qusrrsled.
On the afternoon OF October s, Ed.
ward Fair went to the home of bis
brother and endeavored to effect recon-
cilistion with his wife, but she refused
10 return with him. On the night OF
the same day, the enraged husband, 10
ct OF jealous anger, returned to the
home OF Allan Fair armed with shot
gun.
Thoma, Posey ADD his wife, the
latter slater OF the Fair boys, was st
the house at the time, and, fesring
trouble, endeavOred to persuade Edward
Fair to give mp TIE gun. A fight en-
sued, in which Edward Fair shot and
killed his brother Allan, and seriously
wounded Thomas Posey. Posey, al
though wounded, succeeded in getting
Edward Fair down. 10 response to his
call his wife brought an axe, with which
he killed EdEa d Fairafter striking him
in the hesd several times,
The evidence in the case established
the fact that EdSa,d Fair went to the
home of his brother for the purpose of
provoking trouble.
John Fair, brother Of the dead man
and of Mrs. Minnie Posey, who Is
charged with being an accessory, was
the most important witness introduced
By the prosecution. He stated that the
whole trouble grew out of Edward Fairs
jsa 'ousy Of bis brother, Allen Fair; that
his wife Lucy was very much in love
with Allen, and that on the day of the
double tragedy Edward WAS trying t.
make arrangements to take his two
children away aud have them properly
cared Of.
The evidence of the corner, DR.. j. O.
Meredith. supported the theory of the
prosecution that 1t was shot from
gun held by Allen Fair which wounded
Thor as Posey, ins'esd Of the theory OF
the defense that Edward Fair wounded
Posey and killed Allen Fair.
Posey aud bis wife told practically the
same story, each dttliling the mstrimo-
NAL difficulties of the dead man and bis
wife, which foslly eliminated in Mrs
Fair Having him and seeking an asylum
with Allen Fair, the other dead brother.
Mrs. Posey told Of Edward Fairs re-
pea, ed thrta.s on the iatal day toward
his wife, she Begging hin mot to kill
Lucy right il bere before US all. If you
mutt kill her, tske her outside and kill
her"
Mrs. Lacy Fair VS. The central figure
Of the trial. she adm ted that her bus.
band wss very jselous OF her.
Posey IVES able to establish q reputs-
lion for good conduct, and this doubtless
Influenced the jury 10 adopt bis ples Of
self.defense snd bis wiie's version Of the
double tragedy and the causes which led
up to it.
In the absence Of Commonweslih's
Attorney Davis, R. A. Hutchinson, as
sisted by H. 7. Davis, represented the
commonwealth, and Judge U. E. Nlcol,
of Alexandra, the defense.