Beaufort Republican

The Acquittal of Laura Fair,

A San Francisco paper gives us some of the incidents connected with the second trial of Laura Fair for murder in that city. It says that the jury assembled amidst almost breathless silence in the court room. As the last name was called, the Clerk announced that all the jurors were present. Another dead silence fell upon the court room. Every eye was upon the Judge. For a moment he sat with his head resting on his hand, and then turning to the Clerk, he nodded and said something in an inaudible tone. The Clerk nodded to Judge Curtis, who at once arose and lifted the nervous and terror-stricken prisoner to her feet, and placing his arm close around her waist, held her with her face to the jury. Judge Quint also stood up and held one of Mrs. Fair's hands. Both counsel on the other side also got up and faced the jury box. The spectators bent forward in breathless anxiety to catch every word that should now be uttered. Then the Clerk spoke:

"Gentlemen of the jury, have you agreed upon a verdict?"

Mr. Byington, the foreman of the jury, arose and passed to the Judge a folded slip of paper. The Judge, without looking at it, passed it over his desk to the Clerk below. The Clerk slowly opened the paper, and for several seconds kept his eyes and brains busy with the words. During this little scene Mrs. Fair rested her eyes on the floor. She seemed to have lost all physical power, and fairly hung like a child in Judge Curtis's arms. The Clerk then read from the paper amid the most breathless stillness, these words:

We, the jurors in the case of the People, of the State of California against Laura D. Fair, indicted for the murder of Alexander P. Crittenden, do find the defendant not—

Before the word "guilty" could be uttered a low, thrilling moan was heard which went through every heart in the court room, and in another instant two thin, white, chalk-like wrists were clasped around Judge Curtis's neck, and a wealth of golden hair lay streaming on his breast. The little black figure lay in the arms of the strong man as senseless as a corpse. The next instant all was confusion. The ladies rushed up to Mrs. Fair and tendered their assistance. But the piping notes of the big bailiff soon restored order. Judge Curtis carried his lifeless burden to a settee and laid her gently down. Water was called for, and in a moment she had returned to consciousness, but could not seem to comprehend the turn affairs had taken. Judge Curtis, who was now completely unmanned, started with his charge toward the door, but was called back by Judge Reardon.

Judge Reardon—Judge Curtis, let the defendant remain till the verdict is recorded.

Judge Curtis, who had reached the gate of the bar with his client, seated her on the long, continued bench next the railing. She seemed too weak to sustain herself, even in a sitting position, and lay down again nearly at full length, her attorney still by her.

The Clerk—Gentlemen of the jury listen to your verdict as it stands recorded. You find the defendant at the bar not guilty? So say you all? Each and all of you answer as your names are called.

The regular formula was gone through with each man answering "not guilty" as his name was called.

After the ceremony of recording the verdict was finished, the Judge formally discharged the jury, thanking them for their patience and cheerful acquiescence in all the requirements, and then, turning to Sheriff Adams, he said: Mr. Sheriff, Mrs. Laura D. Fair, by a verdict of the jury, is no longer a prisoner. She is, therefore, discharged from your custody." The Sheriff bowed, and then saluted Mrs. Fair, who smiled in a sickly way. In a moment the Court was adjourned, and there a crowd soon gathered around the freed woman. Jurors crowded around her, and several of them, as they took Mrs. Fair's hand, cried like children. From all sides came warm congratulations, from lawyers and others to Mr. Curtis and Judge Quint upon their success.