2020-07 2 sessions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/24/2020
This interesting collection features materials describing the first woman convicted of first-degree murder in California. Mrs. Laura D. Fair. Fair (who already had four husbands) was tried for the murder of noted lawyer Alex P. Crittenden in April 1871. He was allegedly shot while on the San Francisco Ferry by Mrs. Fair because he would not divorce his wife. She was sentenced to Death by Hanging, although a second trial later resulted in acquittal in October 1872. This lot features: Carte De Visite, sepia-toned, printed by Shew's Photography, San Francisco, CA, 4" x 2.5" and is pasted onto a larger page, with newspaper account of Laura Fair, measuring to 8" x 6.5" being doublesided. This CDV has a tiny copyright notice by Laura Fair, and has a captioned inscription: "Presented by F.J. Castelthan, of San Francisco, California" below the image.....plus; An Handwritten Eyewitness Account of the Trial. This original document is incorporated into the text of a handwritten letter, clipped and incomplete (no author or date,) 2.5 pages, approximately 8" x 5" written in vivid purple ink on the proper, period lined paper. The account has several noteworthy quotes, including: "I confess to you that I failed to discover any clue to a lascivious woman in her appearance.... She had and has them still her sympathizers. I am sorry to say, they were woman's rights folks, male and female..." Very good condition...plus; The newspaper account of the trial. It has been laid down onto both sides of a 8" x 6.5" larger sheet and is greatly detailed in its story account (no date or maker), and is quite revealing and intriguing in its reporting of this remarkable story. This significant archive is directly related to the story and personalities involved with The First Woman Convicted of First-Degree Murder in California. (3 items)
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