Lawyer, Murder Victim. A native of Kentucky, Crittenden graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1836. Admitted to the bar a few years later, he moved to California following the Gold Rush in 1849. Soon after his arrival, he was elected to the California State Assembly serving from 1849 until 1850 and again in 1852. After leaving office he moved to San Francisco where he practiced law until 1863, when he went to Virginia City, Nevada following the discovery of silver. While there he met boarding house owner Laura Fair and the two began a seven-year affair. By 1870, Fair had become disillusioned with Crittenden's juggling between her and his wife, and on November 3, 1870, she shot and mortally wounded him in front of his family while on the San Francisco-Oakland ferryboat El Capitan. In what quickly became a highly publicized and sensationalized trial, Fair was found guilty of murder in 1871 and sentenced to death, the first women in California to receive the sentence. A year later, she was granted a re-trial by the California State Supreme Court and was ultimately acquitted of the charges.

Lawyer, Murder Victim. A native of Kentucky, Crittenden graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1836. Admitted to the bar a few years later, he moved to California following the Gold Rush in 1849. Soon after his arrival, he was elected to the California State Assembly serving from 1849 until 1850 and again in 1852. After leaving office he moved to San Francisco where he practiced law until 1863, when he went to Virginia City, Nevada following the discovery of silver. While there he met boarding house owner Laura Fair and the two began a seven-year affair. By 1870, Fair had become disillusioned with Crittenden's juggling between her and his wife, and on November 3, 1870, she shot and mortally wounded him in front of his family while on the San Francisco-Oakland ferryboat El Capitan. In what quickly became a highly publicized and sensationalized trial, Fair was found guilty of murder in 1871 and sentenced to death, the first women in California to receive the sentence. A year later, she was granted a re-trial by the California State Supreme Court and was ultimately acquitted of the charges.

Bio by: G.Photographer