Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-02-18
Published daily, for the Town. and thrice week not
the Country. on Fairfax street, between k'ng ana
Prince Streets nearly opposite the Post ONCE Daily
paper So, Country paper IS per annum. AN advef'
tisements appear in both papers.
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 10, 1882.
Firm, the W. York Journal Of Commerce.
TRIAL FOR A CONSPIRACY
To ertwf Honey from the Rsv Dr.. PhiHpa

"
IS Toertwf Honey from the Rev Dr.. PhiiEpa
GENERAL SEssIoNs-MoNpAY,F February 6.
Before his Honor the Recorder, Aldermen Pal
mer and Woodruff.
The case Of The People against Andrew Az
new, Margaret Agnew, Jane Burnard aud Geo.
Graham having been called by the District
Attorney, a Jury was sworn and the indictment
sead The indictment charges the defendants
switK wickedly deyising, and intending to inJure
the Rev. William Phillips, and to obtain and ac-
suire 10 themselves, from the said Phillips. d.
yer, sums of money on the 18th DAY OF Decem-
Der last; and that they did verbally threaten to
accuse the said Phillips Of an assault upon the
said Margaret Agnew with an intent to commit
rape with view thereb' to extort money aud
property from the said William w. Phillips. -
The indictment further charges that the above
named individuals did among themselves con-
spir-, combine, and agree malciously to charge
and accuse the said Phillips Of having commit
ted an assault upon the said Margaret Agnew
with an intent to commit rape.
In calling the jury. question was asked OF
one if he belonged TO any religious denomination.
The Recorder remarked that he doubted whether
any Iaquiry could be made into the peculiar re-
iigon of any man. The counsel Tor the defend
ants said that they should object to any juror
who was member of Presbyterian Church -
The gentleman called stated that he was an Epis-
copaian, and he was therefore sworn.
The District Attorney opened the case for the
people and invited the serious and dlspassionate
attention Of the jury to the testimony that would
be offered. lie would not anticipate the testi.
mony, but would briefly state that Marg't Agnew
had lived as domestic in the family OF the com.
plainant. After she withdrew from his service,
She fabricated, as the indictment alleged, a story
that he had committed an outrage upon her per-
son. Fortunately for him, although his Judgment
had been temporarily dcthroned. he took counsel
of his friends, ant in pursuance Of their advice,
he made his affidavit that the charge was total
ly false.
Margaret Asnew then proceeded to the Police
off, and made her afidavit that rape had been
committed upon her by the complainant. Both
afidivits were submitted to the consideration OF
the Grand Jury, who dismissed the complaint
against DR.. Phillips, and found bill against the
defendants for conspiracy to extort moneY from
him The character of the case made it one Of
vial Importance to DR.. Phillips: if the charge
preferred against him were true, he had degraded
the ministry disgraced the religion he professed,
and committed wi'ful and corrupt perjury to
screen himseIf from the odum of the crime
II The defendants were guilty and had made the
accusation without cause. and for the wicked and
malicious purpose Of compelling Dr. Phillips to
a compliance with their demands for money. they
merited the severest punishment, and had no
claims on Court and Jury fol- mercy.
The Rev. William w. Phillips being called
and sworn, testified as foliows:-l am clergy
man and have resided in this city since 1875
Margaret Aguew lived as domestic in nv fami-
ly for a period Of seven months. She left my
employ in July, 1881, between the 10th and the
lltn. Mary Graham, her sister, continued in
m, empl y tall the 28th Of November, On the
evening Of The 2sth Of November, we had given
her notice to look out for another place, when
George Grah.m aud Alfred Barnard came to my
house and told my servant they wished to speak
with me. On my meeting them. George Gra-
ham said he had come to take away his sister, and
that they were dissatisfied with my conduct to-
wards her. When ne spoke of dissatisfaction,
supposed he referred 10 my sending her away,
and made an observation to that effect, to which
be replied that IT was not that, but that Mar
garet Agnew had made complaint that previous
10 her leaving my service, ! had made an attempt
on her virtue. He explained b, saying that on
certain morning when had returned from the
country, and while nv servant boy was absent,
4 entered her bed-chaner, awakened her, and
made such proposition that she jumped up and
ran down stairs. That followed her soon after,
and telling her it was a rash attempt. begged her
never to jiyulge it, 10 which she answered that
she would never swear for aay man. was as
tonshed and indignant. and asked If Margaret
said that, observing that she must be crazy, and
that Dr.. Taylor had mentioned that she seemed
10 be deranged. / then rccollected what did &C.
cur on that morning, & related the circumstances,
viz. that when my family went into the country
we left the house in the charge Of Margaret with
instructions TO sleep at hume. because We we're
apprehensive that improper liberties would pass
belweea her and the servant bow. On my return
from the country found her in the house and
learned that she had slept there, and to my en-.
euiry she said that there was no bed for her at
hume, as they had company. tdd Graham
and Burnard that On the following morning when
/ went TO nv study. which is in the garnet, saw
the door of the chiidren's room open and Mar
care, sleeping in their bed. called to her. and
after asking Why she slept in that room. reproved
her for sleeping with the door open 50 near the
sa~vapr INV Sop replp. that J,rOb sas ,.uf a