The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-06-20
TIE HENRICO MURDER. |
DEVELOPMENTS OF WITNESSES.
TESTIMONY Of JOSEPH DRINKER, DIR. "
+. FARRAR, b. =. PITTS, AND MISS
R0SANA PITTS
Remarkable Letter from the Prisoner.

trial had arrived. A few moments after
10 o'clock Miss Roxana Pitts and Mr.. B.
+. Pitts, accompanied by two lady friends
Of this city, entered the courtroom, and
were ushered to seats Immediately in front
of the justices bench. Miss Pitts was at
tired in deep mourning, and was thickly
yelled. The grief produced by the intel
ligence of the violent death Of beloved
sister had evidently left its traces upon her
countenance. The brother was calm, Sc
rious, and spoke bnt few words to any one,
even when addressed.
The usual buzz, inquiries, and an
swers passed from lip to lip, and efforts to
reach forward for sight of the accused
heralded the advent Of the prisoner into
the courtroom. He took the same seat
which he had occupied on the previous
day, but there was certain restless express
sion Of countenance and quick glance of
the eye which betokcned an ill-spcnt night.
Whether innocent or guilty, a man accused
Of murder can hardly be expected to have
the most pleasant dreams on the night be-
fore his examination.
Joseph Drinker was the first witness
sworn. He said
and about half way between the houses of
Mr.. George Turner and Mr.. George D..
Peasants. On the last day Of February,
as was going home to dinner, found ly-
ing in the woods about ten yards from a
wood road leading from the main road the
body of a woman, who, from the appear
ance of the corpse, | thought had been
murdered. There was no appearance Of
Colonel Johnson here interrupted the
witness, obiecting to the introduction of
this testimony until the connection Of the
prisoner with the murdered woman had
been proved. He insisted that the ac-
cused had from the very beginning been
wrongfully treated, and he must urge fair
play. He discovered by the morning pa
pers that all act Of gross injustice, without
warrant or show of honor, had been
perpetrated upon the prisoner-a pri-
soner as helpless as il bound by iron
chains. A constable, an officer of this court,
had entered the prisoners cell, and had
confronted him with the chief witnesses
for the Commonwealth, cruelty taunting
him with the murder of their sister. And
this conversation, even in its minutest de-
tails, had been given to the representa-
tives Of the press, and by them published
to the world. This was, he insisted, con-
trary to all principles of law and honor.
Shall turnkey assume the duty OF cate
chiSing prisoner! Is that the duty of a
turnkey? The officers Of the law have
persecuted this man with undue zeal.
Yesterday, when it was desired to con-
tinue the examination, the Commonwealth
urged that the witnesses were tired and
worn out from travel; but one hour after,
the constable brings these witnesses to the
county Jail, and places them face to face
with the prisoner. They accuse him OF
murder: if he says Yes" they report
that he confesses if "No," they will call
him a liar; fhe says nothing, they construo
it as an evidence Of guilt. Let the
learned attorney for the Commonwealth
remember that man is placed in jail, not
only to secure him until the day of trial.
but equally to protect him from vindictive
persecution. He cannot defend such pro-
ceeding. 1t is a shame, a blushing shame,
to our Commonwealth and to your Honor
/ appeal to direct that no such proceeding
shall be repeated.
Colonel Young remarked that he was
perfectly indifferent as to the order OF the
examination of witnesses since Slc same
facts were proved in either case. In re-
gard to the visit of the witnesses to the
prisoner, he only knew Of it through the
newspapers, but was not prepared to say
that it was worthy of ceHsure. III was
hardly iustifable, however, in giving 1t to
the press. He did not believe that the
prisoner had been bantered or tainted.
This would, indeed, have been wrong. lie
would not object to the proposed lnstruc-
ton.
The Court gave the officers instructions
according to the suggestion of the prlso-
ner's counsel, and directed the eXamina-
ton to proceed.
Joseph Drinkers evidence resumed
The body lay about 100 yards from the
road leading to Richmond. There were
bruises about the face, nose, and eyes, ana
holes, apparently from pistol balls, On the
side and back of the head, and contuSionS
ON various parts of the body. There was
no appearance of a severe struggle; IN
deed, / thought there had been none until
I noticed that her closed fists held grass
and dirt. The impression OF boot hcel
was found near the head of the corpse.
One hand was under the head and the
other was extended. A handkerchief,
with a knot tied in it, seemed to have
fallen from the head, and lay between 1t
and the arm. There was no blood on the
handkerchief, but it was pierced by two
holes. and there were some grains of pow
der in it. Upon the spot where the breast
of the woman had rested there was little
nool of what / at first thought was water,
IL, fnnpI IN ha blood
7 have known Phillips for some time
he has lived with Mr.. Turner for more than
a wear. He was absent for some time,
but returned about last Christmas. lie
was in the neighborhood at the time inc
body was found but was not at home on
that particular day.
! saw him on my way from town on the
sth of Apri! as he was laying out corn
rows. When he stopped to talk with me,
he was excited to an unusual degree. i
talked with him for about ten minutes, ana
then rode toward him, wondering at the
time what had caused his excitement:
Our conversation was about the land ana
farming matters. ! did tell him that |
had been to town as a witness. He did
all the talking, and in a very foolish way
that is. he seemed, as / said, excited. |
did not know that Phillips was married,
but had heard -. interrupted BY
counsel for the prisoner l had never
seen Mrs. Phillips.
Cross-examined by Colonel johnson :
The woman appeared to be about twenty OF
twenty -one years of age, but at hrst
thought she was younger.
Questioned by the Court She had on
blue calico dress and dark gray sacque
with a large breastpin, and wore stra"