The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-07-06

fthc Fourth OF July the County Court oi
Henrico resumed yesterday morning the
consideration of the case of James ,Ieter
Phillips, now on trial for the murder of his
wife. With unabated interest an insatia-
bic crowd was in attendance, and listened
with the same eager interest to the teSti-
mony introd uced, although much of it had
already been heard and published in full
in the journals Of the day.
The prisoner was brought into court at
about halfpast II o'clock, and took his
usual seat by the side Of Colonel John
SON. He was dressed in a summer suit and
carried palm-leaf fan, which he kept
constantly moving in his efforts 10 @ keep
cool.'' No change was noticeable in his
demeanor, but the usual quiet smile of
selr-possession played at times around his
countenarce.
Only few Of the Commonwealth wit
nesSes were promptly in attendance land
the trial was delayed some time by the
tardiucss of Miss.Pitts, whose examina-
ton had been interrupted by the adjourn
ment on Wednesday.
Miss Eoxanna Pitts resumed: ! am fa-
miliar with my sisters trunk, and could
readily recognize it and its contents.
The trunk found in Phillips's chamber
was then brought into court, and being
opened, the following were identified by
witness as belonging to Mrs. Phillips: a
worsted dress, one silk dress, white skirt,
cutis and collars, ribbons. novel, and nu-
mcrous other articles. Several things
were identified by the witnesses rccollcc-
ton of associations connected with them.
The facts elected were all brought out at
the preliminary examination.
Deputy Sheriff Case then brought into
court the clothing taken from the body OF
the murdered woman, which was also idcn-
tiG"d piece by piece as belonging to Mrs.
Phillips. The garments were much spot
ted and stained by contact with the damp
grouud.
The Commonwealth Attorney being
through with the examination Of Miss
Pitts, opportunity was as usual given the
defence for cross-eXamination.
Colonel Johnson explained that, in the
opinion of the prisoners counsel, the
croSs-eXamination Of witness who knew
nothing whatever OF the act charged
against the prisoner was unnecessary, and
they would not therefore dctain the court
by useless consumption OF time.
3. +. Pitts, being sworn, testified as at
The preliminary examination, detailing the
facts concerning his acquaintance with the
accused, and OF Phillips's departure from
Essex With his wife on their way to Rich
mOnd. Three letters, he Said had been
received by the witness after the arrival OF
Phillips in Richmond. The first OF these
was lost, the third was presented at the
preliminary examination. and tn" second,
"ilcn was recently found and forwarded
.roia ESSEX to Justice Wade, was now in
trodUced and read By Mr.. Young. The
letter is dated "fulton'>, Henricc, April
Tth, 1867" 1t contains an account OF
farming operations. fishing items. the
ireshct in James river, political move
mcnts in Richmond, and other unimportant
matters. No allusion is made to Mrs.
Phillips, except in the closing paragraph.
Here he says " l,Is u'e 10Th lceN. We
send love to all, and signs himself "Je-
ter"
The letter of the llth Of May, which has
been heretofore published, was also read
from the Dispatch Of the Goth ultimo.
Colonel Johnson stated that as the evil
dcucc Of Mr. Pitts was, in his opinion, i'm
material, cross examination was deemed
unnecessary. II the prisoner was alraigncd
for telling lalSehoodS, Tor misreprcscnta-
tons, or for dcsecrating the Sabbath by
iestiying. the testimony OF Mr.. Pitts and
the letters which had been read might
have some weight. But they prove nothing
whatever Us to tie alleged murder.
Miss Pitts recalled: MySister wore when
she left home plain gold brcastpin with
no set. The pin had been lost, and re-
placed by needle. There were few
spccks OF lead upon the gold.
r. r. Peasants testified that he was
member Of the coroncr's jury, and had re-
moved, by direction Of the coroner,
brcastpin exactly answering 10 the dcscrlp-
ton given above from the body OF the
woman found on Drinkers farm. He lost
the pin between his house and Richmond
or in the city.
Gross. examined / think the woman
had been dead two or three days. The
body was in a state Of perfect preservation,
but there was 4 biucpcsS around the neck.
There had been no heary rains within
few days before the body was found. |
saw the track Of q light vehicle in the
main road near the spot upon which the
corpse was discovered. There were few
female tracks on the road. These seemed
to have been made after the rain. | am
not sure that the vehicle tracks were
made by the wheels Of buggy.
Mrs, Jeter, being sworn, testified that
a piece OF calico which she exhibited had
been cut from the dress worn by the MUIR
dercd woman. This was found to be Of
the same texture and figure as the
piece OF Mrs. Philips's dress, brought by
her sister from Essex.
Mrs. Waddcll, keeper Of the Virginia
House in Il city, testified IN relation to
the visit of Phillips and his wife to her
house about the middle Of February.
While OF her house they were understood
10 be man and wife. They walked out on
Saturday afternoon, as she said, to see her
aunt, and did not return until late. As
She had told me Of her being subject to
hcmorrhage ofthe lungs, | advised her not
10 20 out in the rain, but she went. On
Sunday morning Mrs. Phillips was sick,
and her breakfast was sent upto her room.
1t was extremely cold weather, and /
asked her to come 10 my chamber. she
STAYED with me until between or ), seem
ing to be expecting her husband. | heard
her exclaim, "There's Jeter now aud
she went out, as thought, to meet him. |
did not see the prisoner again. They went
off without speaking OF the bill. Their
baggage was not brought to my house.
The witness then commenced TO speak
Of her conversation with Mrs. Phillips con-
cerninr their destination. Colonel John
son objected TO the introduction OF this
conversation, as il vas held III the absence
of the prisoner. After q tedious discus
siowof over thirty minutes the court sus-
taincd the defence in their objections.