The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-11-22
MURDER TRIAL IN VIRGINIA.



Trial Of a Wife Murderer-Mystcry or the
Anatr-Iatense Excitement During the
Trini-tIistory the Murder-The Prisoners
Love Affairs.
RIouxoSp Va, Nov. 90. 1857
Tho city has boon intensely excited during the past
week the trial Of the mysterious wife murder mon.
Toned some time snce In correspondence from
this cty--known tho Drinksr Farm murder, or the
Peter Phillips case. The trial has been going on for
twenty days, and is not yot completed. 1t has been
hold In the Capitol, the Chamber or the
House OF Delegates being used o court
room, In orderd TO accommodate the public. The cham
Der has been crowded each day with eager listening
crowd Of men and women, white and black, whose in
teres Is still undated. No trial tina: has taken
place Virginia has created tenth OF the excitement
which this mysterious affor has throughout the entire
State. The party murdered . young woman OF
good family, in the county Of Essex ste formerly
taught school and q member OF the Baptist church
She was found murdered in tho woods within three
miles II Rich nond the morning OF the 2sth Fsbru-
airy last At first she could be identified and afier
varods efforts trace her identity, she buried aud
Tor three months there remained her walk
ing the earth undiscovered. and could be found
Responsible for tho "deep damnRtion' OF her taking
on; when oy chance suspicion fell upon young man,
overseer tho farm adjoining the Ia whlc the
body was fonud. A clue was obtained. II discov-
Grad that he was married. though knew it. and That
his wife had nyserously disappeared about the time
the murdered body was found. The matter
was investigated, and tho facts asccrtained were
that James Peter Phillips his return from
the after Leo's surrender, sad weary and worn
stopped At the house OF family named Pitts Essex
county This family was happy bu. rustic one, con-
sstng Of q widow tso daughters and a son. Phillips
had been companion In with the brother he
SICK and they took him and administered to his
Tho cdess daughter, Mary Emily hs rnardsrcd wonan
took great interest 10 the young man. who was some
years her Junior She kindly cared for and comored
70 love In july Of that same year they were duly mar
rcd. Phillip soon after LETT her and to live in
this city. here be met with his Old friends and
In their company forgot his country wife. He fell in
love with another young lady OF great attraction, the
daughter Of the farmer who employed him. aud en-.
gagged himself TO her. There but oue obstacle TO
this advantageous uarriaac, the vito In the country
who, having received iukng or her husbands pro.
ceedinys, he'd his fanc6 telling her Of tho re-
laons existing between them. Phillips had all along
concealed hts marriage from every body in tho city.
His wife had threatened TO come 10 town and look after
her recreant lord. She must bs sienced lie paid her
a visit In February and told nor she must tho
city with him she gladly obeyed. He brought her TO
Richmond on the 10th II brnarv and noxt day
she disappeared, being last seen In his company walk
ing on franklin street, and neither heard
In Drinkfr's Woods on tho morning OF tho 2sth Til,
boiy, cIothog aud relics nave all bean fully identified
by the family aud clear Is the proof OF the fact
she was Philips wife that bis counsel lnaliy admitted
the fact, bit denied that he killed her. He that
s msr.o assegsaa him IL tue street On ha me
pa and murdered BY somebody else. Blu, two months
aer the murder no wros 10 or family that they
living together very c0mfor ably n farm ten mites
from the city though he feared his e might take lilo
iockjsw from wntlow her let finger 10 this way
preparing tho FANNY for OF her sud.
den death. The evidence Ia ircly ccumstants, but
Is very strong aud convincing The argument has
occupied three days, and closed this ng The
Jury reued. but II Is thought they will not a,rcc.
Public opinion, hosever, and particularly tho
ladies. have already condemned him Tho feeling
Ia very strong against the prisoner. for who o
defence money has been spared. He belongs q
very r-spec able and vey numerous family who hs
only gympathizcrs, and ihcy The principal wit
tor the defence. The alto npt was made to
tabish an ddi aud tho ingenious connsci the best ia
tho aie every day OF the mysterious ten. from
O'Clock on fatal Sunday up tie lime OF tne finding
or the body. They did mt SOW, however. where no
overy hour, or even every three hours OF that
time. But little else has boon talked about
or thought OF during the past two weeks In the city.
Duriog the three days argument to STATE House
rrwded with white and black people, ADD hundreds
could not COL within sound OF the speakers The
gallery reserved for the ladies. whose feelings
AGAINST tho criminal strong-lbeii no Young
and handsomc, great dies man--that they would
listen 10 the eloquent deieDce made In his behal, but
owacd ia when the attorr Tor the com attn
TO close tho case. Philips father formerly
SHERIFF Of Heinrich county HIS ladyoge aud her rela-
tons stuck closely TO him as broher Altogether Is
n tue most remarkable cases ever lrcd in this
county