The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-07-03

pHILLIrS'S EIiNI.T.l1IOE .EEF0EE TIE
COFNTT COURT.
New witnesses for the Prosecution,
THE EXAMINATION RESUMED TO-DAY.

The excitement existing in the public
mind concerning the mysterious murder on
Drinkers farm las not yet abated, and
the interest still taken in the case was
cxcmplifed by the crowd which filed the
county court -honse on yesterday morning
long before the hour appointed for the trial
Of James Jetcr Phillips before the county
court of Hcnrico. Quite number
Of ladies' occupied seats within the
bar, and others were standing in va
rious parts of the courtroom. Tie
same faces Of witnesses and spectators
seen at the previous examination were
visible, and the seats allotted to members
Of the bar were Ill occupied. Much bet
ter order was observed than during the
examination before the, committing ma
gistrate, and 2 timeiy order from the
court directing that the enclosure in front
Of the bench be cleared Of all persons cx-
ccpt witnesses, reporters, and officers of
the court, secured much better ventilation,
although the heat was still almost intoic-
rable.
George D. Peasants, Esq, presiding
Justice, and Mcssrs. J. 7. Childrey,
Thomas i. Peasants, ". IT. Ycatman, and
DR.. John +. Friend, associates, took their
seats upon the bench at about halfpast II
o'clock, and a few moments afterward the
prisoner was brought into court.
Phillips was cleanly shaven, neatly at
tired, and presented rather prepossessng
appearance. His face retained its natural
color, and he convcrscd with bis counsel
in frank, easy way, smiling with COM
plcte self-pOsscsSion.
The witnesses for the defence-ten in
numbcr-were called at about y o'clock,
sufficient number of the witnesses for
the prosecution beirg in attendance to JUS
tify the Commonwealth Attorney in pro-
cccding with the examination.
Only four witnesses for the defence an
swering to their names, Colonel johnson,
in behalf of the prisoner, urged that the
examination should not commence. He no.
ticed that some of lis most important wit
nesscs were not in attendance.
The witnesses present were again called,
and by the clerk recognized to appear this
morning.
Colonel Young moved that, as the sub
pmna had been returned "cXecutcd," !"
rules be served upon all the absent wit
ncsses.
The court accor dinghy directed that
rules lie served upon all who were absent,
returnable this morning, to show cause
why they should not he fined and attached
for failure to appear.
The Commemorative witnesses were
then recognized to appear at Ii o'clock this
morning, and rules ordered to be served
on the absentccS.
The following names Of new witnesses
! were called: William y. Smith, j. T..
Wright, George Drinkcr, Randolph Plea
SAINTS, Miles Duval, William G. Moncurc,
J. NJ. Riddle, James Franklin, Doctors
Davis, BeaIc, and Tcrrel, and Robert Big
ger (colorcd).
Mrs. James Reeves, Tucker Davis, Mrs.
Crawford, Mrs. George Turner, the sons of
Mrs. John Barr, Frank Finley, and J. W.
Connor were also ordered to be summoned
to testify as the C0mmonwcalthS wit
ncSseS.
The court then adjourned until IL
O'Clock this morning, at which time the cX-
animation will be resumed.
4 few moments after the adjournment,
Mr.. Jude, whose tardincsS caused the post
poncmcnt, came into court and was rcco%
niZcd.
We learn that Messrs. Spalding and
Thomas, associate counsel for the prisoner
have withdrawn from the contest. Rumor
assigns as the reason disagreement
about the management OF the case.
From the appearance OF the courtroom,
the number Of new witnesses, and re-
marks dropped by counsel on either side,
we are led to expect lengthy cXamina-
tion. The Commonwealth certainly seems
well fortified in its positions, and the prl-
soncr counsel are prepared to fight over
every inch Of ground.