Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-06-27
REMARKABLE MURDER CASE.


The Richmond correspondent of the Balti-
moro Sun, under date OF the 22d, gives the fol-
lowing summary of the late "Drinker Farm"
Murder:
The city is very much excited over one oil the
most remarkable murders which has ever oc-
Cured in Virginia. II will be recollected that
some time in February last the dead body OF
young lady of handsome appearance and neatly
| dressed, was found on Drinkers farm, near
Richmond. There was bullet hole in the head,
the imprint of hand on the throat, and other
evidences of foul play Somewhat more than
week aftcrwardsit was suppoeed to be identi-
| fed as the body Of Jennie Grimes, n girl OF bad
repute. It turned out, however, that Jennie
was still living in Norfolk. In the case Of two
| or three others a similar result followed. All
hope of identifying the body had been given
| up, and public opinion had settled down to the
| conclusion that twas only zone more unfortu-
nate" hurried over the dark river by the hand
of some male companion in guilt. Thus mat
ters stood till lately, when the community was
startled by another direction given to suspicion
by an apparently accidental circumstance, and
which led to the arrest of young man named
James Jeter Philips, on the charge that he had
murdered his wife, Annie Philips. The re-
speciality of the prisoners family, bis father
having been sheriff of Surry County, his I'M
blemished character, and his gallant service as
soldier in the Confederate army, invested
with additional interest this mysterious and
cruel murder.
Philips was living on a farm near the scene
| of the murder, with Mr. Turner. He was
IL -tal md in
fact paying particular attentions to young
lady in the neighborhood. a letter was found
addressed to him from one claiming to be his
wife. This singular circumstance recalled the
ia . that he had showa unusual nervousness at
the time of the discovery of the murder, had
declined to attend the inquest, and had after
wards manifested much anxiety and excitement
in his inquiries about the crime. Mr.. Turner
communicated the facts TO q magistrate, and
the result Of q correspondence which that Off
cial opcned with persons in different portions
Of the State was letter from the sheriff Of Car
oline County, which stated that Philips had
married Miss Anr'e Pitts, Of that County, in
July, 1865. He left bis wife at her home, re-
turning occasionally to see her, and took her
away with him on the 18th of February last,
saving that he was going to bis brother Lewis,
in Surry County. Since that time his wife has
not been seen by her family, nor heard from.
They, however, received three letters from him,
in one of which he represented his wife as very
sick. Upon these Developments Philips was
arrested, and when told that he was charged
with the murder Of his wife, became very much
agitated, aud denied ever having had a wife.
An examination of his trunk discovered num-
Der of articles of female attire, some Of them of
the materials the murdered lady was wearing,
and daguerreotype recognized as that Of the
lady murdered.
On Tuesday evening last the prisoner was
brought up for preliminary examination before
Justice NettleS The County Court room was
crowded He is young man, apparently a.
bout twenty four years of age, Of genteel APP
pearance, about five feet nine inches high, a
handsome countenance, and one which looks
, as if he might be trusted. There is no partic-
u!ar expression about the face except a look Of
great firmness. Miss Roxana Pitts and Mr..
B. +. Pitts, sister and broth9o Of the deceased,
were in court, swore TO the marriage, and fully
, identified the prisoner. In fact, they had an
interview with him in the County jail before
the examination, and taxed him with their sis
ters death. In a1.s~es 70 them, he did not
pretend to say where his wife was refused &c
convict h nsef, and referred them to his coun-
sell Miss Pitts, in her testimony, described
the clothing Of her sister, and identified the va
;, rious articles. She described infinitely, before
I she saw it, wooden petticoat, which wa:
taken from the body of the deceased, and GER
tain mending which she had done to it. The
etticoat was then shown, answering the de-
scripton, the monding being as she had pic
tured it. Crowds are daily attending the OK
animation of this extraordinary case The
pri~ 1ner is ably defended. His counsel hay,
intimatcd that he was trying to keep MS mar.
rage secret because the match was distasteiu
to his family. What their theory of her dis
, appearance is have not heard.