The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-06-25
THEPHILLIPS MURDER TRIAL.
TIL DAT.

II
At the opening of the Court yesterday
morning Mr.. W. s. johnson, one Of the
jurors, reported himself sick, and in reply
to questions, stated that he didn't think t
possible to stand even weeks confine-
ment.: This caused more than an hours
delays during which time, after consulta-
tion between the Court and counsel, Drs.
Bolton and r. g. Cabell were sent forto ex-
anime IN ~ Mr. johnson as to his; health . The
report Of the tphysicians were satisfactory
to the Court, and the trial proceeded.
W. C. Moncrre Was deputy sheriff OF
the time, and was present at the coroner's
inquest. Described the clothing and the
position in which the body was found also,
some little trinkets which were found in the
pockets ofthe dress, with apart of paper
of pins. The body was removed in o cart
by the soVerseer of the poor, Mr.. Turner,
and placed in. an out-room of his house
There were no bushes to obstruet the SUMS
rays. The clothing was dry. The day be-
fore the. body was found was clear and
warm. so -.,'-' 2 ? -'.'tSt~
John W. Cole: Had, in company with
Detective Knox, disinterred the body, and
conveyed it from Turner's to the county
Jail. The clothing it had on was the same
as that described by the other witnesses,
with the exception Of the dress and sacque,
which had been removed. Had received
some, days, previously from Mr.. Turner
dark gray sacque, purple calico dress, pair
Of gloves, and O. handkerchief, o straw hat
and q pair of gaiter boots. The clothing on
the body when disinterred was taken off
and kept in his possession during the first
and second examination. Placed them then,
by order of the court, in the hands Of the
deputy sheriff. The clothing received from
Mr.. Turner was given to Captain Callahan
of the police by order Of the Mayor Of this
city. The garters were hung up in the
jail-yard, and were lost at the time the.
clothing was being removed. Saw the cloth
ing last some month or more after the trial.
They were then in the basement of the
courthouse in an unlocked trunk. The
woman-cook for the prisoners occupied the
room where the trunk was kept. Saw the
dress and other outside clothing on several
occasions at the police-station; but after
the arrest offPhilhps, when search was
made for them, none could be found but the
hat and gloves. These articles and por-
tion of tho dress Were exhibited and iden-
tilted by witness also trunk belonging to
Phillips.l In this trunk was found under
his clothing one or two ladies' dresses.
These articles were exhibited and fully
identified ~ satE%s j. "a s.
George V. Cases Was jailor of the county
when the body was brought to the Jail.
Had seen the clothing on several occasions
in the jail, but does not know what became
of them. They were by some means mis-
placed and lost. ,ls &
Miles Eggleston! Was the jailor who sue
ceeded Case, and received from him the two
trunks. One of them had been used as
meal-chest and contained no clothing. Near
it was the hat which was exhibited in court.
Saw none of the articles alluded to by Mr..
Cole. The other trunk was never opened
while in his possession.
George Turner :; Had the body brought to
his house about dark on Thursday evening.
Described the clothing, hat, handkerchief,
&c. Buried the body on Saturday evening.
Took off the shoes, bat she was buried in
the dress. to his recollection. Took off the
sacque also, and delivered it, with the shoes,
to constable Cole. The dress was of COM
mon figure, and similar to the piece shown
in court. t
Detective W. F. Knox: Was present at
the time the body was exhumed, and de-
seribed the clothing in which it was dress
ed. Was not with Cole when he received
the articles from Turner. Met him, though,
on his return, prior to the time the body
was disinterred, with the dress and other
articles. There was no dress on the corpse
when taken up. ..,.sy,s, c,s~s "a, -,.-s &
: L. -, ~ &ha Ia-
ceased: Recognised the trunk shown in
court as the property of her sister, Mary
Emily Phillips, the wife Of the prisoner,
who was married to him in July, 1865. He
then left, to be absent ten or fifteen days,
and was absent until February LIST, 1866.
He returned to Richmond and was again
absent until July 18th, corresponding regu-
larly. Left again on August 1st, and was
away until December. He left, taking his
wife with him, on the 18th Of February,
stating that. he was going to his fathers in
Surry county, Received three letters from
him, one of which was destroyed. N.was
addressed to her brother. o2 Search was
made for it, but it could not be found. 1t
was written about three weeks after he LETT
his mother-in-law's house. -
2's The examination of Miss Pitts was tenn
porarily suspended to examine .,scl.
B. F. Pitts, who testified to the reception
of the letter and it's destruction. or loss, 80
that it cannot be procured; supposed the
: letter was destroyed by his sister, who was
not in COURT aasy e.. sr&Sl@a Il @'s- @-%@
Toiany testimony tending to show the
contents Of this letter, objection was made
by the defence unless the party was brought
into court to prove the destruction. d..r !,
y The Court overruled the objection, and
decided that proof Of the contents OF the
letter was admissible, # a,i,,sfa 10 ,saooa
ss 10 this ruling the defence filed a bill OF
exceptions .as"ga!. hss f'S5 taAr'a.;9@ i.;t-a
1.-THE substance of the letter was then
given by Miss Pitts, and correspoaded to
what has been already published twice IN
this paper vzs.s.ss; >, s,.lss.a...z ;yy,a-g
The second letter was also addressed to
her brother; the third to Gall at home.' -
The clothing deceased had on when she left
home was then infinitely described by'wit-
ness, and corresponded with that found
upon the dead body. The prisoner left bis
own trunk, which had q lock and key to it,
and brought away his wife's trunk, which
had no lock or key. tThe articles in this
trunk were then minutely described is
& Mrs. Moore: Saw the body while at the
courthouse, and took a pieceoR. the dress ;
which iBas found to correspond with other
pieces shown. >@itef3 1ELltl
The court then took areeess until S, P. NJ.
The court reassemb lied at $ P. M.
B. F. Pitts, brother Of the deceased, tes-
tilted as to the date Of the marriage between
the accused and his sister. Their thrst