The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-07-02
THEpHILLIPS MURDER TRIAL.
TWELFTH DAY.
Testimony for the Defence Continued.


The. court met at 8 A. NJ. and resumed
the examination of Josiah Pruett. He said
his wife was an aunt of the prisoner, and
that he had known him all his life. Ac-
cused was at his house on the 18th Of Feb
ruary, 1867. He knew this was the date
because he had threshed his oats on the
10th. Accused left on the 10th, saying he
was about to visit his grandmother, who
lived in the vicinity.
Miles Duval was then called, and testi-
fed to having assisted Mr.. Pruett in thresh-
ing his oats, and had made memorandum
of the fact in a notebook, showing that the
threshing was done on the 10th. Is not
related to the accused.
Mr.. Jacob Ford was next examined, and
testified that he had conveyed the accused
in his wood-wagon from the Old FAIR
Grounds to his home, nine miles from Rich
mond, On the 18th of February, 1867.
W. F. Turnkey: Was living near Mr.:
,Pruett's in February of last year. HAD
threshed oats on the 10th of February with
Mr.. Duval and Mr.. Pruett.
]. E. B. Jude was the next witness.
Lives some thirteen miles west OF Rich
the 18th of February, 1867, going towards
his grandmother's, and saw him there ABOUT
the middle of the day when he returned.
He knew it was on that day because OF q
memorandum in his notebook showing
business transaction which brought 1t to ms
mind. Never heard he was married. Is
an uncle of the prisoner.
Jesse Barr was called, and testified to
having had business transaction with Mr..
Jude in reference to hog in the early part
Of February, 1867. This is the circum-
stance alluded to by Mr.. Jude as enabling
him to fix the date of seeing tho prisoner.l
Mr.. Jude was recalled, and testified to
having met several of his neighbors on the
road while he and the accused were coming
toward Richmond on the 22d Of February.
Luther Duval was the next witness. lie
lives twelve or thirteen miles from the city.
Was introduced by Mr.. Jude to the accused
in 1867. Met them on their way to Rich
mond in the early part Of the year, when
the introduction took place.
Thomas Gordon lives nine or ten miles
west of Richmond. Was introduced to &C
cused in the first quarter of 1867 by Mr..
Jude. Thought it was in February. They
were on their way to Richmond, and wit
ness was at work near the road. The &C
cused was riding; Mr.. Jude walking. :.
Fleming Ford lives eight or nine miles
from the city, and saw accused and Mr..
Jude about the time specified by the pre-
ceding witnesses. They dined with wit
ness in February or March, and went OFF
together. Accused went towards Rich
mond. Mr.. Jude said he was going home.
S. B. Alley saw the prisoner about Il A.
NJ. one day in the last of February or the
| first of March, 1867. He said he was on
his way to Mr.. Jude's.
Charles Phillips, an uncle of the &C
cused, testified that he had been with him
at witnesses house on the 22d of February,
| 1867. Was enabled to state this from the
fact that the father Of the accused was there
on the day previous, and accused expressed
regret that he had been too late by day to
see him.
Mr.. George Turner said that the accused
had STAYED at his house on Sunday night
the oath of February, Monday night the
25th and also on the following Wednesday
and Thursday nights. Accused came to
town, at his request, in a buggy, for Miss
Turner, on Monday, but returned without
her that evening. Did not notice anything
unusual III his dcmcanor.
Z. J. McWhirt was called, and testified
/ that he saw the accused at Mr.. Temple
mans store on Saturday the 23d February,
| and afterwards, on one occasion, ut the
post -oifice. He had also seen him previous
| to the 23d, and during that week, but coulu
not say when or where. Accused stayed
| all night al the store on Saturday, and went
away on Sunday morning.
Mr.. Jude was recalled, and testified that
when he met the accused on the 18th Of
February he was Oh his way to his post
office.
William w. Phillips was the next wit
ness. He is not related to the accused.
Accused stayed at his house for two or three
nights in the last of February or the first of
March. One of the nights was the goth of
February. Cannot remember the other
nights.
The court then took recess.
The court met alta p. NJ. Miss Virginia
Ragland was the next witness. She knew
the prisoner, and saw him at q rehearsal
for q tableau given at Mr.. Prlddy's
on the 26th of February, 1867. Accused
participated in the dancing, to the best OF
her belief. Had known the accused for
about year previously, and he had visited
occasionally at her fathers house. His
manner was that of a single man, and wit
ness believed that he was. He had never
courted her or seemed to eyince any par
tiality for her. His manner was always
that Of gentleman. Accused was at her
fathers on the day Of the rehearsal, and
went to Mr.. Priddy's in company with Dick
Phillips.
Robert Priddy knew the accused. He
had been at his house on the occasion Of
tableau given on March lst, 1867. Saw
nothing strange in his demeanor on that
occasion. - ~
NJ. L. Phillips, brother of the accused,
testified that his brother had come to visit
his fathers family, in Surry county,
on the 4th of March, 1867. He had walked
from the 9Claremont landing, where he
left the boat, to his fathers house. There
was trunk and valise which arrived for
the accused two or three days afterwards.
They had been left at the store Of Mr..
Sledge, at Cabin Point, about three miles
from his fathers residence. Accused re-
NAMED there about four weeks. None of
the family were aware of the marriage of
the accused.
The court then adjourned until 8 A. NJ.
to-day. ~
THE BoAkD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CHAM
Der OF COMMERCE held meeting yesterday
afternoon at 5 o'clock, and adopted the fol-
lowing resolutions
Resolued, That the proposed convention
= ,f,-nt Ipy,