The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-06-26
FOCAL MATTERS.
THEPHILLIPs MURDER TRIAL.
, SEVEN TIL DAY.
ABSTRACT OF TESTIMONY.

ABSTRACI UE TESIlMONI'
The court was opened at half-past 9
o'clock. :,
The examination in chief of Miss Virgil
MIA Waddell was resumed. Mrs. Phillips
did not attend church on the Sunday she
stayed at the Virginia House. -.
Nothing new was elected on the cross
examination except description OF the
Virginia House and its location. 7Trg
Peggy Scott, the next witness, was en-
ployed at the Virginia House in February,
1867, and remembered the visit of the pri-
soner, whom she had previously known.
He came with lady, who said he was her
husband, calling him " Jeter." Witness
gave a detailed account Of the prisoners
department and steps taken about getting
his baggage from the depot. He took din
ner with his wife at about 2 o'clock on Sun
day afternoon, and afterwards sat down by
the fire and read q newspaper together.
Witness didn't see Phillips again, but saw
his wife late in the evening, between and
o'clock, when she remarked that Jeter
hadn't come yet" Soon after saw that her
hat and wrapping had disappeared from
the parlor table where they had been lying,
and she was not seen again at the boarding
house. They had NO baggage with them,
but said man was coming with it. Mrs.
Phillips appeared uneasy about it, and said,
"Jeter, you had better go and see about
it." On Saturday evening heard her re-
mark to her husband, while they were sit
ting on the sofa, that she reckoned it would
clear off 30 that they could 60 out to his
brothers.. He said maybe itimight.
Judge Crump wanted to know whether
the witness had on her former examination
said anything about that conversation.
Peggy thought she had. Anyhow it was
30, for she was laying the table-cloth when
the conversation occurred.
L. G. Gardner, who was next called,
boarded at the Virginia House when Mr..
and Mrs. Phillips were there, and remem-
bered them distinctly. On Sunday after
noon they were sitting together on the sofa,
her arm around his waist, when, using
some term of endearment, she asked him
to let her read too. He showed some impa-
thence at her caresses. - ..-
Major H. M. Patton Was also boarder
at the Virginia House. The prisoner came
there with lady said to be his wife on
the 18th of February, 1867. Saw them
once or twice at the Virginia House, and
late Sunday afternoon saw them walking
together down Capitol street, opposite the
Powhatan Hotel. Never saw them after
wards. The sun was not down when they
passed the Powhatan.
Miss A. E. Frayser Remembered seeing
the accused at the house of Mrs. Winfree,
on Mayo street, on Sunday the 18th Of
February, 1867, at about o'clock. This
was on her way to church. Knew the pre-
else date because she joined the church
that day. Went home from church before
sunset, stopping on the way at Mrs. Win
frees, and found that Mr.. Phillips had
gone When she got home heard that he
had passed the house between Twenty
first and Twenty-second, on Franklin,) in
company with o plainly -dressed lady an
swering to the description of Mrs. Phillips.
When introduced to him in April asked him
who it was that he had walked down Frank
lin street with on that Sunday evening.
He replied that he hadn't walked on Frank
lin street with anybody, but might have
walked on Broad street with Miss Turner.
Mrs. John 7. Wright In February, '61,
resided on Franklin street, between TWEEN
ty-frst and Twentysecond, next door to
Mr.. Frayser's. Saw the accused pass on
the evening of that day in company with u
plainly dressed lady, wearing dark calico,
hat, &c. Her plain attire was subject Of
remark between witness and Mrs. Frayser.
This occurred before sunset. Neyt saw the
accused in the Mcy following at the Syca-
more chur~,'::. with some ladies.
-l1lrs. John w. Frayser knew the accused
by sight when child. Saw him pass her
house on Sunday afternoon in February,
1867, with a lady, to whom her attention
was attracted by the fact that the style of
her dress was entirely different from that
of city lady on Sunday evening. She
seemed to be person of delicate health.
No doubt about the identity of the gentle
man with the prisoner. They passed at 4
or S o'clock. Witness then took walk, and
when she returned Miss Frayser had re-
turned from church.
Mr.. Randolph R. Peasants was mem
Der of the coroner's jury, and removed from
the body of the woman found on Drinkers
farm breastpin with bunch of grapes on
it, having O needle in the place of the pin.
There were several drops of lead where it
had been mended. He lost the pin in
Richmond.
This witness also described the position
of the body when he saw it, and the ap-
pearance Of the ground thereabouts. There
was no evidence of scuffie.
Mr.. James A. Templeman testified that
the accused met him on the street in Rich
mond on the 10th Of February, 1867, in the
morning at about II o'clock. He said he
had just come from Fredericksburg, where
he had been, since Christmas, employed in O
store. He asked whether pistol that wit
ness had had been disposed of, and said he
thought he could sell it for five dollars, or
more, to some one who came down with him
on the train. He took the pistol, and re-
turned it on the 25th, saying that he couldn't
sell it. Didn't see him when he returned it..
Thought he saw him more than once be-
tween the 18th and 25th Of February, but
not positive. The pistol was afterwards
stolen. 1t was loaded when the prisoner
got it, and had been loaded about year.
Didn't know whether it was loaded when
returned. Had known the prisoner well,
but didn't have any idea that he was mar
ried man. Demeaned himself as single
man.
At this point there was long discussion
between counsel relative to the admissible
ity of questions about the demeanor of the
accused towards ladies. d.
The Court ruled that any general ques-
tions on the subject were allowable, and
that the Commonwealth had the right to
prove that the prisoner had made proposals
of marriage to any particular person.
Witness resumed, stating that the &C
cused, while living with him in 1866, had
told him that he engaged himself to be
married to O young lady living in the neigh