The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-07-23

JUL sEo, lolUs
hcnpcd down from the seafToltl, and Sheriff
Smith was still conVersing with the pri-
sOncr. +,s .E
THE DROP. .ss,.,
Breathless silence reigned In the small
enclosure. There stood the doomed man
OH the brink of eternity, rs unnerved as
ever, and to all appearance tho least moved
man present. Sheriff Smith, after claspi ne
his hands for the last time, stepped to the
west side of the seafiold and waved his
handkerchief. In moment afterwards his
painful duty was virtually ended. Attwen-
ty-one minutes past / MIR. Walsh drew the
bolt, and the drop fell and struck heavily
against sand-bag placed on the side OF the
scatfold with that hOrrid noise peculiar to
the gallows, and James Jeter Phillips was
hanging in mid-air. For five or ten
seconds his body swayed to and fro, and
there was no perceptible movement.
Soon he commenced the most violent
contortions. His legs were drawn up sud-
denly and were kicking through. the mir,
and his arms were drawn up In u most yio-
lent manner. His right arm drew his left
almost clean around his body; his right
seemed in the attempt to get into his
u,
his back. These commissions lasted for
about three minutes, when they partially
ceased. The muscular contortions con-
tinued for about eight minutes, after which
no movement was disccrned, and the pre-
sumption was TINT Jetcr Phillips was no
more. He had eXpiated his crime, and
passed through the agOnies OF death, just
over the spot where the cold, llnrecognized
body of the murdered wife had lain for
identification.
TAKING THE BODY DOWN.
At two o'clock the body was taken down
and examined by Drs. Knox and Walker
(surgeon of tho penitcntiary). 1t was as
ccrtaincd that life was extinct, and that the
condemned had died from strangulation,
and that there was no dislocation of the
neck. The knot had slipped around and
rested against all anglo of tho left jaw,
throwing the head back. He had fall of
about five feet ten inches. Some OF the
friends of the deceased asked to sec his face.
The face was exposed for moment. The
ropo had cut pretty deep into the neck, and
where the knot had rested there was deep
fndcntation. The face was covered with
purple splotches. The eyes were wide
open and considerably bloOdshot, and the
corntenance bore evidences of great agony,
though his sutlerings had been compara-
lively brief Some one near remarked
" That face bears more expression in death
than ever have seen i'll it in life, under the
mosttrying circumstances"
Shortly afterwards handsome, silver
mounted mahoghany coffin, obtained by tho
father of the deceased, was brought IN the
yard. The remains were enclosed, the lid
screwed down, and the form of the con-
demNed was forever shut out from human
view. Tho coffin was placed in the old Jail,
from whence il will be probably removed
this morning by the father of the deceased
to Surry county.
HIGHLY INTERESTING STATEMENTS.
To gentleman who has seen him several
times during his imprisonment, Phillips
made some interesting statements not con-
tanned in the confession read on the scaifOld,
as it was thought unnecessary to burden
that document with details. HG said he
started from Essex with vague purpose of
Kidding himself of his wife, but had not
tormcdany idea Of how or where tho deed
of death was to be committed until he reach
cd Richmond. He Ind told her that he
"was going q little way below town to get
work." On their walk to the scene OF death,
she noticed his confusion and absence OF
mind, and remarked, a.,;... j.:
"JETER, YOU MUST DE CRAZY;
you act so queer this evening" He
treated this remark carelcssly, and evaded
her questions rs to what was the matter
with him; but the horror Of tho contena.
plated deed almost unnamed him. When
they came to Drinkers woods and turned
off by path into tho bushes, he had worked
himself almost into u frenzy, and i'll sheer
desperation turned and fired on his helpless
wife. She was only stunned by the shot,
and cried out in terror,
"LET ME SPEAK OF, DO LET NE SPEAK -
IIcedless OF her eXciamations of pain and
surprise, the brutal husband thought only
Of forever ridding himself of the poor cre:!-
turc, and continued the unequal strife until
death put m end to her agOnies. lie, had
no recollection of beating her with stick,
or of choking her, but supposed that of
course he did 80; nor could he account for
the fact that her clothing bore no appear
ance of the violence of the struggle, As.
soon as he thought his victim dead, he hllr-
rleri hack TO Richmond. and slept that night
NJ the st. Charles Hotel. s,ss. 80 ~ II,
Phillips also said that he had ever since
been as much t
as'. AMAZED AT HIMSELF > "."@
as other people were, and said he had ac-
tually become entirely oblivious Of many of
the circumstances of the crime, He was
particularly astonished at his failure to
throw the body into one of the old deserted
wells in that vicinity, where it might for
ever have eluded identification, if not dis
cOVery; and ne was equally at loss to ac-
count for his singular conduct in lingering
about the spot where the bloody deed was
committed, which resulted in his wife's
body being brought to the very house fMr.
Turner'sl in which he was lodging, eleven
days afterwards. ri - - 7"',, = =
HIS LAST INTERVIEW WITH THE. CLERGY. !
We have already briefly referred to the
visit Of Drs. Dickinson and Jeter to tho pri-
soner in his cell on yesterday morning.
When they went in he was eXcftedly walk
ing to and fro. and seemed glad to see them.
He asked them to interrogate him as they
might think proper US to his spiritual condi-
tion in order that he might know whether
''his hopes were not built on g sandy foun-
dation," and to "g0 over again, and for
the last time, the Gospel plan Of salvation" ;"
The ministers asked him great many
questions, and the answers all went to
show, as far rs they were able to judge,
that he was fully prepared to meet the
dreadful end fast approaching. ii
After talking some time, he asked them
to pray with him, and read "a portion OF
Scripture. DR.. Jeter asked what portion he
desired to hear. Phillips replied, /" Any
where you choose" The Book opened, ias
| it happened, at the fifteenth chapter Of ST..
Luke, commencing with the words, e Then
drew near the publcans and sinners fort
hear him." and containing the parallels of
the Lost Sheep, Pieces Of Silver, and Pro-
dgal Son. He seemed interested in the