The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-07-21

JETER PuILLIrs PREPARING FOR DEATH
IRE EXECUTION To-MORRow.-A reporter
for this paper visited Jctcr Phillips ut the
county iall on yesterday. He is confined in
The second story of what is known Us the
new" or granite" Jail, in cell whose
dimensions are sixteen by eighteen feet.
The apartment is cool, well lighted, and
abundantv ventilated. The prisoner was
s.atcd on chair by the side of his bed. On
the latter lay the hymm-book Of the Baptist
Church, and the Holy Bible, opened ut the
third, fourth, aud fifth chapters Of Romans.
ON u stool within reach were several rcll-
yiuus books and tracts and Il daily paper.
Hi, outer apparel consisted OF u spotlcss
white shirt and linen trousers, his ncatncSs
in this respect Contrasting most f;tvOrably
with the sloycny appearance OF some OF the
utfer white prisoners. He looked rather
pale but this evidently was only caused by
confinement. Otherwise he appeared III
every particular to better advantage than
on the day OF his arrest, or at any time du-
ring his trial or Imprisonment. Anxiety
and confinement have neither impaired his
health nor robbed him of certain manly
beauty which it cannot be denied that lie
possesses. His face expressed nothing of
what was passing in his mind, though there
WAS a seriousness in his countenance by no
means common to him before his destiny
seemed scaled.
The visitor felt as his eye met those of the
prisoner that he had given up all hope and
made up his mind to die. No words were
exchanged except simple "Good morn
ing Before the reporter entered the cell
he had sent word to Phillips that any state
mcnt in his defence or otherwise he might
wish to lay before the public would be
printed in the Dispatch, but that there was
no disposition on the part Of the reporter
or the officers to effort even word from
him. His reply was that he had refused to
talk to other newspaper men, and that it
would not do to make an exception in this
case. Then, after moments silence, he
added that he "didn't care what they said
about him, any way" .s..
Phillips is now lightly ironed, but his
arms arc unencumbcred, and he is free to
move about the room Us far as chain seven
tcct longw allow. Ordinarily, the prisoner
is ironcd as soon as the sentence of death is
passed. In this case, therefore, the sheriff
has been unnsua.. .-ionient. IT. was thought
best to do so at last in view of probable at
t"npts at escape or suicide. Phillips COM
pained bitterly of it, regarding it us an I'M
necessary indignity. He has asked that the
Irons he removed on the morning of the cX-
sTution in order that lie may properly pre-
pare himself for the scatlold. This request
will doubtless be granted, but care will bc
taken that he is properly guarded.
During the past week the prisoner has
been almost constantly occupied with eNer-
ci>es Of religious nature. lie has been
visited by Rev. DR.. ROsSer, of the Mctlio-
dist Church, and by Rev. Drs. Jeter, Dick
lnson, aud Taylor, of the Baptist Church.
DrS. deter and Dickinson have visited him
often during his Imprisonment, and he
seems to regard them more especially Us his
spiritual advisers. There was report last
evening that he had placed II full confession
IN the hands Of these gentlemen, but it
could not be traced to IN authentic source.
His counsel maintain that he has ac-
knowlcdScd nothing more than was con-
tanned iii his original statement to them,
which embraced no admission Of guilt.
The Sallows and rope are prepared, and
4 carpenter has been engaged toadjust them
this morning. The apparatus is that used
for the execution Of Albert Tyler, the ne
gro murderer, about year ago. 1t will be-
put up in the small paved yard of
the old Jail, and OF course very few
persons will be present. Tickets have been
issued to clcrSymcn, the prisoners counsel,
and the reporters Of the press. 1t is pro-
pcr that they should be sparingly distri-
hutrd for more reasons than one.
The sentence prescribes that the cXecu-
ton shall take place some time between the
hours of 10 A. Nj. and i. NJ. The pri-
soncr will probably be placed on the seat
fold at about II O'Clock noon. There seems
now to he no hope whatever of Executive
interference, an application made to the
Governor yesterday by his father and
others not having had the desired result.