Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-07-23
EVENING STAR.
EXECUTION OF JErER PHILLIPS.
History Of Remarkable Wife Mur.

of James Jeter Phillips for the murder of hi
wife.
This h one OF the most remarkable cases
on record The cTiminal-who confessed his
guilt on the scaHold-was born in Henrico
county. a, OF which county his father Mr. r.
baeney Phiilips) was at one time sheriff. of
good family by birth on both sides, he was well
reared AMI educated, and grew to manhood
without having fallen into the vices which are
too art TO tempt the youth of the period from
tie paths OF virtue. In fact, up to the time OF
Ii> arrest for the dreadful crime for which he
las sufiered death, he was considered almost n
tno9ei Young man IN every respect, insOmuch
iAat those who were most intimate with him
were the lat to believe in the possibility OF his
guilt --
HIS MARRIAGE
During the war young Phillips served in the
tOnieicTate army, and stood high among his
comradeS rs a good soldier. 1t was while sim a
~o'.ier that he was taken sick and found n
refuge IL the kOspitable home OF Mrs Pitts in
Essex county, Va lie found there too, mos
tender nurses IN the daughters OF Mrs Pits
one CI NhoIn, Miss Mar Emily Pitts, was so
asN4CuOus ant klt IN her attentions Is 10 ii Z his
regard. with the natural result n matrimnuia
engagement. Miss Pitts Is REPRESENTED To h;,;a
been ten years his senior, without beauty or
fortune, but 10 one denies that she was mos
amiable and anectonate. Certain il is tina
Phillips, whether from love gratitude, or
whatever motive, as soon As peace fully
restored. appeared IN Essex aud claimed hi
bride. being married by Rev. Dr. BaYnham {
Miss Mary EEIily Pitts on the 18th of July, 1866
DUPLICITY.
Now followed a course OF most extraOrdinary
CuFlclty on his part toward both his own family
aid that of his wife. He represented to his wife
tEat las circumstances were such that he would
have TO leave her with her mother until, by his
own Industry, he could provide a home for her
Re protested that he did not like to present his
wife To his relatives until he could carry her in
good style and in Independent circumstances
His marriage. meanwhile, had been published in
richmond new paper, and was seen by some
OF BIS friends. when this WAS brought to his
attention by them he denied that he was the
man. and on all occasions conducted himself As
Still bachelor. He paid brief visits to Essex
iIeIn TINE to time, but stayed chiefly in Rich
mOnd or III the vicinity of the city. He CORES
pended with his wife with much regularity
until the beginning of is66, when n COMPLAINING
letter from her tell IN the hands OF Mr.. Tur2
ner. uPen whose farm he was engaged as over
seer, and, coming open in that gentleman's
POCKET, was read by hun and others of his fam
ily. among them Miss Indiana Turner for whom
he was SUPPOSED 20 have a more than brotherly
regard (His elder brother had married a SIS
ter OF Miss TurncT.) She returned the letter to
INN VIII her comments. From that moment,
no Doubt, his fell resolve WAS taken. In this
letter MIS- Phillips had threatened to paw him
visf, and complained of his growing neglect.
DIsAPPEARASCE OF THE WIFE.
About Christmas time, 1866, Phillips went to
Essex and remained with the Pitts family until
the l1th OF February, 1851 ON which day he left
taxing his wife with him On Saturday. the
lotb, IN the afternoon, he took lodgings for him
self and a female answering to the description
OF bis wife, at a clearinghouse in the city of
kichInehd, kept by Mrs. Waddell. They were
a
Sunday afternoon (thc very next day) Phillips
and the LADY now known to have been his wife)
LEFT the boarding house, and were last seen to-
Sether tas lar a any evidence tends to show
walking down Franklin street Mrs PhilIips
vas never seen again alive, as far as known
That very afternoon and night Phillips visited
friends and relatives in the city, made no mem
ton Of his wife, and was CAV and laxative
a. ever. Having stayed all Sunday night with a
kihsInan IN K!chmond, he left early Monday
morning on loot and paid round of visits to his
country COUSINS, &c, in the counties OF Hanover
and Henrico. finally returning to Mr. Turner's
about the end of the month.
FINDING THE BODY
On the last day OF February, not far from
Turner'S, a Mr.. Drinker found, in lonely mari
vas a bullet wound, as IRON a small pistol on
the right side of her head, marks of choking
fingers were on her throat, one shoulder was
broken and dislocated. and numerous bruises on
all parts OF her body and limbs showed that she
had been mercilessly kicked and beaten. She
lay on her face, an extended hand grasping
leaves and earth in a death-clutch. She was or
had been, blue-eyed, fair complexioned and
hght-haired. Her dress was Of cheap, plain
stuff, bit was clean and neat.
DIFFICULTY OF IDENTIFICATION.
Nobody, II seemed, could identify the body.
IL was taken that evening to Mr.. Turner's. and
q c corpse was thrust into an clubhouse, while
Phillips TepOsed in one of the best beds inside
the dwelling. He did not look at the body; said
nothing about it. Several persons, when the
body was subsequently, taken to Henrico Court-
house, in Richmond, thought thar they recog-
niZed il to be that OF one Jenny Edwards but
Miss Edwards was found alive and hearty in
Norfolk Afterwards IL was supposed u be the
Oody OF various persons, all OF whom, however,
on due inquiry. turned out to be vet IN the land
Il the living. Finally, all hope of identification
having been given up, the decsying corpse was
buried, leaving hOrrld mystery brooding over
it, nameless grave.
LYING LETTERS AND DECEPTION
Meanwhile gossip and conjecture busy.
II Wa remembered by some that y. Jeter Phil
iPS had been reported a married man, and that
letter had been seen directed to him and
signed by one who claimed to be his wife.
These things taken in connection with Phil
lips strange excitement without any obvious
cause on an occasion when Mr.. Drinkard had
Easing conversation with him, caused that
gentleman to have suspicious which he at length
communicated 10 a justice and constable of the
county. 10 was believed that the letter just re-
Tered 10 came from Caroline county, and to
the sheriff OF that county letter OF inquiry
was addressed, which soon resulted in
IUll discovery OF the facts already related,
and Of Others, all tending 10 show that the
dead body was that Mrs. Phillips, and that
PHILIPS was her murderer. Since his departure
from Essex county with his wife he had adj
dressed series OF lying letters to the Pitts
family, with the evident design OF gradually pre-
pairing them for the ultimate announcement of
Ler death by sickness In one OF these artful
tFistles all Of them being written after the dis
CoyeTy of the dead body at Drinkers farm, he
said at her health Vas not good. In another
le represented that felOn had come on her
niger and was threatening her with lOckiaw,
and in al OF them he falsely asserted that she
Was with him AID that both were living At River
View on james river, where neither, in fact,
lad been a. all.
ARREST AND TRIAL.
Phillips was accordingly arrested. On his eN-
an nation The sister and brother of his wife, a.
eel a. others. testified that certain articles of
c0-ElHg. Sc, taken from the body were those
worn b. Mrs. Phillips on leaving Essex. The
same witnesses testified 10 marks upon Mrs.
Phillips about her teeth, for instance,) which
tailed With similar ones upon the body, accord
ing 70 the testimony OF physicians and Others
VEg Lad examined il. Other circumstances all
tended 20 establish the fact to the satisfaction
q everybody that the murdered corpse found at
That desOlate spot on Drinkers farm, was that
et Mary Emily Phillips. The result was that
fLllhTS was indicted and committed for trial
On the charge Of numbering his wife on Sunday,
IGtTuarv 18th. IsG7. He bad beer STr.st-,i on
t3i.
On bis first trial before the Circuit Court OF
Hehrlco county. the jury disagreed, ten being
~ CONVICTION and two for acquittai. On his
9ECOhl nal he was found guilty, and on the 10th
"a! Oi July, ISIS, (but three days from the third
anniversary Of his ill-starred marriage he was
TShteneed 20 be hanged by Judge Christian.
Aheh Followed an unparalleled series OF appeals,
tos,pone ments and resPites. This case, which
-au begun before a Justice of HenricO county,,