Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1870-07-28
IENANOAII HERALD AND VALLEY AIoVI1I1,IsHIa
JErER PHILLIPS HANGED .

JErER PHILLIPS HANGED
The crimo for which Jetcr Phillips was
condemned to death, by q sentence which
at last no acknowledged to be just, is
known throughout Virginia as the Dsin-
ker's Farm murder, and althoughthe pitia
bic tragedy occurred more than tlrecy ears
ago, the details arc too fresh in the public
mind to neccssitate thire rehearsal in this
place.
a DEAD WOMAN IN THE wooDs.
On the 2Slh OF February, 1867, Mr..
George T. Drnkcr, of llc,.rico county,
walking through tho woods on his farm,
found tho dead body Of a woman lying al
most Immediately in tho path. There
was bullet wound in the right side Of
head, tie impress of fingers WAS upon her
throat, one of her shoulders was dsloca-
ted. and on her neck. face, and other.
parts of her body were ether marks Of vi
oence. Sho lay face downward, and un-
der one of her breasts there was seen
what appeared to be a pool Of blood and
water. She appeared to have been not
more than twenty years OF age, was blue
eyed, of fair complexion, and was clad in
garments of domestic manufacture
There was the print of a mal's foot near
the head of tho corpse, and tracks # a
four wheeled vehicle were observed on
the disusc,i road leading to tho spot
Mr.. Drinker failed to- recognize the
corpse, and had heard Of no one missing in
his noighborhood Under the circum-
S. anccs he did what was best. io at once
and preparations were made to give the
poor woman burial
A faithful magistrate and skilful de-
tcctivc had taken the case in hand, and
the result was that after nearly three
months the people of Richmond and
Henrico were startled Ivy tho arnouuce-
mcnt that one james Jcter Phillips had
been arrested az tho murderer, ard that
the battered corpse in Drinkers woods
was tho wife whom he had sworn to love,
protect, and cherish 1t WAS indeed Il
startling announcement. for until the mo-
men: that tho hand of Detective Knox was
placed upon the culpris's shoulder the
nearest and dearest friends of Jetcr Phil
lips believed him single man.
WHO he MAS
The accused WAS surely tho last man TO
be charged with such az offence. lie
came of q most respectable family, and
was loved younger son. His character
had hitherto been without even SANDER
Gus blemisIi. and on many battlc-fiells.
and through years Of suifcrings. in the
ranks of tho Thirteenth Virginia infantry j,
he had won the title Of good and gallant
soldier. His very face rcpcllcd the charge
Even the stern officer Of the law found it
hard to bclivo as he gazed into blush
ing, boyish face and heard from unfalter-
ing lips the words, ''Iou shock mel
never had wife" But already there
was an array of circumstantial evidence
hard to reconcile with this bold assoTcra-
ton.
THE CONFESSION OF GUILT.
The sheriff then retired TO another part
Of the scaifjold, and Rev. Dr. Dickinson
came forward He sail II have been
requested by the criminal to read the
following statement, to which his ifamo is
attached
"EIcH5ioND. Jaly %. 1870.
Il, James Jeter Phillips, conIemucl to
be hanged on the charge ofmnr,lering my
wife, and expecting soon to appear III the
presence Of my Creator and Judge, do
make the following confession and state
mcnt
81 acknowledge TINT mn guilty Of the
crime for which an condemned. and de-
serve the punishment: which Tho law de-
nounccs against me need not detail
tho circumstances Of my crime. They
arc mainly as they were presented in the
testimony on my trial. lived rnhapriIy
with my wife. | scarcely know whom |
formed the purpose of getting rid Of her.
While on my last visit t. her mother, ]
rcvolvcd the subject in my mind.
cater brought her to Richmond my
purpose was settled | borrowed pistol,
and on Sunday evening took her from
the boarding. house and we walked 10 the
place where her body vas found, and
murdered her. confess the greatness of
my guilt, aud | do not understand how /
should have been led to commit such u
dreadful deed. have confessed it With
sorrow before God, and hope that He has
forgiven ne through The merits of Jesus
Christ. Acknowledging my sin before
the world, | hope that all will
forgive me now. | die in peace with all
men, tut with deep sense Of my guilt
and unworthincss
Il wish to say distinctly before God
and all persons present that am alone iii
my guilt. No ono suggested my crimo
to me. knew my purpose, or gave me tho
slightest countenanco in my deed, either
before or after the act All the rumors
that was engaged to be married or was
in love are entirely false. | had no
motive for tho commission Of my crime
but to escape from connection which
seemed to destroy my prospects for hap
piness in life.
Il bid you all farewell, hoping that
VIC may meet again whcro sin and sorrow
ere unknown. Let others be warned by
ny example and fate.
"And now I yield my body to tho dust,
in hope of joyful resurrection, and
commend my soul to the God who gave it
and to the Lord Jesus Christ, who |
think redeemed it by his precious blood
and fitted it through grace f0r his eternal
kingdom
Signcd] JAMES JrrER PnLAps.' -
After reading the above statement, DR..
Dickinson also read the following post
script, which he said had been placed in
hands by tho criminal within the last
half hour, and which vas in his own hand