Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-07-26

county Jail yard in the city OF Richmond, after
confinement of three years, one month and
eight days, during which time he has had twelve
respites. The following is resume of the case
On the last of February, 1867, the body of an
unknown murdered white woman was discover
ed on the farm of a Mr.. Drinker, in Henrico
county. Repeated unsuccessful efforts were
made by the authorities to discover the per-
petrators of the deed and to find out who the
victim was.
q ARREST OF PHILLIPS.
Time passed on until the 18th of June. the
detectives in the meantime being actively at
work, when James Jeter Phillips was arrested
for having murdered his wife-that wife being
the unknown woman found murdered on Drin-
ker's farm. Two preliminary examinations
were held, and the circumstantial evidence a.
gainst the accused being such an overwhelming
nature, he was sent on for final trial.
TRIALS AND CONVICTION a
On the Both of October, 1867, he was arraign-
ed before Judge Christian in the Circuit court
OF Henrico, and after nineteen days, the jury,
being unable to agree, we're discharged and the
case continued On the 18th of June, 1868, he
was again tried before the same judge, at a
! special term of the court, and on the eighteenth
day of the trial the jury rendered verdict of
guilty. He was at once sentenced to be hung,
but, by various expedients resorted to by his
counsel, the last act of this tragedy has been
| STAYED off until now.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXECUTION.
l. For two days past carpenters have been en-
gagged In erecting the scaffold upon which Phil
lips is to expiate his crime. The scaffold is of
plain pine, the platform being about twelve feet
from the ground and about feet square, with a
trap-door in the centre four feet square. There
are two uprights, one on either side, cross
beam extending from one to the other, in the
| middle of which is the hook to which the fatal
rope is to be attached. All this work has been
done in the yard of the old county Jail, i'm
mediately adjoining the new granite building
in which Phillips is confined and the sound of
every stroke of the hammer is borne TO his ears,
constantly reminding him of his fast-approach-
| Ing end.
THE DOOMED.
| Phillips, since the last hope of Executive in
reference has failed, has been ironed and chain-
ed to the floor of his cell by a short chain from
his ankle, which gives him enough room to
move about his cell, and at the same time acts
as preventive against any attempt at escape.
The apparently stolid Indifference which he has
| heretofore exhibited has gradually given way in
| the last two days, and On Thursday, he appear
ed to be somewhat excited. He has of late re-
ceived frequent visits from several ministers,
and it is believed their prayers and exhortations
have had good effect. He was visited on
| Thursday by the Rev. DR.. Woodward of the
Methodist church, Judge Crump, DR.. Knox,
| the prison surgeon, and twice by his father
| The parting between father and. son at their
last interview is said to have been most affect
| ing, both being very much overcome by their
emotions-each shedding tears freely This is
| the first time that he has been known to exhibit
any emotion since his arrest-not even at a
| meeting with his mother, some weeks since,
| did he show the least feeling. He is now ap-
parently reconciled to his fate, and expresses
| himself prepared to die.
HIS CONFESSION.
| He was attended by the Rev. Drs Jeter and
Dickinson, of the Baptist Church, and to them
he made the following confession, which was
| read by DR. Dickinson:
Il, James Jeter Phillips, condemned to be
| hanged on the charge of numbering my wife,
| and expecting soon to appear in the presence of
| my Creator and Judge, do make the following
| confession and statement: | acknowledge that
L am guilty OF the crime for which | am con-
| demned, and deserve the punishment which
| the law pronounces against me- | need not
detail the circumstances of my crime they are
| mainly as they were presented in the testimony
.on my trial. [ lived unhappily with my wife,
as is known. [ formed the purpose of getting
rid OF her while on my last visit to her mother,
| when revolved the subject In my mind. After
| brought her to Richmond my purpose was
settled. | borrowed pistol, and on Sunday
| evening took her from the boarding house, and
we walked to the place where murdered her
| confess the greatness of my guilt; and do not
| understand how could have been led to COM
| NIT such dreadful deed. have confessed it
| with sorrow before God, and hope that he has
forgiven me through the mercies of Jesus Christ.
Acknowledging my sin before the world,
| hope that all will forgive me. Now die in
peace with ALL but with deep sense of my
| guilt and unworthIness | wish to say deliber-
ately before my God and all these persons pre-
| sent that am alone in my guilt. No one sug-
| gested my crime to me no one knew my pur-
| poses or gave me the slightest countenance in
| my deed, either before or after its committal =
| The rumors that | was engaged to be married
| or was in love are entirely false. l had no mo-
| tive for the commission Of my crime but to es-
| cape from connection which seemed to destroy
my prospects for happiness in life. | bid fare
| well, hoping that we may meet again where sin
| and sorrow are unknown, Let others be warn
ed by my example and fate; and now I yield
my body to the dust in the hope of joyful re-
| surrectiOn 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 for his eternal kingdom
''(Signed) JAMES JETER PHILLIPS -
| ''P. S. AS 20 the Judge and Commonwealth S
Attorney, have no unkind feeling, nor have
| toward any other human being. AS to the
officers of the law, they have been very kind to
me- especially the jaiIor and guards. AS to the
Governor, he acted right. Justly deserve all
| have suffered
''(Signed) JAMES JETER PHILLIPS -
| Ia taking leave of the attending ministers,
Phillips fell upon their shoulders and wept
bitterly
| An impressive prayer was offered up by Dr.
Jeter few minutes before the execution
Washington College.
| Our friend, j D. Brooks, ESQ, of this place