Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1870-07-29

know when formed my last purpose |
of getting rid of her. While ON my |
last visit to her mother, | revoled the |
subject In my mind.
"After brought her to Richmond /
my purpose was settled. | borrowed |
n pistol, and on Sunday evening took |
her from the clearinghouse and we
walked to the place where her body |
was found, and murdered her. / con-
fcss tho greatness of my guilt, and |
do not understand how should have
been led TO commit such dreadful |
deed. l have confessed it with sorrow
before God and hope that He has for
given me through the merits of Jesus
Christ. Acknowledging my sin be-
fore the world, hope that all will for
give me now. l die in peace with all
men, but with dcepsense of my guilt
and unworthiness.
:" wish to say distinctly before God,
all persons present that am alone i'm
my guilt. No one suggested my crime
to me, knew my purpose, or gave me
the slightest countenancc in my deed,
either before or after the act. All the
rumors that was engaged to be mar
ried or was in love are entirely false.
/ had no motive for the commission of
my crime but TO escape from connec-
ton which seemed to destroy my pros
poets for happiness in life.
bid you all farewell, hoping that
we may meet again where sin and sor-
row are unknown. Let Others be
warned by my example and fate.
"And now yield my body to the
dust, i'm hope of n 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 for his eternal kingdom.
[Signed.]
"JAMEs JETER PHILLIPS"
After reading the above statement,
DIR. Dickinson also read the following
postscript, which he said had been
placed in his hands by the criminal
within the last half hour, and which
was in his own handwriting;
AS to the Judge and Common
wcalth's attorney l have no unkind
feelings, nor have | towards any hui
man being as TO the officers of the
law they have beenvery kind to me, es-
peciallv the Tailor and guards; as forthe
Governor he acted right ! justly de-
served all have suffered.
[Signed.l
JAhES JEII1k ltillslIS.
THE DROP.
Breathless silence rcigncd in the small
enclosure. There stood the doomed
man on the brink of eternity, as UNI
nerved as ever, and TO all appearance
the least moved man present. Sheriff
smith, after clasping his hands for the
last time, stepped 10 the west side of
the scafi0Id and waved his handkcr-
chief. In a moment afterwards his
| painful duty was virtually ended. At
twenty-one minutes past hIr. Wal h
| drew the bolt, and the drop fell and
struck heavily against Il sand-bag plC-
| ccd on the side If the scailold with
| that horrid noise peculiar to the gal
| lows, and James Jctcr Phillips was
hanging in mid-air. For five or ten
soc0uds his body SWAY to and fro,
and there was 10 icitcptl5!e move
meat. Soon lac commenced the most
violent cOntortions. His legs were
drawn up suddenly and were kicking
| through the air, and>his arms were
| drawn up in most violent manner.
| His right ann drew his left almost
| clean around his body; his right SEEM
ed in the attempt to get into his pock-
| ct, and his elbows rested high up III
| his back. These commissions lasted
for about three minutes, when they
| partially ceased. Tho muscular CON
tortions continued for about eight min
utcs, after which no movement was
discerned, and the presumption was
that Jctor Phillips was no more. He
| had cXpiated his crime, AID passed
through the agonies of death, just over
the spot where the cold, unrecOgniZed
body of the murdered wife had lain
for identification.
TAKING TIE BODY DOWN.
At two o'clock the body was taken
down and examined by Drs. Knox and
Walker (surgeon of the pcnitentiary).
1t was ascertained that life was extinct,
aud that the condemned had died from
strangulation, and that there was nc
dislocation of tie neck. The knot had
slipped around and rested against al
angle OF the left jaw, throwing the
head back. He had a fall of about five
feet ten inches. Some of the friends OF
the deceased asked to see his face. The
face was exposed for moment. The
rope had cut pretty deep in the neck
and where the knot had rested there
was deep indentatlon. Tho face
was covered with purple splotches
The eyes were wide open and consid
erably bloodshot, and the countenanc.
bore evidence of great agony, though
his sufierings had been comparatively
brief. Some one near remarked: "Tha
face bears more expression in dealt
than ever / have seen il in life, undel
the most trying circumstances"
Shortly afterwards n handsome, sill
yer mounted mahogany coffin, obtain
cd by the father of the deceased, wa
brought into the yard. The remains
were enclosed, the lid screwed down
, ard the form of the CONDEMNED was for
ever shut out from human view. TIT
coffin was placed in the old jail, from
J this morning by the father of the de
! ceased TO Surry county.-RichmoHt
: | DisDUfcH