The New York herald., 1870-07-23
THE GALLOWS,
Execution Of James Jeter Phillips
at Richmond, Va.
History and Details OF the Murder, Trial and
0onviction-A Vito Shot and strangled to
Death In tho Woods-Respited Twelve
Times and Hung at Last.

RICHMOND, July % 1870.
Justice, stern Justice has at last overtaken James
Jeter Phillips, the murderer OF the wife he had
sworn to love- honor and protect. Twelve times he
had been In the very shadow Of death, from which
he was rescued by resptes; twice he heard the car
penters at work the scafold that was being pre-
pared TO usher him into another world; but today
there was respite, the work was not done IN
vain, and the murderer whose inhuman deed has no
parallel in the annals OF crime suffered the extreme
penalty Of the law In the Jail yard of Henrico
county.
COLD AND BLOODY MURDER.
? In "Drinker's Woods" HenrlcO county, about four
miles east of Kichmond the Ia day of February,
1869, was found the mutilated body OF woman,
young aud fair, her head pierced by bullet, her
throat having the impress OF the bloody fingers that
had cutched It to stife the death shrek Cold ana
stark she lay, her clnched hands graphing the
earth In the death agony, her glazed eyes staring at
inc blue heavens as though mutely appealing for re-
tHDution uDon the murderer. Soon af or the de
covery OF the body the usual coroner's inquest was
held. but, being stranger, no clue could
be obtained To the murdered woman's iden-
tity, and two days afterwards she was
buried on Turner'S farm. in the vicinity OF
the spot where the bloody deed was perperated.
But the popular heart was thrilled with horror, and
cry OF indignation that baroarous "A deed should
be passed over went up from the surrounding coun-
try. so universal and so great was this that nine
days after the burial the decomDosed and acerated
corpse was disnterred, exhibited at the county
Court House and viewed by the entire community
A few persons thought they recognized In the VIC
tim the person OF Jennie Edwards, well known
frail woman; but inquiry proved thai Jennie was
alive, and, without being Identified, the mangled
body was laid by stranger hands to rest
s,,
bafiling all attempts at solution The officers though
with the instinct Of b oodhounds, had no clue to
work upon, and shroud Of impenetrable mystery
settled down upon the deed and upon the murdered
dead. Months mad elapsed, and every effort failed
TO discover even the name or the victim. The
assassin doubtless elcated himself that the secret
of his terrible crime forever buried in his guilty
bosom; but justice was upon his track and, stern
and unrelentng, seized her prey The vei that had
80 long shrouded the horrld mystery was slowly
lftel, and the drdnatis person4 of the tragedy
were ushered on the stage.
FIRST CLUE TO THE MYSTERY.
Early in the following June IT, fling accident
afforded cue which was quietly but enerpeically
followed up. Upon George Turner's farm, where
tho body was first inferred, resided, as man.
ager or Overseer, James Jeter Phillips,
young man related TO the family by the
marriage OF his brother to one OF the Misses Turner
he was an eX-Conrederate soldier Cf respectable
family and good character; well formel, tall,
rather good looking. anl though moderately edu
Gated, was quite lavOrlte among the country dam
sells IN whose society he moved. Following the ex-
ample OF his brother. he paid his addresses to Miss
Turner, VINO was seemingly infatuated by his attrac
tiOns. But ''the OF true love never
does run smooth" BY some extraordinary
into the hands OF one o the Turner's clandes
timely perused the letter pnrporting to be from his
vie in Essex county. SO long and intimate how
ever, had been his acquaintance with the family
and SO well had he kept his secret and played his
part that no importance was attached TO the letter,
which was discredited Not 80 with Miss Turner
She was stung with jealousy, and she quietly re-
solved to probe the afiir. She addressed. over a
nctltIouS signature, letter 10 Philips cOrrespon-
dent In Essex county, and received in reply the fol-
lowing letter con- aiming details minute ana posi-
tive as to leave no doubt that her suitor was
TTLL-TALE LETTER.
ph,1 TD Miss Leah though beeye nun wrng . Miss Cora
Philips he stayed | Is ns
NV maiden name was Mary ,mma Pitts, ba. waa mar.
he Kind sn 'Is and l'.a aeeonats
M DaSnsy Phillips, suTTy sssa ihe%sh II
DC ssr seSru with o this as wish 70 both
e Cora may blessings 60 VITA this to ahee
seS d .t w be 80 no % M for H. am much
brothers az would for my own Jeter said in his letter that
his sister though under assumed name Ny address
M sS ns ssas
@ s, G have seen you and would have written had
write to 'e'er In haste yours truly and friendly
This letter, together with note passionareIy up
braiding him for his h artess deception and deep
vilany, Miss Turner Is sad 70 TO have handed Pnil-
lips, who received 1t with il-conceaed modification.
though he made no rell whatever. Despite the
measures adopted by the Tu ners, who, for family
came known In the nelghb0rhood, and afterwards it
was common gossip With tn s'clue oiiicer William
Knox, skilfu detective set to work dlgently, and
he succeeded in unrayelling The following very
ROMANTIC STORY
Towards the latter part OF the war James Jeter
Philips. then a soldier In the Confederate cavalry
service, being In feeble health Obtained sick fur
Tough and took up his quarters house OF Mrs.
Pltts in Essex county, a widow lady, with several
mariageabe daughters. One OF these, Mary Emily
Pitts took special interest," In the young soldier
whom the tide OF cruel war had drted 10 the door
and during a severe IL ness sed him with untiring
care, smoothed has ievered brow with her gentle
hand ana hung over his pillow ike a mnstering
angel, forestalling h slightest wish. Under such
devoted attenti IN the invalid recovered, and per-
haps mstakng Tor a warmer ceiling the gratitude
he entertained for his iai preserver, he wooed her
ardently. She was intelligent, warm-learted and
Ike most OF girls somewhat romantic. Pity had
rlpened into love- and, responding favoraby 10 ms
suit, they were betr0thed, and shortly the
mnatlon oi the war; married He however, soon tired
OF MS young wlle, and p oceeding to tiis city, OBJ
tanned employment at tuners, as above narrated.
For more than TWO years hips stIenuously con
cealed MS marriage from his relatives, his brief
Vits 10 ms wiie be ng accounted Tor upon the plea
OF urgent business In other portions or the State
His wnc's relatives were greatly incensed at hs con
tinued absence, but he pleaded necessity, and with
loving wOman's devotion, she was ever hls dc.
fender, and beguiied the weary hours by writing
him long letters or poring over his Photograph
ignorant tnat he betraylng her and playing the
gallant to another lady as single man.
THE MURDERER AND HIS VICTIM.
Some months alier the discovery OF his marriage
by Miss Turner Philips visited his VIE In Essex
county about the On istmas OF 1885, and emained
there until the 18th OF February 1867, when, in COM
pany with her. lie LIT Ion his fathers, In Surrey
county, VIA this city, the poor unsuspecting and
conlding woman rejoicing ut the reunion with her
husband and az the prospect OF meeting his rela-
nves, whom, she sad the letter TO Miss Turner
lsuppo5lng she addressing his sister, she "loved
for Jeter's sake.n They arrived III this city the
same day, and stopped at the Virginia House, on
Grace street, remaining until Sunday afternoon.
Before leaving however Phillips visited an acquant.
ance named Templeman, from whom he borrowed
pistol, and though he called upon q large
number OF friends he studlously concealed the
TACT OF his wfe's presence In the city from all OF
them. About four O'Clock tnat evening Phillips
and MS wife left the Virginia House, and walking