The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-08-03
epigu. e sll sith whom ;he came I
oontaet. G. ~
(. = raI LAST NIGHT or lAarH. s,


the father Of the doomed man PROCEED, !,
I'd to the Executive MANSION and made
. fervant appeal 70 the Goysfnor Tor .
oommutation Of sentence Of the court,
stating that tho disastrous consequence
that had already befsllen the imm edi-
ate members Of bin family would proba.
bly,. bs greatly aggravated hy the exe.
oution OF his son, !, 49,,
The Governor listened with feeling to
tho appeal Of tho distressed parent, but
declined firmly to grant his request
Mr.. Phillips soon afterwards conveyed
to his son the intelligence that tho last
ray Of hope had departed and was sur.
prised to hear from his sons own
lips what he never before believed,
that he - ' :
WAS GUILTY OF NUMBERING HIS WIFE.
The scene was truly distressing; both
were in tears, and the venerable. man
told his son that he had hoped that he
would at least have che consolation of
going to his grave with the belief that
his son was innocent Of crime so foul
aud unnatural. He then bade him
farewell, forever; aud last night Mr..
Woodward, tho minister, was with the
prisoner during the fore part Of tho eve
ming, aud the prisoner engaged freely
in conversation with him. About 10
o'clock the minister shook hands with
the prisoner and left him. He then
lounged about the room till about / or
2 o'clock, when he undressed himself
and went to bed. After lying few
moments he became quite restless, and
cross, and sat upon the side of the bed.
Here he sat awhile and finally got up
and walked. up and down the floor for a
few moments, and then went to bed
and slept soundly until 5 o'clock this
morning.
PREPARING FOR DEATH.
At s O'Clock he awoke, rubbed his
eyes and stared vaoantly about the
room. He arose in q few moments
thereafter, stripped himself to the waist,
washed himself and combsd his hair
He took considerable care in the ar.
rangement ofhis ourls. After this he
took his Bible, opened it, and read
chapter. He showed no signs of
nervousness during this time, but read
with great composure. AT q few minutes
before l O'Clock the prisoner was
brought in the yard by Deputy Sheriff
Walsh, who walked Immediately behind
and supported him. They were f,llowed
Drs. Jeter aud Dickinson. His arms
were pinioned in front of him. He wore
linen coat and black pants aud black
slouoh hat. He walked slowly and
cautiously up the stops, his eyes all the
while resting on the ground in front of
him. He wore sad look, but not
muscle of the face moved.
ON THE soAFFoLD.
Mounting the soaffold he took seat
in q chair Immediately under the beam.
Sheriff Smith then from the scaffold,
and with great feeling, stated that he
had been called upon to perform
solemn duty, one which was the most
painful he had ever had to perform, and,
turning to the prisoner, said: eff you
have anything to say ample time will be.
given you" The Rev. MIR. Dickson
then stepped forward and read the
prisoners
DYING CONFESSION.
"I acknowledge that am guilty of the
crime for which I am condemned, aud de.
servo the punishment which the lawpro
nounces against me. Circumstances of
my crime are mainly as they were pre-
ssnted in the testimony on my trial. l.
lived unhappily with my wife. Isoaroe.
ly know when formed the purpose OF
getting rid of her. While on my last
visit 10 her mother, I revolvod the
subject in my mind. After l brought
her to Richmond, my purpose was
settled. borrowed pistol, and on Sun
day evening took her from the boarding
house and we walked to the place where
her body was found, and murdered her.
confess the greatness of my guilt. and
I do not understand how should have
been led to commit such dreadful deed.
have confessed it with sorrow before
God, and hope that he has forgiven ME
through the merits of Jesus Christ. 40
knowledging my sin before the world, !,
hope that all will forgive me now. l
die 10 peace with all men, but with a
deep sense Of my guilt and unwoithiness
wish to say distinctly, before God and
all persons present, that am alone in
my guilt. Not one suggested my crime
to me, knew my purpose, or gave me the
slightest countcnance in my deed,
either before or after the aot. All the
rumors that / vas engaged to be mar
ried or was in love are entirely false
l had no motive for the commission of
my crime, but to escape from conuec-
tion which seemed to destroy my pros
poets for happiness in life. l bid you
all farewell, hoping that we may meet
again whore sin and sorrow are uu-
known. Let others be warned by my
example and fate. And now yield my
body to the dust, in hope Of joyful
resurrection, aud commend my soul to
God, who gave it, and tho lIcrd Jesus
Christ, who think, redeemed it by
His precious blood, aud fitted it,
through grace, forHis eternal Kingdom.
! (Signed) JAMES JErER Phillips"
| A PRAYER FOR THE CONDEMNED
was then offered up to the Throne oi
Grace by the Rev. DR.. Jeter, after