The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-07-23

Iproper to respite you from time TO time.
Your last respite, granted by his Excellen-
4 eys Gilbert 9. Walker. Governor CT tins
i Commonwealth, dated June 30th, 1870, eX-
pires this day md he having notified me
that he would interfere no further, it be-
comes my painful duty to carry out the
sentence of the court. il you have any
statement to make to friends, clergy, or the
public, ample time will be given you. If
not, / shall at once proceed to perform the
duty imposed upon me, and God grant that
/ you are fully prepared to meet that awful
4 doom that awaits you."
b. THE CONFESSION OF GUILT.
1 The sheriff then retired to another part
| of the scaiIold, and Rev. DR.. Dickinson came
forward. He said: " have been request
ed by the criminal to read the following
statement, to which his name is attached.
1t is as follows"
"I, james Jcter Phillips, condemned to
be hanged on the charge OF numbering my
wife, and expecting soon to appear in the
make The following, confession and state
ment
"I acknowledge that I nm guilty Of the
crime for which | am condemned, and de-
serve the punishment which the law de-
nounces against me. l need not detail the
circumstances Of my crime. They arc
mainly rs they were presented in the tcsti-
mony Oh my trial. lived unhappily with
my wife. ] scarcely know when formed
the purpose Of getting rid of her. While on
my last visit to her mother. l reyolved tho
1 "Aftcr / brought her to Richmond my
purpose was settled. l borrowed pistol,
and on Sunday evening took her from the
clearinghouse and wo walked to tho place
where her body was found, and murdered
! her. ] confess the greatness Of my guilt,
and do not understand how ! should have
been led to commit such 6 dreadful decd
have confessed it with sorrow before God,
anil hope that He has forgiven me through
the merits of Jesus Christ. Acknowledging
my sin before the world. l hopo that all
will forgive me now. die in peace with
NIL men, but with deep sense Of my guilt
and unworthincss.
81 wish to say distinctly before God and
all persons present that nm alone In my
guilt. No one suggested my crime to me,
! knew my purpose, or gave mo the slightest
countenanrc IN my deed, either before or
after the act. All the rumprs that l was en-
gagged to be married or was in love arc en-
tircly false. had no motive for the COM
mission of my crime but to escape from
connection which seemed to destroy my
prospects for happiness in life.
al bid you all farewell, hoping that we
may meet again where sin and sorrow are
: unknown. Let others be warned by my
example and fate.
"And now yield my body to the dust,
In hope of q joyful resurrection, and |
commend my soul to the God who gave it,
and TO the Lord Jesus Christ, who think
redeemed it 10y his precious blood, and
fitted it through grace for his eternal king
dom. m,..- ..
[Signcdl "JAMEs JErEn PHILLIPS"
| After reading the above statement, DR..
Dickinson also read tho following post
script, which he said had been placed in
his hands by the criminal within the last
half hour, and which WAS III his own hand
writing:
| GAS to the Judge and Commonwealth's
attorney have no mkind feelings, nor
have towards any other human being; as
to the officers OF the law they have been
very kind to me, especially the jailor and
p! guards; rs for the Governor he acted right.
| justly deserve all | have suffered.
[eignedl "JAMEs JETER PHILLIPS"
As the last words OF the first confession
were uttered Phillips gave a groan, the first
sound tliaL escaped his lips while OH the
sc;llold. AS s0nll as the reverend gentle
man concluded Phillips sat down.
RELIGIOUS ExtssRIENcE OF TIE PRISONER. 3.
The sheriff then introduced Rev. DR..
deter, who said; 81 wish merely to say
that Mr.. Dickinson and myself have attend
ed this criminal Is his religious Instructors
/ ever since shortly after his conviction, md
that he has never denied to us his guilt. All
oIr conversations with him were based upon
tho sllppOsition that he was guilty of the
crime with which he was charged and all
that he has said to us ll:ls been in harmony
i with that supposition. He always seemed
deSirolls to receive religious instruction.
md heard with attention when we unfold
ed tho plan of salvation. His reading
was confined to the Bible, tracts, reii.
gious books. and possibly the city news
papers. Very early he profeSsed peni-
tcnco, and his words were serious and
sober, rs became apenitent man, IIe often
wcpt and eyinced real emotion. After i
tance and peace in the Lord Jesus Christ.
| He then announced his purpose to make q
full confession of guilt, and has since given
every evidence of sincerity which the cir
cumstances would permit. His words were
those of serious, anxious, and penitent
man, and learn from the jailors that no-
thing that he has said or done affords any
reason to doubt his penitence."
Ollie now dies" continued the clergy
man, Gin the ayowed hope Of everlasting
happiness. 1t is not for lis to judge. We
are, all of us, miserable sinners, and il any
nrc saved twill ben miracle of Grace. But
whatever our crimes, the blood of Gods
son atonesfo oil Sin. 1t only remains for
US now to appeal to God in behalf Of the
4 poor prisoner" - .''-''''
1 itEsH #fie .ft PRAYER.
DR.. Jcter then offered most impressive
prayer to the Throne Of Grace in behalf of
the accused and of his relatives and friends,
and implored the Almighty to sanetliy this
affliction to their spiritual good. At this
allusion the prisoner burst into flood Of
tears, and Mr.. Walsh removing one Of the
handouts, he buried his face in his hands,
and for some time his emotion was strongly
marked. Again, when the prayer was over,
glancing up, he caught sight Of the rope,
and momentary shudder passed through
his frame. Soon, however, he resumed his
wontcd calmncss. s.. 10
| KIND WORDS FOR ALI.
The prayer over, DR.. Dickinson again
camc forward, and said the prisoner had
requested him to say that i1asmuch rs DIR.
Knox had beon a witness against him on
the trial, he desired 1t to be distinctly under
stood that he bore no ill-wiH against that
gentleman, and that he had died with good
will for all mankind. DR.. Knox, who was
OH the scaffold, was much affected by this
statement, and approaching the prisoner,
the latter threw his arms about him, and
both burst into tears.
- THE PARTING SCENE
between tho doomed man and tho clergy
men was equally affecting, and many eyes