Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-09-29
Death Of Travers Phillips.

Hips was made in yesterdays Gazette. The fol
lowing particulars of 'he tragic event are take1
from the Staunton Vindicator. The deceased
had many friends in this city. He was th'
broth in.sw CT the Rev. +. Il. Mckin, la't
rector of Christ Church.
Thursday night, about o'clock, the city Wal
startled with the report on the streets thst Cap
tain 8. Trsve1s Phillips one of the most popu
| lar f our young ctiz sns, had been shot ard
| been found lying in tel, desd. His room Was
| in Mozart bail, and on reaching tier our re
| porter found the report to be true. The aparl'
ments consisted Ct chamber, which opened In,
to ballroom. Over the marble wash STANG
| hung photograph Of imperial slze Of lovely
! girl. and on the wall was Il photograph or 9
group of school girls. another group OF Capt
| Phillips male friends, and above them large
picture On table covered with books. lay
his vest with his watch in thu pocket, and on the
bookcase was resting mirror, which he appear
cd to have placed there while dressing. On the
bed lay tha body, lying on the back. he had
ev identity cotton up and dressed. except vest
and coat and lying down again had with sin
gle barrel Derringer pistol been shot throug h
the head, the bali entering about two inches
above the right ear and lodging there What
was moit remarkable WAS that his hands, one
containing the pistol, were crossed quietly over
his breast, his hair was brushed smooth, and
there was not rumple in the smooth white
shirt front He had not moved a muscls since
firing the shot The face looked up 10 the cell
ing With the eye; huff closed. Coroner Harlan
who had been sent for, summoned a jury com
foreman; s. NJ. YOst, DR.. N. Wayt. :. w.
Burke, James n. byers snd Dnvd Fl. STRAINS
burg, and the following evidence was taken.
DR.. Il Nj. Atkinson testified that about 8
quarter of o'clock ho WAS sent for and arriving
found the deceased living on lis back in bed,
4 ;1o,i Hnar 1aoI n
hours. He was laying straight with his heels
together. His hands were crossed on his breast
and a single barreled Dorringor pistol lying un'
der his hands. There was largo hole in his
skull two inches above his right car, from which
had exudsd blood and brains. which wero held
he had not moved since the shot was discharged.
The blood ran from his mouth and cars. The
pillow by tho head and in few inches of the
hole in his hoRd was stained with burnt powder.
Observed that the forefiaGer and thumb OF the
right hand were blackonod As if with burnt pow
der.
j. C. Thorn testified that he and tho deceased
wont down town about 4 O clock Wednesday af.
ternoon, in search of newspaper. They stopped
at hardware store, (McIlhsny's,) whore MIR.
Phillips purch ssed some cartridges for a brooch
loading Derrnger. They then won't over to the
American Hotel for the paper, when Mr.. Phil
lips left him. Detached nothing unusual in Mr..
Phillip msnnor.
Anderson Lewis, colored. testified that he
waited on Mr.. Phillips room, which locked
with night latch. Of which witness also had q
key. Went in at II o'clock yesterday to clean
up, and found deceased still lying on the bel,
saying ho had headache and did not think he
would get up till dinner time. About o'clock
yesterday evening, witness asked Mr.. P's sister,
if the lattor had been to dinner, and being told
no. went over and unlocked the door and went
in, called deceased and getting no answer struck
q match and SAW him dead on tho bod. wal so
frightened that he ran out and pushed the door
and told Rev. Mfr. Phillips who sent him inn
mediately for DR.. Atkinson. Since Mr. Phil
lips return from Richmond, few days ago. he
had not looked him self and would sit about the
room looking stupid. The room of the deceased
was locked when he went there both times.
w. FL. Fowle testified that "Wednesday Alter
noon Capt. Phillips wa3 ct Bumgardner's ware
house and drew out Derrnger, the Same which
caused his doath saying it wanted cleaning, 1t
having boen loaned out for some timo, and cut
ting q hammer out Of wood, cleano1 and oiled It,.
Some one suggested that single barreled pistol
was not much use now, when every body used
revovers, and Capt. p. replied that his carried
a largo ball and no would be sorry for anybody
that got it in them. The conversation turning
on the Harrisonburg execution, some ono re-
marked no mad rather be tho man that had been
hanged than those still under sentence. Capt.
L =
month to live-that nobody feared the more net
of death, but what was to come sfter that and
quoted Hamle9s soliloquy about 'shutfling oil
toe mortal coil" Saw nothing unusual in Mr.;
Phillips manner. Know he had not been we'll
since his return from Richmond.
Coroner Harlan said he had seen Capt. ?. at
the Virginia Hotel wednesday night about III
O. clock, whore the deceased had ust loft his card
for friend from Lewis county, w. We. The
deceased started for homo bidding him good
nigh ,:.,. go
Trayers Phillips camo to his death between !:
O. clock and clock p. m of this, tue II day
of September, 1877, and that his death WAS
causo by pistol shot wound from pistol in
his own hand"
His most intimate friends who know his habits
we'll and his carelc3sness with firearms. think
that after getting up and dressing for dinner he
was lying on tho be examining the newly clean
ed pistol when it exploded and caused his death
8. Travers Phillips was about 20 years of sga,
and was son of the Rev. r. II. Phillips. tic
was young man Of remarkably brilliant mind
and hal already filled tho important post o.
4 man of kindly heart, high courage and tnt
sense of honor and was general favorit will
oil who knew him well. AS soldier he begsr
as one of tho cadets at the battle Of Now Market
He had determind to try his fortune in Cali
fornia and was looking with high hopes to hi
| at Msior Woodwards ticket Office 10 enquire tn
| best route to travel there. Hs was q great favo
| rite in society, and his name was first on the
| list of the guests for the hop ut the Virgins
| Hotel tonight. Ho WAS tue friend and noble
young man, and his sudden and tragic dealt
| carries diatress to all classes Of society.
Local BreVitIes.
The Washington Star says AT Oraog
Court House. Va, when the Presidential trail
was moving off some one p. opposed three cheer
for the President. No. said leader, by tn
way of change let's give MIN the rebel YELL !
was uttered with will, the first time it ha
been heard during the trip, and it Is said
pleased the President much, as it was given wit
entire good faith"
A marriage license was granted il Washing
ton yesterday to Thomas Davis and viii
johnson. of Stsnnardsville, Green county, VI
A letter addressed to w. 4. Atwell, Ale1sr
d1ia, il detained in tho Richmond postotfco TO
want of a stsmp
The primary election in Fauquier took plsc
to-day.
The "DiZzy Blondes" will exhibit At Sarept
Hall on Mondsy night They have been per