The daily gazette., 1882-01-16
ADOunLE rnAeKDx.


BRUTAL MURDER OF ". J. PHILLIPS,
AFoRAfER DELAwAREAN- ARREST
OF JAMES v. .DTxOH--DIxON con-.
MITssUICTDR WHILE IN JAIL.
One OF the most brutal murders
ever KnoWn in this country was COM
mitted near Lexington, Michigan,
about the Arst Of December. The
victim WAS William j. Phillips. q son
Of Robert T. Phillips, near Concord, !,
Sussex County. Mr.. Phillips was
born June 26 I84l and went TO the
West March II, 1860. he at one time
lived at Capal, Michigan, but at the
time Of his death resided at AIIera
town, Iowa. He was cattle buyer
and was associated In business with
James w. Dixon of Lexington,
Michigan. He left his home about
Thanksgiving day TO 60 10 the latter
place to take up the cattle which
Dixon was engaged TO purchase for
him. He arrived at Amador Michigan
on Nov. 25. After inquiring about
procuring q horse and carriage he
started down the railroad track on
foot and alone, since which time,
there is no certain account Of his
having been seen alive, except by
the testimony Of some persons who
believe him to have been the person
at their places buying calves.
MURDER WILL OUT.
About the middle OF December.
Two young men were out hunting
partridges some two miles north OF
Amadore, and while going along the
edge Of the woods, not over four rods
from the centre of the road and ops
posite the residence Of one Lukins
Fenton, they were horror struck to
see the dead body of q man. 1t was
lying on its back under tree near a
log, on which the left hand rested.
The two coats and vest were strip.
ped oyer the head as IT the BODY
had been dragged there by the feet.
The pants were also pulled partly
of. There were no indication of any
struggle on the ground and no blood
found except on the clothing. The
place was found where 1t had been
taken over the brush fence by the
road; also a closed jacksknife, sill
yer dollar, two ten cent pieces and
two buttons were found along the
track where the body had been draga
ged. The hat and one glove were
missing, the right hand having a
glove on. Aninquest was held. -Four
wounds were found one cash on the
right temple, piece OF the scalp
taken off the back of the head, a big
cash on the left side of the head near
the top where the skull was broken
in, and a deep cash on the left side
OF the throat, which severed the
carotid artery. The tracks Of a buggy
headed north were discovered near
the brush fence. Dixon was one OF
the witnesses at the inquest. Some
attention was drawn to HIM from bis
conduct and appearance, and some
stories about his having been seen
recently with considerable money II
his possession, aroused enough sus.
picion to cause his arrest the day fol.
loving the one on which the inques
was held. On the day following hi
arrest he took poison which he haC
on his person, and, from the effects
| OF which he dIod. He rarAiafantl,
refused to tell anything about thl
murder or what he had taken, an,
expressed great satisfaction wheI
told by the doctor he couldn't live
During his last hours he calle,
"Phillips, poor Phillips" !" and aske,
If Mrs. Phillips had come. Late
Investigations tend to show that th
murder was committed on the rail
road track, and that the body wa
taken In carriage to the place wher
1t was found dragging 1t In the wood
and leaving IL as he would the dea
carcas of a dog. 1t is supposed tina
the murdered man had from $3.50
to 50, 5000 ON his person at the tim
Of the murder. The body of MI
Phillips was sent to his widow, Il
Iowa, where she lives with her 81
children.