Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-05-01
Phipp's Punishment.


Phipps Punishment.
Luxe Phipps was tried at Sandwich,
Ont, April 25th. for the murder of his
wife on the ferry boat Hope, August
10, 1888. Col. j. ID, Romeyn of Detroit
volunteered to act as counsel for the de-
PENDANT, who had not succeeded in OBJ
tainlng lawyer, and later on Solomon
White. M. p. p, came to the assistance
of the Detroit LAWYER. A jury was soon
impanelled without any trouble, and to
the entire satisfaction of the prisoner,
Witnesses were sworn who were on
the boat at the time the shot was fired.
and VINO described the scene as witnessed
by them. Other witnesses were called
who testified to the domestic life of
Phipps and his wife, and of the events
in their lives which led to the crime.
After going over the evidence the
court said there were but three points
for the jury to consider. First, wheth-
er Mrs. Phipps was murdered; second,
whether or not the prisoner committed
tho murder, and third. whether the
murder was committed in Canadian or
American waters. Ofthe first question
he said there was no chance for a
doubt as the defense had made no at
tempt 10 prove that Mrs. Phipps was
not murdered. The second point, he
said, was equally as plain, as Phipps
had on two or three occasions acknowl-
edged the shooting. In reference 10
the question rs 10 whether the killing
was done on Canadian or American
waters the Judge said he was con-
WINGED that it occurred within the iu-
risdiction of his court, but would leave
The jlry TO make its own decision on
the point, and added that he hoped they
would do so without reference to what
he had said. In conclusion Judge Bur.
ton said that if the killing had been
shown to have been done in the heat of
passion he would unhesitatingly rec
ommend the jury to bring in verdict
of nanslaughtef, but as the case stood
he could see in it nothing but malicious
and premeditated murder, and the at
tempt on the part of the defense to
prove provocation had strengthened
him in this position.
AT $40 the jury went out, and at 4:0S
o'clock they re-entered the court room.
After calling the roll of jurors the clei k
asked: "Gentlemen have you agreed
upon verdictP" Embro Todd, foie-
man of the jury, slowly arose from his
seat, and in husky, trembling voice
said: Guilty of willful murder" This
broke the deathly stiffness In the room.
Every nerve seemed to have been strain
ed with breathlcss eagerness and the
E a.
the cutting of harp string, the rever-
Iteration ecEoing from every part of tho
room.
The only move on the part of the con-
demned man Yves to settle back in his
seat and the pallor on his face was fol-
lowed with deep flush which suffused
his whole countenance.
Silence again prevailed and every eye
was turned OF Phipps who was watch
ing the judge. The judge reached for
ward and picked up n large calendar
which lay on the desk near him and
commenced looking it over. when
Queens Counsel-Leister arose and ad-
dressed the court, saying:
II pray that sentence may now be
passed on Luke Phipps, who has been
convicted of willful murder"
"Have you anything to say why SEN
tence should not be passed upon youe"
asked the court of the prisoner.
Phipps placed his hands on the rail-
ing in front of him and rising to his
feet said: II deny the charge of willful
murder. 1t was not a premeditated
act"
II see no way by which jury could
have brought in any other verdict" re-
piled the court. at was as plain case
of murder as have. ever tried; and, too,
without any provocation. In country
where it is as easy too get a divorce as it
is in yours, there is no excuse for COM
hitting murder for adultery even un-
less the wife is caught in the act and
the shot is fired or the spur of the
moment. This was not the cir.
cumstance in your case, and while
it always pains me to pass sem
tence OF death on man, in doing so in
your instance can hold out no hopes
of leniency, You can look for no Glenn
ency in the way of Communication of sem
tence. would be glad to hold out this
hope to you II could, but L feel that
there are no extenuating circumstances
TO warrant me in so doing. Your sem
tence is that you be now taken to the
jail from which you came, there to re-
main until 10 o'clock in the morning on
the 18th day of June next, when you
are to be taken from the jail and hang
ed by the neck until you are dead, and
may God have mercy on your soul"
The sentence was passed at 4:15, and
when it was given the Judge seemed
moro affected than the prisoner, who
had evidently made up bis mind it was
coming and uerved himself for the
ordeal. There was n slight murmur in
the room as Phipps turned and steady
ing himself by tho railing about the
prisoners dock sat down. Two consta-
bles advanced and assisted HIM from
the dock, and with one on either side he
was again escorted into his cell to await
his execution which is SO near at hand.
The condemned man bore up well
until he was being led back to the cell,
when he nearly tainted and was half
carried by the officers down the stair
way. As the door closed against him
and the key was turned in the lock, he
broke down entirely and wept like a
child
DIR. Austin, druggist of Morrica.