Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-03-13
MURDER WILL CUT.
THE WV. PHILLIPS MYSTERY
SOLVED.
A DYING CONVICr's CONFESSION
FURNISHES 4 KEY.
Phillips was killed for his money. OH the Ridge
Road. near Lexington Joseph NeGley
Ex-Marshal Of Lexington, arrested
as n murderer.
From the Port Huron Telegraph.

On the morning of Dec. II, 1881,
the body of Wm. Phillips was found
lying in n field two miles from Lex
ington. the head crushed in, and the
appearance indicating that the body
had lain some time. The body was
taken to Lexington, and Jas Dixon,
lately employed by the murdered
man, was called to identify it. At
the sight of the corpse Dixon be-
trayed such agitation that he was at
once arrested. 1t was then found
that he was wearing the watch and
chain belonging to the murdered
man. He also had an unusual a.
mount of money on hand. Dixon
poisoned himself on the night of
Dee. II in Lexington Jail, and died
next morning without revealing any
thing about the murder. None
doubted his guilt. But several be-
lieved he had accomplices, and
among those so thinking was Mar
shal Shannon, of Fort Gratiot, TO
whom belongs the credit of the final
solution.
Last'summcr David Pickard was
arrested, charged with horse-steal-
ing, and lodged in Port Huron Jail.
lie was here questioned by Shannon
in regard to tho Phillips murder and
admitted knowing something about
it. lle was tried, convicted, and
sent to Jackson state prison. Pick.
ard was a professional thief, and had
formerly hecn pal of Joseph A.
Nealey, ex-Marshal of Lexington, in
snndry misdceds. They had quar-
relied, and Nealcy had induced
Pickard to engage in his last offenSe
at which he was, through Nealey's
agency, caught.
Pickard vowed vengeance on his
former associate. Almost dead with
consumption, the thief wished TO
revenge himself on Nealoy before he
died, and with that purpose wrote
to Shannon, offerip0 To confess the
story Of tAe Lexington murder. He
wrote two cOufes sions. One dated
Feh, 26, 1888; tells substantially this
story:
VIM. Phillips, of A!lcrton, Iowa,
was a cattle buyer operating near
Lexington. James Dixon, of Mt.
Clemens, was employed by Phillips
10 90 through the country and buy
up stock, which Phillips sold. Late
in the fall of 1881, Phillips went to
Chicago to dispose of a drove of
cattle, for which he was to receive
large sum of money. During his
absence Dixon conspired 10 rob
Phillips on his return. They after
ward took Pickard into the plot.
No more than robbery was intend
ed. On Nov. -, James Dixon hired
Il horse and buggy from Lexing-
ton liverymal, and drove to ANA
dore station. on the p. II. e. n. w.
to meet Phillips on his return.
Nealey and Pickard took Nealey's
rig and drove to a point on the ridge
road two miles west and south Of
Lexington. Hero they secreted
themselves and waited for the APP
proach of Dixon and Phillips, whom
they were to spring out upon and
rob. 1t was between 1880 and 500
in the evening whep the carriage APP
preached the assassins. Nealey
sneaked out and struck Phillips with
a canvas sling filled with lead. Dix
on, who was seated beside the vic
tim, drew forth club which he had
concealed in the carriage, and dealt
Phillips a final blow. Nealey and
Dixon carlied.the body of. Phillips
into neighboring field, and robbed
the dead man of 81, 100 cash, $500
in checks, and a watch and cham.
The murderers then went across tho
road. Dixon left and was gone one
hour and half. When he return
ed he divided the money with Nea-
lev. This was between 8 and 10
o'clock. One hour later Dixon and
Nealey placed the bloody corpse of
their victim in the buggy and hold.
ing it up between them, drove one
half mile south and then west, where
they placed it in field. Pickard
went with Nealey's rig east to Lex
ington. Nealey came to Pickard's
house next morning about daylight
to wash the horrid evidence Of guilt
off his hands. At that time he gave
Pickard sls5' in money.
Marshal Shannon assured himself
of the truth of the confession and
then went 10 Lexington, where he
arrested Nealey Thursday, and
placed him in Jail. Nealey is mid
dle-aged man, about 8 feet % inches
in height. He is stout and power
full, and wears a heavy sandy mus
tache. He has been marshal Of
Lexington, and claimed TO be a
Especial detective" One arm is cut
off above the wrist, he has in its
place wooden hand. He was
soldier in the late war, and draws
pension under the title of Joseph
Ellis, his right name. He has three
wives living--one at Lexington, one
at Detroit, and one at Ann Arbor. |
Nealey never worked for living,
but his ncighbors never thought
him 30 accomplished q crook. lie