Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-28
found Miss Slaughter living quietly at

0Opts VI tHS hichus VI INV auu Ju.tiCts
As weeks passed on the papers seemed
to grow tired of recording them, and
soon the mysterious tragedy seemed to
have been entirely forgotten, even in
the vicinity of the scene Of its commits
sion.
AN ARREST AT LAST.
But justice was not thus to be foiled.
A faithful magistrate and skilful de-
tectiye had taken the case in hand, aud
the result was that after nearly three
months the people of Richmond and
Henrco were startled by the announce.
ment that one James Jeter Phillips had
been arrested as the murderer, and
that the battered corpse in Drinkers
woods was the wife whom he had
sworn to love, protect, and cherish.
Ii was indeed startling announce
ment, for until the moment that the
hand of Detective Knox was placed
upon the culprit's shoulder the nearest
and dearest friends of Jeter Phillips
believed him single man.
WHO HE WAS.
The accused was surely the last maa
to be charged with such an offence.
He came Of a most respectable family,
and was beloved younger son, and
was but twenty-four years Of age. His
character hitherto had been without
even slanderous blemish, and on
many battle-fields and through years of
su6erings in the ranks of the Thir-
teenth Virginia infantry he had won
the title of good and gallant soldier.
His very face repelled. the charge.
Even the stern officer OF the law found
it hard to believe as he gazed into
the blushing, boyish face, and heard
from unfaltering lips the words.
"You shock me never had wife.
But already there was an array Of cir
cumstantial evidence hard to reconcile
with this bold asseyeration.
THE CONTENTS OF A TRUNK.
Phillips was taken by the officers to-
the residence of Mr.. Turner, to which
also the body of the murdered woman
had been carried to await the inquest
In his room trunk was found-hi
own---and its contents were such as are
seldom found in young mans ward
robe. 4 dark-colored chignon, bear
ing marks of having been tumbled
in the sand; lady's dress,
basque, several collars and cuffs,
a lady's handkerchief resembling one,
found on the person of the murdered wo-
man, lady's belt, Bible, and other
books. On the hy-lcafofonc ofthe books
were written the words Miss Emma. :"
aud it seemed as if final name had.
been erased while in others there were
inscriptions written in schoolgirl
hand. In the same room there was
found an Aliens six-shooicr belonging
to young Mr.. Turner. Three barrels
were loaded and three had been dis
charged. Phillips said ne had been.
shooting at dog.
HOW HE CAME TO BE SUSPECTED.
For some time previous to the dis
coyery of the murdered woman, and
aiterward, Phillips had been employed
as an assistant on the farm of Mr.. Tur-
ner. A brother of his had married a
Miss Turner, and there were unmarried
daughters residing in the hosse. Some
time during February, 1867, a letter
had come into the possession of Mr..
Turner, Sr., directed TO Jeter Phillips,
and which, having been opened under
circumstances not clearly explained,
pnpoTted to be from person
claiming to be the wife OF Phil
lips. Upon this rumor arose,
which extended beyond the Tur-
ner family, that Phillips was really a
married man. But he industriously
denied the imputation, not only in that
neighborhood, but in Richmond and
elsewhere. and always bore himself
among acquaintances. friends, and rela-
tives as an untrammelled bachelor. If
he were married he had made no COM
munication Of that important fact to
his kith and kin. Nevertheless, there
was the rumor, and the same party
claiming to be his wife had threatened
to visit him.
WOULDN'T LOOK AT IT.
Being at Mr.. Turner'S when the dead
body was found, he did not 60 to see it.
and did not 60 to the inquest nor eX-
press any Of the interest or curiosity
exhibited by every one else in that
vicinity. Yet, later, his first apparent
calmness and stolidity seemed to give
way before unexplained apprehen-
sions of some dread kind. He was so
conspicuously distraught and excited
by secret uneasiness as more than once
to attract the suspicious attention Of
Mr.. Drinker. Mr.. Drinker avowed his
suspicious to Justice George ID. Pleas
ants and to Justice Wade and Con-
stable Cole, and these at once
began to institute inquiries in Caroline
county. The speedy result Of this in
vestigation was an overwhelming reye-
lation.
Justice Wade. on the 4th of June,
1867, received letter from the sheriff
of Caroline county informing him that
Rev. DR.. Baynman, of that county,
had, in July, 1865, married soldier
by the name of Phillips to a Miss
Emily Pitts, of Loretto, Essex county,
Va. Next came a letter from b.
Pitts, brother Of the alleged Mrs.
Phillips, who said, in so many
words: "Mr. j. j. Phillips, who
married my sister, is son
of MIR. Phillips, of Surry coun-
ty, who came to Essex county and
married July l3, 1866, Miss Mary En-
lily Pitts. She remained with us until
this year. lie then removed to Hen
rico. have received but two letters
from Mr.. Phillips since his removal"
But the arrest was not caused alone by
the proof that Phillips was a married
man.
EVIDENCE OF HIS GUILT.
Other and more conclusive evidence
of his guilt was brought out on the pre-
liminary examination. which took place
at the county courthouse, Phillips hay.
ing in the mean time been. lodged in
Jail. 1t was then proved that the par
ties were married in July, 1865; that