Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-17
MURDER MOST FOUL.
FURTHER DETAILS OF THE AssASS'-
NATION OF n. c. OvER5EY.
The Murderer Committed Cor Triai-in-
quest and Funeral Of tho Deecaseh-
Threats OF Lynching the Negro.
rn,c,.I ,a,eer.m % the plsp.,ca.i

CEASE CRY. Va. April 1G.-Since my tsie-
Gram Of Yesterday additional particulars
have been obtained in reference 10 the
murder Of Captain Robert Camillus oyeroy
at his home nenr Buffalo. The Atianllc
and Danville road to Buffalo Springs PasseS
through the farm Of OVERLY, ana tne ne
groes engaged in the murder were WORKING
on this rosd and were from South Carolina.
OVERLY had, day or two before the muir muir
der, rebuked anegro named John fniiiips
for using profane and indecent language
near his residence and within the nearing
of his family, aud had ordered INN rom
his premises. On Monday the 18th lnstan,
overly went 10 GAINESVILLE and returnsu
home about o'clock in the afternoon. nc
wect 10 the stable. put his horse away. ana
was going from the stable to the mouse
when he met John Phillips. with two other
negroes named Glen Roberts anu JOnn
Irving.
WHAT TIE NEGROES SAT.
These two testified before the Justice
Court that Overbey told Phillips that ne
must behave himself and treat his family
with respect OF keep OF his premises; that
Phillips cursed Overbey and struck MN
with piece Of wagon-tongue about tnree
and half feet long and two and hai1
inches TO three inches in diameter on one
side of his head. crushing the skull. They
also stated that Overbey aimed blow at
Phillips with the piece of wood and drop
ped it. when Phillips picked IT up ana
dealt the fatal blow. But this ~ inconsls-
tent with the circumstance OF the Tragedy
and is not believed. A Mr.. Tuck, white
man in the employment Of Overbey, had
cut up the old wsgon-tongue tor tre-wood
that dav while Overbey was in Clarksyiile
and placed il for wood at his door. IN
coming through the stable Oyerbey had
not reached the point at which the wood
was piled, and the negroes had passed I'M
mediately by it and met Oyerbey some
thirty or forty steps from it.
THE TRUE THEORY.
The impression is that Phillips, seeing
Overbcy approaching from the stable, had
picked up the pludgeon as he passed Tuck's
house with murderous intent and gave the
blow without warning. This was between
5 and 6 o'clock in the evening. Oyerbey
was left by the negroes in the road uncon-
scious, and was never heard to speak after
wards. A white man passing by found him
and took him to Overbey's house, which
was o short distance-probably not over
100 yards-where he fingered until 9
o'clock, when he brcathed his last, his
head being terribly mangled. The news
rapidly spread. and crowd went in pur-
suit Of the negroes and captured them at
the camp of the railroad-men.
THE MURDERER BOLD AND DEFIANT.
Phillips was bold and defiant. saying he
killed Overbey and did not care if he did.
He had killed man before in South Caro-
lima, and he was not afraid of any fate that
awaited him. He was bound with ropes
and committed by justice and taken TO
the county Jail. The verdict Of the coro-
ner's jury was that Overbey came TO his
death by blow inflicted by the negro
Phillips. The neighborhood negroes,
among whom Overbey was highly
esteemed, wanted to lynch the murderer
last night.
ATTKlfPT TO LYNCH HIM.
A crowd of men entered the jail at Boyd
ton to lynch the negro. but failed to find
him, and 1t is reported that the authorities
had him confined for safe-keeping else
where in the town. Intense excitement
prevails in the community, and the uniyer-
sal sentiment is that the monster should
be strung up without Judge or jury. Fur
Their developments are expected tonight
unless the murderer is carried from the
county.