Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-16
DEATH BY THE MOOSE
rye NEGRO PHILLIPS DIES WITHOUT
A STRUGGLE OR PANo.
The Law Quietly Enforced-And the MUIR
derer Hoped to Meet HIS VIC
tim in Heaven.
rs,oc,., ,o,.s,m to the DIspascn.l

tho convicted murderer OF Captain o'er-
bey. was hung here this morning at lo;Sv
o'clock. The Sheriff with military euaru
of thirty men. arrived with him from re-
tersburg about o'clock and ne was 'asen
70 the Jail. About s o'clock his breakfast
was brought to him. He ate very iightly'
asked for a cigar. and appeared perfectly
composed. His wife was present. She
asked If he wished his funeral preached
and he exnresaed wish that 1T should De
MT his homo. where his mother could near
il. in Sonth Carolina. He said he once
knew a man 10 have his funeral preached
before he was hung. but there was ~
sense in it, He regretted that an af'i''
could not take his picture.
BIsDYISG WORDS.
He asked the deputy sheriff to write az
his dictation and to leave the paper with
his wife as his dying words, and said 4
feel as well satisfied az | ca1 be, ieei lihe
am going of this morning on journey.
I expect TO eat dinner with the angels IN
Heaven. / have nothing against anybody
in this world. hope this Will be token
for all Young people to obey father ana
mother, and to govern their temper anu
obey the commands of God, and you VIII
never be in such company. All such toi-
low the devil. professed religion l9tn
April last"
THREE LITTLE SHEPHERDS.
1.-THE reason knew that God did not
send the angels. He sent three little snep-
herds while / was laying under conyiction.
Two shepherds came on each slde OF me;
One was on my breast and turned itsen
and laid down, aud them got up ana TURN,
ed all around and licked me in the face. L
raised TO catch hold of him and he got
away from me. and | have not seen HIM
any more. Then Immediately l rose ana
had gloriful time TO myself. heye no
fears. but am fully prepared. wish my
wife to keep this"
BADE HIN FAREWELL.
Rev. II. w. DicKerson (colored BAPTIST,
of Petersburg. then held prayer with him on
his call. He requested the twenty-hith
chapter of Matthew to be read on the
scaffold. He arose ready at the summons
of the Sheriff His wife pulled the white
gloves on him, and with kiss babe him
! farewell aud left the jail. DR.. Baskerville
lust before starting out reported his pulse
100. temperature 1901, his weight l65 lie
walked with Sheriff Jones TO the scafold
and assembled the steps with a firm tread.
He was placed in position under the moose
and tho death-warrant read 10 him.
UNDER THE MOOSE.
He stood erect without tremor or move
ment Of limb. Rev. Rckerson then read
the chapter he requested. and afterwards
Rev. Mr.. Boyden, of the Episcopal church,
offered up prayer, and the Sherin tod
him he could sey anything he wished. lie
then, in distinct voice, said he was per-
fectly satisfied and had no dread IN any
shape, form or fashion: asked all TO meet
him in Heaven; hoped all would pray for
the witnesses who swore falsely against
him: wished his hearers could feel as he did.
He said the man who does murder Will
suffer. and his spirit will poster him. He
struck the blow and that was the last OF 1t.
He hoped to meet Captain Overbey In
Heaven. His wife had no part IN his
crime. John Irwin was frightened by the
lynchers and swore falsely against him.
He defended himself and was urged by
Irwin to the act. He freely forgave oil,
sent messages of thanks TO some friends,
and babe good-by TO all the people OF
Greeneville county.
HANGED.
The officer adjusted the the loop and
placed the black cap over his face. AT
signal from Sheriff Jones the cord was
pulled and the trap-door dropped. The
fall was 81 feet. The neck was broken,
only one heave of the breast, slight
raising of the knees. and Philips was
launched into internity. Attei hanging
nineteen minutes Drs. Baskerville and
Epps pronounced him dead. there was
not a struggle. The place OF execution
was in the rear yard of the jail and en-
tirely screened from the view of outsiders.
Only officers and citizens with permits
from the Sheriff were admitted TO see that
the law was enforced. Sherifs Buntin of
Norfolk county, Turnbull of Brunswick,
and Lee of Greeneville, were present.
BEATS ELECTRICITY.
The execution was successfully, orderly.
and effectually accomplished. There was
no demonstration, and the town was very
Quiet. Sheriff Lee remarked that old Vir-
einia rope beats New York electricity.
Sheriff Jones managed the entire affair as
iudiciouslv as if he had been an expert
enced executioner, although this was his
first experiment The military from
Richmond which escorted the condemned
man here from Petersburg were in attend
ance at the sca1old, but their presence
was not needed.
History OF the Crime.
On the 14th Of April, 1890, Captain Ro-
bert Camlllus Overbey peaceable, highly
respected. and prominent citizen living
near Buffalo Lithia Springs, was found IN
the road near his dwelllng-house about
o'clock III the afternoon lnsensIble and In
a diving condition. Upon examination IT
was discovered that powerful blow had
been given him on one side OF the head,
crushing the skull. The man who first
saw him Immediately summoned assistance
and carried him TO his (Overbey's) house.
which was not more than seventv-tiye yards
distant. There he fingered for few hours,
speeches. and unconscious, until death
terminated his suiferings.
THE SUSPECTED MAN.
The news of the murder spread rapidly,
and the nelghborhood people were soon
aroused. Suspicion pointed to some ne
eroes who were in the employment of the
contractors working on the Buffalo Springs
branch of the Atlantic and Danvllle rail
road. which passed through the farm of
Overbey, and the camp of the railroad
men was not over $50 yards from Oyerbey's
residence. 1t was known that Captain
Oyerbey had day or two before the muir
der rebuked negro named John Philips
for passing near his house and using
indecent ana the most profane language
within the hearing of MS family and had
ordered him to desist from such conduct.
and that Phillips had made threats about
the remonstrance. He was known TO be
of a reveugeful and belligerent temper and
had been seen about the premises that
afternoon, and he was fixed upon as the
pnilty man. Also, another negro OF the
camp was heard TO say shortly after the
murder that Phillips had killed Captain
Oyerbey."
CAPTURED.
A party started in pursuit and captured
Phillips at or near the railroad camp while
he was endeavorlng to escape. John lrvin
and Glenn Roberts, two other negroes who
were seen with Phillips soon after the
murder, were also arrested.
The three men were taken before JUS
tice under strong guard and after aprelimi-
nary examination committed 10 the county
Jail. After his arrest Phillips was bold and
defiant and said that he had made up his
mind to kill Captain Overbey because he
had insulted him: that he had done so. and
he was willing for the law to take its
course with him."
The verdict of the coroner's jury was
that Oyerbey came 10 his death by blow
inflicted by the negro Phillips.
INDICTED AND TRIED.
He was indicted and tried at the May
term of the Mecklenberg Circuit Court
Judge Irving appointed A. s. Lee, law
yer of the county, to defend him. X. 1.
Thorpe. attorney for the Commonwealth.
prosecuted. The testimony elected at the
Trial ehowa1 that whila Cant ain Overhev