Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1890-06-28
JOHN ILLIP'S TRIAL.
How Oyerbey was Killed-TO Hang
Dead by the Neck No Money,
Few Friends.

4
this most nc 1 of all the trials, :
which ever ba ened i'm this Co. 1t
did, and does Dpear quite strange ,
to the the rea enable and thinking
people of b. races why a military
company uarl was here and
elsewher hev remember the
recent IN have occurred
in this c, lew years ago Didd
Smith k I'm Harvey, walked
up to hin streets OF Chase
City, and =" him down, intiict-
ing me >uld rom the effects
of which Har,> v soon died.
Some time last year a white man
name Trotter near Chase City, shot,
and killed colored man by the
name of Bias Wimbush. In the first
case both mentioned parties were
white Smith was not even hanged,
died in Jail. Trotter, who killed the
colored man, Wimbush, was not
even put in jail, claimed sickness,
had the consumption and died before
| the trial came off. All admit that
the murder of Wimbush was n cold
blooded affair. Yet, the colOred |
| people, who the Bourbon Democrats |
say are not good and law abiding |
| citizens, never organized a lynching |
party to take the law in their hands. J
to bring disgrace and shame upon
the Co. and State.
But when John Phillips, a stranger
to the people of this Co. killed Capt
Overbey, then did lynchers bubble
| up and it was SO well known that
they intended to lynch Phillips,
that His Honor Judge Irving of
the Circuit Court had Phillips
brought from Petersburg under
military escort of twenty-eight per-
sons, arriving here at 4 O'Clock p. m.
May 9th The lynchers intended
, | there should be no trial so that
: night they came
ONE HUNDRED STRONG
: with the avowed purpose of going TO
the Jail, and taking Phillips out of
. the hands of the "Boys in Gray.
!, After getting in town, they learned
= that it would not be an easy Job.
= That these boys were not TO be
played with. So, after some delay
the crowd dispersed without having
= reaped vengeance upon their desired
!. victim. The morning of the trial
- came. Large crowds were present.
- Allow me I, te that this wGS the
- first time "uew, or heard of a
. man being On .sl for his life in
e Virginia, without money, without
% friends, and without having counsel.
u but so if was with Phillips, 1t was
q quite a while before His Honor
secured Phillips n lawyer.
y, 1t speaks bad for the many young
III lawyers of Mecklenburg bar, that
not one would take the case, and
that an old noted member of this
bar, A. s. Lee who is without doubt
the ablest lawyer in the Co. con
sented for the sake of honesty anC
Justice to take the case. All homo
and praise to him who would rattle
do his duty by his fellow man, know
inc that it would be unpopula
rs resulting in the abuse of him an,
ne causing him to have the frowns an,
'oi applause of many. Mr.. Lee frs
as motioned for change of venir
aU stating that the prisoner
;S COULD NOT GET JUSTICE
nd at the hands of the jury of this CO
ore which motion the court over-ruleC
ne Then commenced the testimony
no There were a number of witnesst
m examined to prove Capt. Overbey
)tt physical inability. The Common
ras | Wealth's witnesses stated that Cap
err OVERLY had been sick with rheum;
be tism and was unable to pick up
ers stick though they frankly admitte
ON. that he drove to GAINESVILLE an
ON. back, distance of IA miles tn;
it'll day-hitching and unhitching h
ak own horse.
to Glenn Roberts being duly swoI
Law deposes and says, that John PHI
LIS, John Irwin and himself Ia
ing been down to the store which was
led mile or two off, came on back, o.
we over the fence in the lane near Cap
der Overbey's house. That John Phi
YOU lipsand John Irwin were talking
and a high glee and sudden they sto
ped and he kept on down the Ian
Ter. meeting Ca .rDeycoming up t
lane leading lOrse. Saw none
ON the fight and knew nothing abO
he it.
rch. Next came John Irwin. He is al
his indicted and will be tried as
ucb | accessory to the crime. Being du
ince sworn deposes and says; that Ph
,oa- lips, Roberts and himself went dON
bv to the store and came back thrOu
the field, got over the fence ne
hill Capt Overbey's house, and "a +
heir yards from which place they II
Capt. Overbey coming to the hot
ex- leading his horse. John Philli
lay. was cursing. Capt. Overbey said
any them that Eve no objection of y
and all going through here, but y
lops must respect my family. l ,
not going to lave any indec'
and language used here" John Phil
His replied abruptly, saying, "I've
Zion ready respected you and your ia
lily, but you must respect me toe
are After few more words Capt. Ov
lem- hey caught up a stick, struck at JIG
Fri the first time end missed him. )
t in ond time hit h m light lick on