Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-14
PHILLIPS MUST HANG.
THE GOVERNOR DECLINES TO INTER-
FERE WITH THE SENTENCE,
which Must BE Executed-Remarkable
Letters Of the Condemned Man
Richmond Military at
the GalIOws.
correspondence o, tho Richmond DIsps,ch.l


the GalIows.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dspstch.I
PETERsBuRo. Va, August IS, 1890.
John Phillips. the murderer of Captain
r. @. OVERLY, will be hanged OF Boydton
on Friday of this week. His Excellency
Governor Mckinney has declined to re-
prieve the condemned man or IN anywise
interfere with the sentence of the Court.
Judge r. H. Jones and w. II. Jones. the
counsel for Phillips. went up to the Blue
Ridge Springs night before last, and yes
terday had fully an hours interview with
the Governor relative to- the case. The
prime object of their visit was to get from
the Governor brief respite for the con-
,deInned man in order that they might take
the proper steps IN the courts 70 get new
trial. Every possible claim was urged
the prejudice against the accused. the al
legged false swearing of witnesses. the ne
cessity of military guard at the trial, the
propriety Of granting further time to ena-
bic the prisoner to prepare for DEATH &C.
APPEALS FoR JUSTICE.
The Governor had evidently been
thoroughly informed about the case and
all the circumstances attending the muir
der. He remarked 20 the gentlemen repre-
sentilg Phillips that the murder was one
Of the most brutal and unprotected OF
which he had anv recollection. While the
friends Of Phillips had been actively
moving FOR respite. the friends oil the
murdered man, VINO was one of the most
popular citizens of Mecklenburg county,
we're no less active in appealing for Justice
and the maintenance of the law. GoVer-
nor Mckinney had therefore been fully in
formed. He told the Messrs. Jones now
ever, that he would take the matter under
consideration for the night and would To-
| dav inform them by telegraph OF his de-
cision.
THE FATAL TELEGRAM.
The train from the west was late TO-DAY,
and when the counsel arrived nj the depot
they We're handed the following telegram
| from the Governor:
| BLUE RIDGE SPRINGS, Va, August, IL. 1880.
To r. H. and ". IT. Jones, Petersburg, Va:
have carefully considered the case OF
| John Phillips and concluded not to inter
/ fere. The sentence OF the Court must be
executed. u. W. MckNNEY. Governor.
As soon a. possible the following tele-
! gram was sent to tbs Governor by Judge
| Jones and son:
Your telegram received. We ask for
! further extension, in order that we may
present other claims. The Commonweaith
/ cannot suffer. Answer.
"R. II. 4 II. W. JONES"
This last appeal for a respite was made
with forlorn hope Of success, though the
! counsel. who have done everything IN thelr
power for their client. had no hope that the
| Governor would reconsider his declSlon.
The Rev. II. W. Dickerson. pastor of the
| Third (colored) Baptist church. who has
| been attending Phillips in jail here; met
the latter's counsel al the depot and was
! there informed of the Governors decision.
| He il was who undertook the disagreeaole
| duty of going to the jail and informing
Phillips of bis fate and telling him that
there was no earthly hope of a respite.
Phillips had been hopeful Of favorable ac-
| ton on his petition to the Governor.
CALM AND INDIFFERENT.
Phillips was brought from his cell TO g
reception-roo where the Rev. Dickers9h
awaited him. He was calm, and the only
change in his appearance was the slight
bleaching of his complexion by his long
confinement.
well, Phillips, how doyou feel! " asked
the minister.
~ feel very we'll twas the response.
II will read you telegram from the
| Governor" said the minister.
The telegram above given was them read.
|
parentlv very calm and Indifferent.
He was asked by q reporter what he
! thought of the Governors decision.
He replied: ~ can't say; don't know.
John Irving swOre 10 lies about me on ac-
| connt of my wife. He wanted me 10
shoot Captain OVERLY. and offered me a
pistol with which to shoot him."
" Are you afraid to dieI" was asked.
"No. SIR! i have been preparing for
! l. II. &, 3
He asked the Rev. Dickerson to 90 with
| him to the execution.
DLANEs HIS WIFE.
Pbillius blames his wife and John Irving,
the latter of whom is in Jail here charged
with being an accessory To the crime, for
! his fate. He declares there was too great
intimacy between them. and that both OF
them wanted to get rid of him. He lnti-
mates as much in the remarkable letters
published below, which were dictated by
him and written by Deputy-Sergeant Par
ham. Philllps's wife lives IN Sodth Caro-
lima. and has never been to see him since
| his arrest. He charges her with being par
tally instrumental in his death, yet hopes
! 10 meet her in Heaven. His mother lives
in Mecklenbgrg. n. Q.
The following are the letters referred to:
LETTER TO HIS WIFE.
Nv Dear Wife, have just heard from
tbe Governor and he declines TO interfere
in nv case. and the sentence of the Court
will have TO be carried out on Friday the
18th Of August. My minister and friends
here have done all they could for. me. /
am very sorry to tell you that you are one
cord of the rope that Is springing my neck
If YOU Just had told me that John Irving
was interfering with you L would have
| been better off, Remember the letter that
| nv mother wrote to me-that you would
! he the cause of my death-although | want
YOU to meet me in Heaven. Pray that God
NAV forgive you for what you have said
and done to me. Take this advice and 90
home to your mother. | don't see where
YOU can enter the Kingdom OF Heaven and
STAY on public works. Tell your brother
and all my friends to meet me IN Heaven.
will close my letter by saying, Farewell,
dear wife. JOHN PHILLIPS.
LETTER TO HIS MOTHER.
Nv Dear Mother,-My minister and the
people of Petersburg have done all That
they could for me. but the Governor de-
! clines TO interfere in my case, and the
sentence Of the Court will have TO be car
RED out on Friday the 18th. DO not grieve
after me. but meet me III Heaven. Tell
the mother of my children TO tell them to
meet me in Heaven. Nv last wife is part
| OF the rope that is breaking my neck. Tell
| INV brother, for the Lords sake, If he has a
bad wife leave her, for bad woman is a
part of the gallows. If this witness had
not been mad with me about my wife |
would have been saved. He made pro-
fession to me on the 2sth of June that he
was mad with me on that occasion. Tell
all my friends good-by and to meet me in
Heaven. Tell my sister TO meet me IN
Heaven. have no more to say. Good-by.
May the Lord bless you.
Your beloved son. JoHN PHILLIPS.
MILITARY GUARD FROM RICHMOND.
A telegram received here to-day from
Acknowledgement James Mcdonald says
that military guard will be sent from
Richmond TO accompany the Sheriff OF
Mecklenburg in custody of Phillips to that
county for execution.
The probability Is that Phillips will be