The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-16
JOHN PHILLIPS HUNG.
HE EXPIATES WITH HIS LIFE CAP
TAIN OvERBY'S MURDER.
Cool and Collected on the GaIIows-Con-
fesses His CUNT and Declares Himself
Pronounced Painless.

BoYDTON, Va, Aug. 1j.-lspecial. f.
John Phillips, the negro murderer OF Cap
tain Robert c. overly, was hanged in the
jail-yard here, at 1925 this morning. He
was brought from the Petersburg jail by a
detachment Of the Richmond military, un-
der command Of Captain G. G. BosseuX,
which left Petersburg at 4 i. VI. yesterday,
and after several hours delay at Belheld,
reached here at o'clock this morning.
One-half Of the population turned out at
that unreasonable hour 10 see the show.
Phillips wife reached here from South Car
olna Yesterday, and spent all the morning
with her husband in his cell She bade him
goodbye about a half an hour befPe the
execution, and then for the first time
Phillips showed some feeling and
wept bitterly. which he soon checked,
however, and then quietly took from
his pocket the part OF a plug Of
tobacco, bit of a chew, and put the re-
mainder back in his pocket. He chewed
tobacco until he was just about TO walk
upon the scailOld, when he threw the quid
from his mouth. Rev. II. W. DickersOn
(cOl0red), Of Petersburg, and Rev. L. NJ.
BOyden (white). Of this place, were with the
him on the scalOld.
CONTESsHs HIS GUILT AND READY To DIE.
After the sheriff had read the death
warrant Phillips spoke, saying his sins
were pardoned, and that he was going
10 heaven: that the spirit of Cap
tain Oyerby had come 10 him only once,
and then 10 forgive him, and by that be
knew that Captain overly was in heaven.
lie declared that Irving and Wilkinson,
two Of the witnesses against him. had sworn
falsely; that while he alone killed Captain
overly, Irving urged him to do it, and but for
Irving, overly would be living to-day. He
claimed that he acted in self-defensc. How
ever. he was satisfied, and would not say
his punishment was unjust.
DEATH INSTANTANEOUS.
After Scripture reading, and prayer by the
ministers, the moose was placed around
Phillips neck, the black cap adjusted, and
sheriff Jones dropped a red handkerchief Nv
a signal to unseen deputies in room Of the
iail TO spring the trap. The trap fell at
1923, and il being clear drop Of four and
"A half feet. the neck was instantly broken.
in fact, literally crushed. There was little
or no twitching CT other movements of the
body, and the doctors think the dying man
experienced no pain at all. After nineteen
minutes the heart ceased, and the doctors
declared life totally extinct. The BODY was
cut down, placed in cheap pine coffin.
and buried by the county.
Ii is probable that there was never man
hung in Virginia who had as little SYM
pathy in the community in which he was
executed as had Phillips. A large crowd Of
people came in town expecting to get
chance to see the execution, but it was
strictly in accordance with law, and none
except legal witnesses were allowed I'm the
iai yard. The Richmond troops left by the
I 30 train. The execution was pronounced
by visiting shcriils 10 be fair in every re-
spect. and better than killing by electricity.
CONDENSED ACCOUNT OF THE CRIME.
Captain OVERLY was killed by Phillips
during dispute arising from the Captains
reproying the negro for using obscene lam
guage on his premises. Philips lett cap
tain overly in an unconscious and bleeding
condition ON the ground and fed 10 the
woods, where he was captured the next day
at the point Of a pistol by railroad hand
with whom he had worked. After his arrest
he was taken TO the county Jail at Boydton,
but he was not kept there very long before
he was sent to Petersburg and committed
10 Jail for safe keeping. Phillips was
brought 10 this city by order Of the Judge
Of the county, who was afraid that the
prisoner would De lynched if he was kept at
the B0ydt0n Jail. Captain overly was one
Of the most prominent citizens Of Mecklen-
burg county, and when the news OF his
tragic death, and the circumstances attend
ing il, became known in the county. the
people became very indignant, and open
threats were made of lynching the mir-
derer.
such was the bitter feeling felt towards
philiips i'm the county by reason Of his
brutal crime, that when his trial came Of
Governor Mckinney thought 1t necessary to
send military guard along with Phillips
tO protect him from mob violence, ard the
Petersburg Grays, under tho command Of
Captain +. X. Lassiter, carried the prisoner
TO BOydtOn, and remained all during his
trial. Upon trial Phillips was convicted of
murder in the first degree, and the court
sentenced him to be hanged. After his
trial Phillips was brought back TO Peters
burg under guard of the Petersburg Grays,
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