Year: 1867

terday morning; the trial of Phillips con
; tinuing to attract large crowd of whit,
and colored spectators.


EvIDEEcE OF GEORGE W. TURNER.


George W. Turner was first called anc
testified: have been acquainted with tht
accused for about ten years. He was OF
, my fathers farm in Henrico county from
the fall of 1865 to July, 1866, employed il
, experimenting the farming operations
|. He then came to Richmond and engaged
in the commission business. do not re-
member when he left Richmond last win.
ter. Saw him at the post. Office in the
middle Of the week previous to the
finding of the dead body on Drink.
er's farm. 1t was On accidental inter.
view. We talked about renting farm in
Chesterfield county, from DR.. Dorset, but
no definite arrangement was made about
the matter. had seen Dr.. Dorset myself
before saw Phillips. The Doctor said
that he had some land which he wished to
rent out, and I told him would like
to see it, and then proposed to the &C
cused that we rent it in partnership.
saw Phillips again before the day the body
was found. 1t was at the brickyard on
Twenty fourth street, on Monday at about
noon. He came to town in my father
buggy, and said he was going mp on
Church Hill for my sister, who was at
the house of Mr.. Peasants. On Wednesr
day evening we met again; think at the
brickyard. On Thursday morning, the day
of the finding Of the body, he brought in
two horses, and we started for DR.. Dor
sets, but did not 60 there, being turned
off by learning of some other land for
rent. We returned to my fathers house
that evening, and my mother told me that
the dead body Of woman had been
found in Drinkers woods, and that it
would be brought to our house. Shortly
after, it arrived and I held the light while
it was put away. The prisoner went in
the house with me, and don't remember
seeing him again until supper. Do not
know whether he went TO look at the
body. Think that the finding Of the body
was subject Of conversation at supper,
/ but do not remember that Phillips said
anything about it. My mother and one sister,
brother Albert, father, Phillips, and my
brother-in-law, Mr.. Fred. Phillips, (bro-
ther of the accused,) were at home that
night. Mr.. Fred. Phillips was sick at the
time. The accused slept with me, but |
do not remember that we had any con-
versation at all about the supposed mur-
der. On the next morning the accused
walked to Richmond with ME, but nothing
was said about the murder until we met
Mr.. Palmer, when some remark was made
about it. Do not remember that the &C
cuSed made any remarks on the subject.
1t was mentioned that the woman was
unknown, and Phillips said nothing.


left him when we reached town, and
he stated that he was going that friday
night to a party or tableau1 at Mr..
Priddy's. l did not see him again until
April.


The accused never told me that he was
married, but l looked upon him as mar
red man. A letter had been received in
the family in February, 1866, directed to
him, from which it may have appeared
that he was married. The letter was opened
by my father at time when Phillips was
missing, and we were in suspense about
him. He had gone, as he said, to Caro-
line to marriage. l saw the letter.


Colonel Johnson objected to the detail
of its contents until the destruction of the
letter was proved. Objection sustained by
the Court.


Witness resumed: Until saw the let
ter always looked upon the accused as o
single man, and he always acted as such.
I neve. mentioned the letter to him. l do
not of my own knowledge know that he
was informed of its receipt.


Cross examined have been an inti-
mate friend Of the accused, and his repu-
tation as peaceablo man has always been
unexceptionable.


To Colonel Johnson When the accused
came to town on the Monday before the
body was found, he drove cream -colored
horse to an old buggy belonging to my
father. He said he was going to Mr.. Will
liam II. Pleasants's for my sister, and did
not see him any more that day. did
not see him on Tuesday. We were to-
gether only short time on Wednesday
After our return from Chesterfield we
reached my fathers house at about dark.
The body was placed in an clubhouse The
finding Of the body was subject of gene
raj conversation, but l do not remember
what any particular person said. noticed
nothing unusual in the demeanor Of the
accused either on that night or on any day
during that week. | know that be slept
with me that night, because after | had
gone to bed he came in the room, and after
undressing, blew out the light. lie did
not come to bed Immediately, and spoke
to him two or three times, but received no
answer. When he did get in bed | asked
him why he had not answered me, and ne
replied that he was saying his prayers. l
do not know that the prisoner ever saw the
letter to which I have alluded. 1t was
directed to James J. Phillips, Richmond.
DR.. Farrar gave it to my father.


To Judge Crump: 1t was raining when
the accused came to town Monday in the
buggy. After l saw him on Friday, the first
of March, did not see him again until early
in April. do not think be told me where
he had been, but when | saw him in March
he said he was going to his fathers 10
Surry. He brought me Mr.. George D.
Pleasants's horse to ride to Chesterfield,
and he rode the cream colored horse.


To Mr.. Guigon The prisoner was in the
habit Of saying his prayers regularly.


To Colonel Young: was reading IN pea
on the night Of which have spoken. Saw
the accused undress and blow the candle
ont. I laid my book aside before ne
finished undressing. l do not know that
he is member Of any church, but have
several times seen him at prayer. The
prisoner drove the cream-colored horse
to th. open buggy on the day that ne came
in for my sister. My father also has Top
bngpy. The tires of the top buggy were
NOT much worn. I do not remember
having any conversation with the prisoner
about the murdered woman.


Colonel Young: Was the subject OF that
letter known to yourself and your father