(1)
BEGGED FOR HIS LIFE.
A Shocking Tragedy in Jasper County.
WALTER ROBY WAS SLAIN.
BY EX-SHERIFF PHILLIPS, WHO STABBED HIM REPEATEDLY.
Roby Fell on a Barbed Wire Fence and Begged His Assailant to Desist
But Phillips Kept on in His Bloody Work.
Monticello, Ga., Aug. 15.-On last Friday afternoon ex-Sheriff W. H. Phillips and Walter L. Roby had a difficulty at a barbecue at the branch below Westview cemetery, and Phillips stabbed Roby fourteen times. The wound which proved fatal was a stab in the abdomen, and after great suffering and a surgical operation Mr. Roby died at 11 o'clock last night.
The trouble grew out of Phillips' indebtedness to Roby, and after some insulting remarks made by both parties they began to fight. Phillips used his knife, stabbing Roby in the breast, abdomen and in the back. Roby fell into a wire fence and begged Phillips to desist, but to no avail.
Rev. Billie Cornwell preached the funeral this afternoon from the Baptist church. A large concourse of friends of the deceased was present.
Public feeling is running high. The slayer has not been arrested. Hon. J. D. Kilpatrick says that Phillips will give up. A posse searched the residence of the senator this afternoon, it being rumored that Phillips had gone there for consultation, Kilpatrick having been retained to represent the defendant.
Source: The Macon Telegraph, Macon, Georgia, Monday Morning, August 16, 1897; Pg. 1, Column 3
(2)
SEQUEL OF HIS CRIME.
Sad Fate of Ex-Sheriff Phillips of Jasper County.
MET DEATH IN THE ROAD
WHILE ON HIS WAY TO SURRENDER TO JUSTICE.
Phillips Stabbed Roby to Death Last Week and Had Been in Hiding - It is Thought Exposure Superinduced a Congestive Chill.
Monticello, Ga., Aug. 18.-Ever since the death of Walter Roby this town has been in commotion, and every effort has been made to capture Capt. Phillips. The friends of one was the friends of both, and sorrow and gloom were the outcome of the affair, and sympathies were extended to all parties.
Yesterday afternoon Mr. Monroe Phillips, brother of Capt. W. H. Phillips, assured Capt. Wilborne that his brother would surrender last night, and in company with Mr. B. Person went to the home of Mr. Wilborne expecting Capt. Phillips to come through the plantation to Capt. Wilborne's. Early yesterday morning, just before daybreak, Capt. Phillips left his home on horseback, expecting to go to Mr. Wilborne's. When he left he was hardly able to mount his horse. Capt. Wilborne lives on the upper Covington road, which runs parallel with the road upon which Phillips lives. Phillips lives about two and one-fourth miles from town and Wilborne about one mile. The roads are about one mile apart, hence through the plantation it is a little over one mile to Wilborne's house.
Mr. Oscar Phillips, son of Capt. Phillips, assisted his father off and says that he was very weak and was complaining of being very cold.
All day yesterday Mr. Monroe Phillips, Oscar Phillips and other near relatives of Capt. Phillips were in town, making preparations for the commitment trial. On the word of Oscar and Monroe Phillips, Capt. Wilborne was easy and stopped the organization of a posse that was being arranged by his deputy, Mr. James H. Campbell, for he was assured that Phillips would surrender.
Late yesterday afternoon Oscar returned home to attend to his usual duties, while Monroe Phillips and Mr. Persons went to Capt. Wilborne's, as above stated. Mr. Wilborne had prepared a room for Capt. Phillips and his clothes had been sent there for a change, as he had been on the scout and was wet and muddy.
About 7 o'clock last night Oscar heard that his father had not gone to Mr. Wilborne's and began search for him. Mr. Person, a neighbor, was called to his assistance, and together they started on the path which leads to Wilborne's house. About half a mile from Capt. Phillips' house they came upon him, lying flat of his back on the ground. He was not dead and Oscar returned home for help. On retracing his steps he found that his father had died in his absence. Coroner J. W. Noles was telephoned for and empanelled a jury and held an inquest this morning. The following was the verdict returned by them:
"We the jury empalled and sworn to inquire into the cause of the death of W. H. Phillips, the deceased now before us, after the examination of the body and hearing the evidence, find that W. H. Phillips came to his death by natural causes."
"Charles E. Wellington, Foreman."
A summary of the evidence before the jury coincides with the above facts. Dr. J. W. Webb thinks that the exposure of Captain Phillips and the heavy mental strain brought about congestion. Captain Phillips had eaten but little since the killing of Roby and was out night and day, and it is thought by many that when he had gone as far as he could on his horse, that he got down to rest for a while and was taken sick. He lay on the ground for hours, with no shade but a small pine tree and his suffering must have been great. About 11 o'clock yesterday it rained and he was drenched and almost drowned, as he was lying in a small gully. Some time in the forenoon, a negro saw his horse in a corn field, having slipped the bridle. Mr. Phillips carried a flask of water with him and there was nothing else to indicate his having taken his own life. In his pockets was nothing but a silver half dollar, his business letters and a knife. No mark whatever was visible on his person, and every indication is that he died of a congestive chill.
Captain Phillips was about fifty years old, was a man of personal magnetism and numbered his friends by the thousand. Strange but true, whenever sympathy was expressed for Roby the same feeling prevailed for Captain Phillips. His family was of the first of the land, and his every act was always in full keeping with that of a true gentleman. While sheriff of Jasper county he was a special favorite of the visiting attorneys, and was liked by the courts. His immediate family have the highest esteem of the people and until recently he has always been possessed of great influence and was a good officer. Since his defeat for sheriff he has been reckless and under the influence of liquor at times. At the time he and Roby engaged in the difficulty both were drinking.
It is evident that Phillips intended to give up, that Colonel Kilpatrick knew whereof he spoke when he said Phillips would surrender, and that the courts of the highest tribunal have passed upon the case. Let the mantle of charity fall upon the whole affair.
Source: The Macon Telegraph, Macon, Georgia, Thursday Morning, August 19, 1897; Pg. 1, Column 3
(3)
TELLS OF THINGS IN JASPER.
Representative McMichael Was in Macon a Short While Yesterday.
....In regards to the recent sudden death of ex-Sheriff Wiley Phillips, Mr. McMichael no new evidence had been discovered since the coroner's verdict that the death was from natural causes and it is generally believed a congestive chill was the trouble. There was not a more a popular man in that section of country, and the tragedy in which he was connected was deplored by everyone. Mr. McMichael says that Mr. Phillips evidently suffered tortures in his death agony, as his hips and legs were buried several inches in the hard ground where he had writhed and twisted, and that his hands had pawed up the hard earth all around. He would have surrendered in the afternoon of the day on which he died, but as he failed to go into town at the appointed time his relatives went out to where he had been in hiding and found him dead.
Source: The Macon Telegraph, Macon, Georgia, Saturday Morning, August 28, 1897; Pg. 8, Column 2
(4)
RESOLUTIONS JASPER LODGE NO. 50.
Death has again invaded our ranks and has taken from our Fraternal chair, our Bro. W. H. Phillips. While we claim to be in the land of the living, at the same time we are in the land of the dying; and that the cradle and the grave are but a span apart, and that as soon as we begin to live, we also begin to die.
Bro. Phillips was born in Jasper county on the 25th day of Oct. 1849 and departed this life the 17th day of August 1897, in the 48th year of his age. He was a member of Jasper Lodge No. 50 in which he was initiated, passed and raised to the sublime degree of Ancient Free Masonry. He was energetic and public spirited and served the people of the county twelve years as sheriff, and was active and prompt in the discharge of the duties of that office. Having performed the last rites of humanity to his remains, according to the usages of our order, and while we drop our tears of sympathy over his grave, let us cast abound his feibles, whatever they may have been, the broad mantle of Masonic charity, and not withhold from his memory the commendations of his virtues claim at our hands. Perfection on earth has never yet been attained; the wisest as well as the best of men have gone astray, we will therefore suffer the apologies of human nature to plead for him who can no longer plead for himself. Bro. Phillips leaves a wife and eight children and many friends to mourn his death.
Therefore resolved we tender our sympathies and condolence to his widow and children; that this Lodge be draped in mourning for thirty days, and that the foregoing be entered on the minutes of this Lodge, published in the JASPER CO. NEWS, and a copy of the same be furnished to his widow by the secretary of this Lodge.
Source: Jasper County News, Monticello, Georgia, Thursday, October 14, 1897; Pg. 2, Column 2
(5)
Monticello, Ga., Sept. 25th '97
H. O. Hill, Agent
Dear Sir:
I hereby acknowledge receipt of Two Thousand Dollars ($2000,00) in payment of policy #625329 of the New York Life Insurance Company, on the life of my husband, Wiley H. Phillips. I thank you and the company for the prompt settlement of this claim within ten days of the furnishing of the proofs of death by me.
Yours truly,
Mrs. Emma E. Phillips
Source: Jasper County News, Monticello, Georgia, Tuesday, September 30, 1897; Pg. 2, Column 2
