, 1897-04-14

He said he was going somewhere to see
if he couldn't make something; that
II he succeeded they would hear from
him; IL he didn't make something they
would never hear from him. Little at
tention was paid by the brothers to
these remarks. but now that he has
showed up for the first time in u years.
during which period no word came from
him, since his mysterious disappearance
on the night OF November 20, 1884, these
remarks come fresh TO the memory.
AS stated, on the night Of November
%, 1884, Ed Phillips disappeared, leav-
ing without taking any clothing, save
that which he was wearing, and with
out money or saying goodbye to n
one.
At first his friends were not particu-
larly uneasy, but as time passed with
no tidings from him, the anxiety OF the
brothers can better be imagined than
described. While foul play was finally
accepted, no one was particularly sus-
picioned for four or five years, when
one day while Lou was being shaved by
Will Cav, in his rambling talk Cav
said he had a letter at his home that
he had received from Ed after his de-
parture, tha, he knew all about Eds
going and had driver him to Columbus
in a buggy the night he went away. Lou
told Cav he would like to see the letter,
and told him TO bring it up and he
would SET up the cigars. Cav promised
but failed TO bring the letter. Finally
a few days later Lou told him he would
give him $40 to show him the letter.
Cav said he would bring it at once, and
Lou said he would wait in the shop till
he returned. Cav came directly, but
claimed the letter had been lost. This
occurrence in connection with other sus-
picious things. including the strange
rumors set afloat in regard to the pecu-
liar frame Of mine Of Gaw's wife when
she was on her d%eathbed, caused Cav
to be generally suspicioned of having
murdered Ed Phillips. Excitement KEEP,
increasing, and scarcely a %resident\ OF
Girard doubted The guilt Of Cav, and
the certainty that Ed Phillips had been
element was at its height, Walter
Mays, who was a brother-in-law, by
marriage. Of Cav, went to Pittsburg,
got drunk and said to a friend there
that he could send Cav up for life; that
he had killed Ed Phillips at the home
Of his mother-in-law and buried the
, body within so yards Of the fence. This
statement reached the ears OF the people
) in Girard and got everybody wild
Prominent men went to the Phillips
brothers and urged them to say the
l word and they would cake Cav out and
hang him. When Mays sobered up. he
3 denied any knowledge Of the matter ,ant
5 did not over remember that he had told
: his Pittsburg story.
: Only for the cool headed Phillips
Y brothers, who were not willing to stair
their hands with a fellow mans bloot
: on circumstantinl evidence or the carp
ings Of a drunken man, there is little
question but that Will Cav would have
been mobbed. And how proud Lhost
boys feel today that they refused t.
consent to violence when the commun
. ity was thirsting for blood to avengt
what all supposed "a the death OF theil
l brother, lost and mourned.
Week before last Lou Phillips receiv
!, ed the first intimation that his brother
!. Ed was still alive. 1t was through ;
letter written by Ed, dated January rs
1897. In the letter Ed promised to pa!
e Girard a visit On Saturday last; and HI
y kept his word, arriving on The evening
train. He is hale and hearty, and tt
say that his brothers and friends wer,
e glad to see him, is but a faint expires
sion. Nor Is the English language capa
d BILE OF expressing the gratitude OF thu
gray haired citizens who were clamor
ing for IN innocent mans blood whel
the excitement Of the community wa
at fever heat.