The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-05-18
WAS WELL KNOWN HERE.
Father Phillips Was at One Time an
Assistant at Cathedral.

Rev. T.. S. Phillips was well known
in this city, and when the startling
news of the finding of his partly de-
composed body was received here yes
terday it was the sole topic of conver-
sation.
Those who knew Father Phillips in
timately were loath to credit the SEN
sational story told by DR.. Stanley, the
man who is being held on suspicion of
having caused the priests death. and
when the later dispatches brought the
announcement of the police authorities
that Stanley had contradicted his first
story and was giving conflicting ver-
siOnS of the affair there We're many
brought to believe that the effort of
the doctor to connect others with the
responsibility for the death was Il con-
coction, suggested, very likely. by
reading of the Riegel murder case,
which has been before the Philadelphia
courts all week.
Bishop Hoban. who has been associ-
ated with Father Phillips in ecclesias-
tic, charitable and sociological work
for many years. said to Tribune re-
porter last night
Il have known Father Phillips inti-
mately since he was a seminarian and
l have formed such a high estimate Of
his character that cannot bring my
self to believe the sensational stories
being told of the manner of his death"
AS to the funeral the bishop could
give no definite information. He had
been in communication with the rela-
tives of Father Phillips concerning this
matter, but no decision had been
reached. The members of Father Phil
lips congregation are anxious to have
the services held there, and probably
their wishes will he acceded to.
lNTERMENT AT PITTSTON.
The interment will likely take place
in Pitttson. Father Phillips had on
several occasions expressed desire to
be buried with his father and mother
in the family plot in the Pittston
Catholic cemetery, and it is proposed
to carry out this wish. The probable
tiles are that the body will be brought
from New York to HazetOn for the
services, and thence to Pittston for in
terment.
Father Phillips came into particular
prominence by his work towards medi-
alton in the miners strike last fall,
and the threatened strike this spring,
but he was known very generally be-
fore that by his having succeeded, when
hundreds of others had failed, in bring
ing about conciliation between the
two factions of the Ancient Order of
Hibernians. AS a token of its appreci-
alton Of Father Phillips work, the ma
tional convention of the order made up
a large purse of gold and presented it
to him with an engrossed testimonial.
Ii also unanimously elected him as its
representative to the international con-
vention of Irish societies in Dublin.
Father Phillips was also a promi-
nent worker in the Catholic Total Alb
stince union and took an active part
in its annual conventions. He recent
ly organized Father Mathew Cadets
society in his parish and at the dio-
cesan convention held in Scranton this
week Its delegates reported a mem
bership of 455 and made claims for the
banner offered for the society showing
the greatest growth during the year.
In addition to all his activities as a
priest and humanitarian. Father Phil
lips was to be found in the front rank
of every good public movement in the
city in which he lived and was gem
orally beloved. He interested himself
In local politics, was a leading men,
ber of the board of trade, and at the
present session of the legislature was
chairman of the committee of citizens
which went to Harrisburg to lobby in
the interests of the Haworth bill that
would make Hazleton the seat of n
new county.