The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-17
FOUND MURDERED.
Body of Father Edward Phillips
of HazIetOn, Pa,
Found in the Room of a Massage
Doctor in N. u
HAD BEEN LONG DEAD.
He Had Been Missing From
Home Since April 28.
The Man Who Prevented the
Threatened Miners Strike.
Had Letters From President
Mitchell on His Person.
AN ARREST is MADE
OF the Person in Whose Room
He Was Found.
AN ARREST is MADE
OF the Person in Whose Room
He Was Found.

New York. May 1.-THE body of a
man found late last night in a house in
Ninth avenue has been identified as
that of the Rev. Edward S. Phillips, of
St. Gabriels church, Hazleton, Pa, who
recently had a conference with J Pier
pont Morgan in reference to the threat
ened strike in the iron and coal regions
of Pennsylvania.
The coroner says that the identifica-
ton can hardly be questioned, as papers
found on the body seem to prove it.
The police are working on what may
prove to be a murder.
Kirk Stanley, a massage operator, in
whose rooms the body was found, is
under arrest as a suspicious person.
Decomposition had advanced so far
when the body was discovered that
cursOry examination was not sufficient
to reveal the cause of death, and an
autopsy will be held. Stanley has been
subjected to a rigid examinat ton and is
said to have told conflicting stories.
Mrs. Bernius, from whom Stanley
leased four rooms, in one of which the
body was found, says that the tenant
claimed to be from San Francisco, and
called himself DR.. Stanley" He was
accompanied by a young woman whom
he introduced as his wife The body
daughter, who went into Stanley's
apartm ents to remove some bedding
which was hanging out of the window.
The police were Immediately notified
and a search OF the body disclosed a
number of papers. Among them was a
letter from John Mitchell, president of
the United Mine Workers, and ad-
dressed to Rev DR.. Edward S. Phillips,
Hazleton, Pa There were also several
kilograms from Mitchell addressed to
the priest a half fare railway coupon
such as is issued TO clergymen, and sew
eral receipts made out in Dr. Phillips
name.
It was made public for the first time
after the Identification Of the body that
two confidential alarms had been sent
out by Captain of Detectives Titus for
ny Phillips, who according to this in
formation had been missing from his
home in Hazleton since April 2S The
first alarm was sent out on May and
the second Yesterday and detectives
have been quietly searching the hotels
and hospitals in this city for the n iss-
ing clergyman. Police Captain Dono-
hue after examining the body, the
rooms and effects of the dead man, sent
out a general alarm for the apprehen-
sion of Stanley.
Shortly after midnight Stanley was
seen walking through Fiftieth street
When he came to the corner of Ninth
avenue. half a block from his apart
nents, he stopped A policeman saw
him. Stanley saw the policeman at the
walked rapidly through Eiftieth street
toward Eighth avenue. The policeman
ran after him, and touching him on the
shoulder said the captain desired to see
him. Stanley accom- panied the police
man, and when he reached the station
house was taken at once to Captain
Donohue's private office. He and the
captain were closeted together for
more than an hour. The captain then
took Stanley before Sergeant Shible
and told the sergeant to lock him up.
The prisoner seemed to be suffering
from the effects of drink or drugs. His
manner was that of a man who was
badly dazed. He said his name was
Kirk Stanley and that he had come to
this city about year and a half ago
He said they called him doctor, but
operator and intends to open an Office
here.
Captain Donohue was reticent in dis
cussing the case. All that he would say
flicting statements and he denied
knowing the man whose body was
found in his rooms, and said he had
never seen him before, and that he did
not know that there was a body there
until told by the police.
The police are searching for a woman
who was known as StanIey's wife They
say this woman left the house in Ninth
avenue on May 8, and has not returned.
Father Phillips disappeared on May g.
Stanley IS said to have wife and son
living in San Francisco and is said to
have resided at the Palace hotel in that
city. He frequently received 500 checks
from Alameda, Cal. He prOfessed to
cure rheumatism by the application of
air at a temperature of about 400 de-
grees.
Stanley was arraigned in police court
and was remanded to the custody of
the coroner. He refused to make any
statement in court
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Hazleton, Pa, May 17.-Father Phil
lips had been away from Hazleton for
about two weeks on q vacation During
his absence he is said to have attended
the ceremonies incident to the elevation.
of Mgr. Martinelli to the rank of cardi-
nal. Father Phillips was pastor of St.
GabrieFs church. this city. He was
born in 1851 at Wayne Cove, Pa, where
his father worked in the mines. He at
tended the public sbools at Pittston, Pa.
and finished his studies at St. Charles
college, Ellicott City, Nd, and st
Charles Theological seminary, Pa He
was ordained to the priesthood in 1875.
He was located in various parts of the
Scranton diocese, coming to Hazleton.
four years ago. Recently the twenty
fifth anniversary Of his elevation to the
priesthood was celebrated here and a
large number of priests and Catholic
dignitaries from the surrounding coun-