The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-05-17
Rev. Edward S. Phillips Is
Probably Murdered.
HIS DEAD BODY FOUND
It Is Stumbled Upon in the Rooms
of a Massage Operator.
ARREST MADE ON SUSPICION
Mr.. Phillips Had Consulted PierpOnt
Morgan on Threatened Strike
I'm Coal Regions.

l
about 81 years of age, was found dead in
a room on Ninth avenue early this morn
ing. The first floor Of the building in
which the dead man was found was occu-
pied by Edward Higgins and the second
! by Mrs. Catherine Bermus. DR.. Kirk
Stanley, formerly of San Francisco, who
claims to cure rheumatism by new meth
DDS, also occupied rooms in the building.
Shortly before midnight, Mrs. Bermus
stumbled over the body.
The body has been identified as that Of
the Rev. Edward s. Phillips of St. Ga
briefs church, Hazleton. Pa, who re-
Gently had a conference with J. Pierpont
Morgan in reference to the threatened
strike IN the iron and coal regions of
Pennsylvania. The coroner says the
identification can hardly be questioned, as
papers found on the body seem to prove it.
The police are working on what may
prove to be murder
Kirk Stanley. 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 a
cursory examination was not sufficient to
reveal the cause Of death and no autopsy
will be held.
Tells Conflicting Stories.
Stanley has been subjected to a rigid
examination and is said to have told con-
ficting stories Mrs. Bermus, from whom
Stanley leased four rooms, in one of
which the body was found, says that her
tenant claimed to be from San Francisco
and called himself Or. Stanley" He was
! accompanied by young woman whom he
introduced as his wife. The body was
discovered by Mrs. Bermus' daughter, who
went into Stanley's apartments to remove
some bedding which was hanging out of
the window. The police were Immediately
notified and search of the body dis
closed a number of papers. Among them
was letter from John Mitchell, president
OF the United Mtne Workers, addressed
to Rev. 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 several 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 Mr..
Phillips who, according to this informa-
ton, 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 from the central
office have been quietly searching the ho-
tells and hospitals in this city for the
missing clergyman
Police Captain Donohue after examin-
ing the body, the rooms and effects of the
dead man, sent out a general alarm for
the apprehension of Stanley.
StanIey's Arrest.
Shortly after midnight Stanley was seen
walking through Fiftieth street. When
he came to the corner of Ninth avenue.
half a block from his apartments he
stopped. A policeman saw him Stan
ley saw the policeman at the same mo-
ment and at once turned and walked rap
idly through Fiftieth street toward Eighth
avenue. The policeman ran after him
and, touching him on the shoulder. said
the captain desired to see him. Stanley
accompanied the policeman and when he
reached the station house was taken to
captain OOuOuue private once. he
and the captain were closeted together
more than an hour. The captain then
took Stanley before Sergeant Shible and
told the sergeant to lock him I'D.
The prisoner seemed to be suffering
from the effects of drink or drugs His
manner was that of man who was badly
daZed. He said his name was Kirk Stan
ley and that he had come to this city
about year and a half ago. ~ He said
they called him doctor but he had no
diploma. He was a massage operator and
intended to open an office here.
Captain Donohue was retieent in dis
cussing the case. All that he would say
was that the prisoner had made con-
f1icting statements. He had denied knowl-
edge Of the man whose body was found in
lis rooms and said he had never seen him
before and that he did not know there
was body there until told by the police.
The police are searching fOE woman
who was known as Stanley's wife. They
say this woman left the house in Ninth
avenue on May and has not returned.
Father Phillips disappeared on May 8.
Stanley was arraigned in police court and
was remanded to the custody of the cor
oner. He refused to make any statement
IN court.