Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-05-23
EXPLAINS DEATH OF
FATHER PHILLIPS
Or. Stanley, in Whose Rooms the
Priest Was Found, Tells a
New Story.
WERE NO WOMEN IN THE CASE
lie and tho Priest Had nccn Drinking
Together, and tho Inttor Died rs
Result Of tho spreo-Explnins
Suspicious Actions.

Suspicious Actions.
New York, May 2l.-Trom his cell in
the Tombs, sobered by two days oi.
comparative abstinence from alcohol
and morphia, DR." IIirlse Stanley has
done what he could to erase the stigma
which his first statement fastened up
on the memory of Father Edward
Stanislaus Phillips, the miners priest
of Hazleton, Pa.
After a long session with Abraham
Levy, one of his counsel, the prisoner
retracted and repudiated his scandals
Gus allegation that the priest had Wis
tied his rooms in the company of
women. The statement was given out
by the prisoners lawyers, Who said
they felt impelled by sense of public
duty to clear the dead priests reputa-
ton.
Mr.. Levy afterward added: STAN
leys life has been an eventful one, full
of adventure. He has been guilty of
many indiscretions, but not of murder.
either directly or Indirectly. He is &
man of education and apparent refine
ment, as I had an opportunity to as
certain during my four hours talk with
him."
AS the seaching police investigation
of Father Phillips death progresses the
opinion is strengthened that the popu-
lar churchman died from natural
causes, despite the suspicious circum-
stances which make DIR" Stanley still
prisoner, and which will probably
keep him an inmate of the Tombs for
at least week.
From a source which is believed tG
be reliable, and which is as thoroughly
familiar with SANKEY'S movements as
1T is possible to be at present. has been
learned what the police begin to believe
is the true version of Stanley's meet
ing with Father Phillips and the sub
sequent death Of the priest In STAN
lcy's fiat.
They Had Brandy and Soda.
According to this authority. Stanley was
in saloon at the corner of Ninth avenue
and Fifteth street, which is kept by John
j. Harlow, when, during the afternoon of
Wednesday, May 8, Father Phillips. then
incognito, entered and bought drink of
brandy and soda. The two men fell into
conversation and had several drinks to-
gether. Father Phillips appeared interest,"
| ed in his chance acquaintance, and In the
course of the afternoon and early evening
| II boon companionship in conviviality was
1 apparently established between them, In
4 tho course of which the priest, becoming
somewhat confidential, revealed his real
1 character, at least to the extent of telling
4 his companion that he was Pennsylva-
| MIA clergyman of the Catholic church
seeking relaxation after a period of ner-.
| NcuS tension and worry
Early in the evening, but some hours aft
ter sunset Stanley suggested that his
apartments were nearby and that they
| might find them more agreeable place
than the saloon in which to further Guilt
vato their friendly relations Father Phil
1 lips accepting the suggestion. purchased
& flask of whisky and a siphon of settler,
| end the two somewhat unsteadily left the
saloon and went to Staneys rooms at 72O
\ Ninth avenue.
There they continued their drinking UNI
til the flask was emptied and the priest
sank down in a heavy sleep upon the
couch which stands In SANKEY'S front
leading into the small store room adjoin-
ing. in which his body was afterward
| found.
Stanley. who was a habitually heavy
! drinller, had not yet appcnsed his appe-
title. He put on his hat went out, leav-
ing the priest asleep, and continued his
/ debauch until the early hours of Thurs
day. May Q. Now thoroughly intoxicated.
he found his way back to his rooms and
On looking at Father Phillips discovered
signs of collapse. which alarmed him.
Only partly sobered by his fears, he made
1 vigorous efforts to revive his comrade,
but failed. Though not licensed physi-
clan and though his brain was dullcd by
alcohol and drugs. SANKEY'S long expert
4 ence In semi-medical positions soon led
! him to the conclusion that the man
whom he had taken to his home was
| dead
I. To Get Rid of the BODY.
Then the full embarrassment of his
compromising position dawncd upon his
stu il'n1 praln; lie DID not know the mans
vas priest of the church. To have his
dead body found In the rooms of n stran-
ger opd abs be sure S arouse widespread
| Acting upon the impulse of a liquor
crazed man he seized the body by the
shoulders, dragged it into the unused
storeroom. Strengthened the arms and
le8s into decent semblance of repose
closed the door and dashed out again into
the street almost paralyzed by a frenzy
of fear and apprehension.
AT the time there was perhaps in his
tuddled brain some vague idea that tho
priest would be missed that his friends
would seek him through a newspaper nd-
vertisement, and that he could then.
without publicity and scandal explain the
facts and restore the body to the priest $
friends and relatives.
However this may be, according to this
version of what occurred Stanley again
n;.a immediate N, recourse to strong stimu-
Tying results that when he returned 10
his rooms later in the day the sole idea
remaining nppermost in his mind was
that he had met a stranger on the day
before and had assisted to put him to bed.
but when or where he had no clear rec
objection.
Those who accept this as the real ex-
PLANTATION of the mystery are compelled
to believe that from May until Stan
ley's arrest Thursday night he had in
lulged IN such violent and continuous de-
bauchery as to lose practically all his
mental bearings as to the tragic course
Of events in his rooms on the night of
May s and the early morning of May 8.
PARTY SEARCHING FOR HER.
Mrs. George Cameron Leaves Homo at