Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-05-18
mysterious DEATH Of
REV. FATHER PHILLIPS.
THE BODY FOUND BADLY DECOM-
POSED, IN THE ROOM OF A
MASSAGE OPERATOR.
MISSING SINCE APRIL 2sTH
CDR STANLEY PLACED UNDER Ar.
REST AND AN INvESTIGA-
TION BEGUN.

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.
Pierpont Morgan in reference to the
threatened strike in the iron and coal
regions of Pennsylvania.
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.
Kirk Stanley, message operator, in
whose room the body is found, is I'M
der arrest as a suspicious person. STAN
ley was subjected to a rigid examina-
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
her tenant said he was from San Fran
cisco and called himself "Dr. STAN
ley" He was accompanied by young
woman who he introduced as his wife.
The body was discovered by Mrs.
Bernius's daughter, who went into
! Stanley's apartments to remove some
bedding which was hanging out of the
window. The police were notified and
search of the body disclosed a num-
Der of papers. Among them was a
letter from John Mitchell president of
the United Mine Workers, and address
ed to the Rev. DR.. Edward S. Phillips,
Hazleton, Pa. There were also several
kilograms from Mitchell addressed to
the priest, and half fare railroad cou-
pom such as is issued to clergymen,
and several receipts made out in DR..
Phillips's name.
1t was made public for the first time,
after the Identification of the body,
sent out by Captaineof Detectives Titus
for Mr.. Phillips, who, according to this
, information, has been missing from his
home in Hazleton since April 18th. The
first alarm was sent out on May Sth
and the second yesterday and detec-
tives from the general Office have been
| quietly searching the hotels and hos
pitfalls in this city for the missing clergy
man.
Police Captain Donohue, after exam
lining the body. the rooms and effects
Of the dead man, sent out general
| alarm for the apprehension of Stanley.
Shortly after midnight Stanley was seen
walking through Fiftieth street. When
he came to the corner of Ninth avenue,
half block from his apartments, he
stopped. A policeman saw him. STAN
| ley saw the policeman at the same mo-
nnent and turned and walked rapidly
avenue. The policeman ran after him
and touching him on the shoulder said
the captain desired to see him. Stan
ley accompanied the policeman and
when he reached the station house was
taken to Capt Donohue's private Of
fee. He and the captain were closeted
together for more than an hour. The
captain then took Stanley before Ser
geant Shible and told the sergeant TO
lock him up.
The prisoner seemed to be suffering
| from the effects of drink or drunks. His
manner was that of man who was
| badly dazed. He said his name was
| Kirk Stanley. and that he had come 10
this city about year and 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
Capt Donohue was reticent in dis
cussing the case. All that ne would say
was that the prisoner had made con-
/ ficting statements. He had denied
1 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 body there
until found by the police.
The police are 81 ching 70. woman
who was known as Stan-t>s wife. They
t say this woman left the house in Ninth
avenue on May and has not returned
Father Phillips iTappeared Oh May S.
Stanley in his cell, said to the cor
oner: 1T is true that know the
| priest / became acquainted with him
| about midnight May s. at Ninth avenue
| and Fifty-eighth street He was talk
ing to two girls. was in good humor
/ and as the party spoke to me | stopped
| After some conversation | asked them
| 10 my rooms. where we had some whis-
| ky. The girls remained with US about
two or three hours and then left. say
| ing they had to go home. After they
| left both the priest and were taken Ill.
! / do not know whether the girls had
put anything into our drinks or not
| but we were nauseated.
THE priest took small bottle OF
rnadirine from his vest uortxof and