Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-31

&SNSENISSNSVr2efHVH NC/VVVVINV
Is 1t love, jealousy or hate that lies
back of the attempt of Ensign Stella
Phillips to commit suicide Monday
afternoon in Wall street rooming
house?
This is the question that is agitating
the minds of the Salvation Army peo-
pie at their headquarters on South San
Pedro street.
Some side with the sweet-faced little
ensign; Others take the part of Frank
Clem whose attentions are alleged to
have caused a rift in the friendship of
Ensign Phillips and Captain Ethel
Claw.
one officer said last night that the
persistent love of Soldier Glenn caused
all the trouble
Another thought jealousy of Clems
liking for her chum, Captain Ethel,
made Miss Phillips respondent.
And still another believed that love
changed to hate for her former chum
was the motive, that led Stella Phillips
to drink carbolic acid in her mothers
room.
Now Wants to Live
Ana while the army quarters are rife
with surmise, suspicion and conjecture,
the subject of all the talk is lying on
pital, now anxious to get well.
Il am sorry now that L tried to take
my life Ensign Phillips said yester-
day with a queer choking in her voice.
II know that l did wrong but some
things We're so hard to bear. Since L
was brought here, God has talked to
me in a still small voice. He bids me
hope and look forward to future days
of usefulness in the work that l love-
$ No, 1 have nothing to say about any
man. 1t is not right that l should tell
all my heart secrets. i thought my
chum was forgetting me and that made
me sad. Perhaps there were other rea
sons. If there were, they are past
now. L am going to get well and enter
once more into Gods chosen work"
Talks of jealousy
'I'lI tell you the straight of it," said
Soldier George when the memorial SER
vice was over.
This man Glen was in love with
the ensign and just pestered her with
his attentions. She put him off time
and time again. She said she just
wanted her chum Captain Ethel Claw.
why, l remember a meeting last
year in Pasadena when Ensign Phil
lips said she was going back to Ala
bama. Glen tore down to the Arcade
station and begged her to stay out here.
How it ended l don't know.
Then Captain Claw played for the
soldier and that caused the ruction
between the girls. l am experienced in
such things and know what am talk
ing about. She was Jealous of her
chum.'
The doorkeeper gave cackling
laugh and turned to speak with COM
rade.
Il don't think Captain George is quite
right" said an officer, with a strong
face and smiling blue eyes.
Glenn Makes Statement
1--WE all know Comrade Glen pretty
well here and like him very much He
might have cared for Ensign Phillips
at one time, but that was long ago."
when the two girls came down
here on furlough " said another Sal
vationist, 1--WE noticed that Glen
helped thea pay their bills. That was
only the part of Christian brother"
Comrade Clem plays a cornet in the
band. After the service he carefully
wiped his instrument and replaced it
in case.
why should | talk about my pri-
vate affairs?" he demanded sharply
of his questioner. II have nothing to
say. / was not treated fairly and Just
put a stop to certain things.
II don't know why Miss Phillips
tried to kill herself. | know l was not
the cause of 1t.
II have asked advice of my friends
in the army. They tell me to keep still
and say nothing. They believe in me
and my life in this city speaks for it.
self.
II have nothing to conceal I feel
only pity for the girl in the hospital.
More l will not say"
Miss Claw Slips Away
1t was hinted by several of the wo-
men officers that both Miss Phillips
and Miss Claw were suspended from
the army II was said that they vio-
lated orders and were practically de-
serters until reinstated by Col. French
of San Francisco
Accompanied by the girl whose
presence in the city is said to have
resulted in the disruption of the friend
ship between Miss Phillips and Miss
Claw, the latter sat in. the meeting last
night. but she wore no uniform
The two girls slipped away before
the meeting was ended.
Although not under the Los Angeles
jurisdiction, the local army people have
unconsciously passed judgment on
Miss Claw and apparently have bla led
her for her part in the story of wound
ed pride and despair which led in a
measure to Miss Phillips attempt at
suicide. according to her mother.
Mrs Phillips has intimated that the
sundered friendship between her
daughter and Capt Claw was the rea-
son for the dependency that resulted