Brooklyn Standard Union - July 7, 1928 - Deaths Phillips' Death Laid by Doctor to Alcoholism Refused to Take Medicine or Stop Drinking, Attending Physician Asserts in Report to Police Atlantic City, N. J. July 7 - Frank J. HARROLD, chief of Atlantic County detectives, today said he had concluded an investigation into the death here of John M. PHILLIPS, Queens sewer contractor, and that death was due to acute alcoholism. Gives Doctor's Statement In connection with this statement HARROLD made public the written report of Dr. Vam Earl JOHNSON, who attended PHILLIPS here, which gave the cause of death as "acute alcoholism," and also a transcript of the record in the office of the registrar of Vital Statistics of the Atlantic City Department of Health. The health record listed the cause of death as "alcoholic poisoning," and states that Dr. JOHNSON signed the death certificate. Dr. Johnson letter, in part, reads: "Chief of Detectives, Atlantic City, N.J. "Dear Sir: This bears witness that I attended Mr. John M. PHILLIPS, who died in this city on July 3, 1928. Mr. PHILLIPS had been under my care during his visits to Atlantic City for about two years, I saw him for his last illness on June 27. "I found him in a state of alcoholic intoxication. A nurse was put on the case but he refused absolutely to take any medication or to stop drinking." Borne Out By Death Record The transcript of the death record bears out Dr. JOHNSON's report. PHILLIPS was buried today in the $50,000 mausaoleum built by him a year ago in Calvary Cemetery. PHILLIPS had long been a power in Queens, just how great is a matter of speculation. He had been charged with many things with sewer graft, with political preferment, with failure to pay a million dollars in Federal income taxes. He was a kingmaker in the heyday of his power, although after his death, at Atlantic City, Tuesday afternoon, it was reported he had not spoken to Maurice E. CONNOLLY, ex-Borough President of Queens for four years. Neighbors, friends and political associates who had known him for many years attended the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Redeemer at Freeport, where a requiem mass was sung by the Rev. John F. O'TOOLE, pastor of the church and a friend of PHILLIPS for thirty years Acted as Pallbearers. The honorary pallbearers were Fred CURRAN, Phillips' secretary; Park Commissioner James BUTLER, Conrad DIESTAL, oldest living member of the Queensboro Lodge of Elks; James GALLO, Joseph RYAN, James CAREY, Samuel ROSOFF, William MCDONALD and John MCDONALD, Ambrose HOVER, Dr. Thomas M. CASSIDY. Peter CAMPBELL, Assemblyman Jeremiah Ryan BLEUT, Jeremiah MAGLIA, of the New York City police: George J. REARDON, Democratic leader of Nassau County: Mason D. SMEDLEY, Democratic leader of Queens County; Capt. Frank DOUDERA, Joseph QUINN, Peter MC GARY, Register of Queens County, and Alderman Samuel BURDEN. Last night funeral services were held at his late home, 265 South Ocean avenue, Freeport, by the Queensboro Lodge of Elks and the Malcolm RAFFERTY Post, United Spanish War Veterans. PHILLIPS was a charter member of the Queensboro Elks and a past commander of the Malcolm RAFFERTY Post. More than 1,000 persons came to the house during the afternoon and evening. There were many floral tributes. Among the delegations was one from the Mineola Post of the United Spanish War Veterans, of which Joseph PHILLIPS, a brother, is commander. The trials of CONNOLLY, Frederick B. SEELEY, ex-Queens sewer engineer, and Clifford B. MOORE, consulting engineer, on indictments handed up by the Grand Jury investigating sewer conditions were set for Sept. 24 by Justice Arthur S. TOMPKINS in Long Island City. All pleaded not guilty. PHILLIPS had been a co- defendant with CONNOLLY and SEELEY on the indictment charging conspiracy. MOORE was named in a special indictment charging he falsely certified his State income tax return. Aaron RE?UER, representing CONNOLLY, gave notice he reserved the right to make a motion for a change of venue, inspection of the Grand Jury minutes, or the dismissal of the indictments. He said he wanted the rights of his client preserved in that respect. CONNOLLY, outside of the courtroom, declared he had not been asked to attend the funeral of PHILLIPS and did not intend to go. Phillips was also under indictment for having failed to make Federal Income tax returns in the sum of nearly a million dollars. The trial in Federal Court, Brooklyn, had been set for July 17. Henry VOLIMER, Jr., PHILLIPS's lawyer, maintained the indictment would be dismissed because of PHILLIPS' death. What action the government will take is as yet unknown. PHILLIPS is said to have large sums of money and bonds in banks and safe deposit vaults in Montreal as well as in this State. ==== NYBROOKLYN Mailing List ==== The Brooklyn Information Page http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~blkyn/Bklyn.Info.Page.html