Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-11
GIRL LOCATED IS
| F|GUEROA WITNESS
Clara Dearing, Once Engaged to
Santa Monica Murder Sus-
pect, Is Found
TRIED TO EVADE N0TORIETY
Saws She viii Testify for People
at Trial of the Alleged
Wife Slayer
TRIED TO EvADE N0ToRIETY

Clara Dearing, the young woman who
mysteriously disappeared from her
home, 2016 Bellevue avenue, last sun
day afternoon, was located at Nenlce
yesterday afternoon and on being notl-
fled Chief Browne of the district at
torney's force Immediately sent a
woman detective after the girl and she
was brought to Los Angeles
on being notified that her daughter
had been located, the moJner rushed
into the chiefs office and fondly en-
braced her erring child.
With a cry of Mamma, mamma,
Clara rushed into her arms, and as they
sobbed out their joy on each others
shoulders the big chief quietly opened
the door and tiptoed out of the room.
When Clara Dearing disappeared 1t
was believed that people interested IN
Fieueroa's defense had aided her In
leaving home, but the girls statement
yesterday brought to light the fact that
none of the suspected mans friends or
relatives had persuaded her to get
under cover. 1t is likely that she will
be called on to testify in behalf of the
prosecution when Figueroa Is brought
to trial.
When questioned by Chief Browne,
Miss bearing sobbingly admitted that
she left home to evade notoriety, fear
ing that she would be drawn into
the Figueroa murder trial. The girl
was engaged to George %. Ffgueroa on
March 15 1910, but a few days pre-
yious to that day the engagement was
broken. on April IS Figueroa married
Sarah Pugsley and when her dead body
was found in their residence four days
after the performance of the cere-
mony the officers arrested F1gueroa
and charged him with having murdered
her.
HERALD GIVES CLEW
A member of the Ocean Park police
force was notified of the girls disap-
pearance and after reading a complete
description of her In The Herald yes
lerday morning he recognized the miss
ing girl in a lunch room at Venice and
,,iaced her In detinue. Later she was
brought to Los Angeles. To Chief
Brown she stated that on leaving her
home Sunday afternoon she came down
town and remained until evening. At
tbout o'clock she went to the house
ol n woman friend three blocks from
her home and remained over night.
Early the next morning, Monday, sha
went to Ocean Park and registered at
the Windward hotel under the name
of Annette Witchelly. To defray her
expenses she borrowed money from
woman at Ocean Park.
d When she left home she had $40, al
though her mother was under the i'm
preston that she had only so cents
Clara. informed Chief Browne that she
had secreted two So gold pieces She
stated that while engaged to F1gueroa
she saved SO, but had loaned the
money to him on his promising to repay
her.
During the fore part of May, when
Figueroas preliminary examination
was set, Miss Dearing left home and
remained away two days, returning
voluntarily on running short OF funds
At that time the police were notified,
but could not locate her.
MADE LOVE TO HER
Ocean Park seems to have played an
important part In Clara bearings and
Fierueroas life during the past six
months During the Christmas sea-
son she met Figueroa at Ocean Park
and while they strolled along the
beach there he made love to her. 1t was
on one of their trips to Ocean Park
that they had their first quarrel.
Shortly afterward Figueroa was mar
ried to Miss Sarah Pugsley and passed
part of his honeymoon in Ocean Park.
He and his bride took up their resi-
dence there and he is now in jail
charged with having murdered her.
Chief Browne pointed out to the girl
the mistake she made by leaving home.
She listened attentively and after the
officer had finished, she tearfully prom
ised to follow his advice by remaining
with her mother.
Miss Dearing told friends at Venice
that she could not get along with her
family. She said she would be willing
to testify at the trial of George Fig
ueroa on the charge of numbering his
young wife, If her people would let
her alone.
81 was not disappointed when George
Figueroa married Miss Pugsley," said
Miss Dearing. 1--WE quarreled some
time before he married her and now 1
am very glad I didn't marry him."