Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-07-16
WOMAN HELD ON
MURDER CHARGE
ADMITS SHE IS
MRS. PHILLIPS
Gave Her Name As Clara
McGuyer After She Had
Been Taken Into Custody
At Tucson Thursday,
IS WANTED IN DEATH
OF MRS. A. MEADOWS
ADMISSION Of Prisoner As to
Her Identity Comes After
Three : Hour Conference
With Her Counsel,
By The Associated Press ,

Tucson, Ariz. July 15.-The
woman who gave her name to po-
lice officials here last Thursday
night as Clara McGuyer, after she
had been taken in custody while
laboard an eastbound Sunset limited.
admitted today that her real name
was Mrs. Clara Phillips. The wo-
man was placed under arrest ON
adVices from Los Angeles, which
stated that she was wanted in con-
nection with a hammer murder"
i case. of which Mrs. Alberta Mead
ows was the victim.
The admission of the prisoner as
to her identity was mads after she
had been closeted in her cell for
three hours with John l.. VanBus.
kirk, local attorney, who has been
engaged to act as her counsel.
| VIII BE Taken Back.
| Sheriff w. e. Traeger, of Los
Angeles, who arrived in Tucson last
night for the purpose of taking tie
prisoner In his custody, declared
the return trip to the coast would
be made tonight after Mrs. Phillips
agreed to accompany the officer
voluntarily.
Curiosity probably was the inn
pelling force that led to the wom-
ans admission regarding her iden-
tity. Previously she had emphatt-
Ically denied that she was the Mrs.
Phillips named in the indictment
lcharging murder. She said that
her name was Clara McGuyer.
A letter brought here by Sheriff
lTraeger addressed to Mrs. A. l..
Phillips and claimed by the sheriff
to have been written by Mr..
Phillips, her husband, was the me-
dium through which the admission
as to her identity was obtained.
Refused Letter at First.
When Sheriff Traeger first ap-
lpeared at the police station this
morning and confronted the woman
in her cell with the letter. she re-
fused to accept it. She insisted
that she was Clara McGuyer.
Immediately after rejecting the
'epistle she requested permission
from authorities to consult with her
Iattorney. After being closeted for
three hours with her lawyer the
latter came out of the cell and said.
we're now ready to see the sheriff.
IShe has confided everything to me-
The Los Angeles snsfTf S'ts SURF
moned and Attorney Buskirk.
accompanied by Traeger, police Of,
ficials, and Los Angeles and local
newspaper men, led the way to the
Z, basement cell where the prisoner
was held.
Sheriff Traeger, meet Mrs.
Phillips" said the attorney in way
of introduction.
"WcIl. That's Over"
well, that's over" remarked Ihe
sheriff, 1--WE will leave tonight at
1885 for Los Angeles"
I'm tickled to DEATH" Mrs.
Phillips replied.
Traeger then tore open the en-
velope addressed to Mrs. A. L.
Phillips and handed the prisoner
a sheet of folded yellow paper, ap-
lparently only written on one side.
Mrs. Phillips made hurried pre-
tense of reading the note. She
moved over to corner of the cell,
while those present turned their
backs. In just a few seconds not
long enough for more than cur
sorry glance, she turned smiling
face to the newspaper men and Of
ficials.
"You may talk to me all you
want now" was her next remark.
But all questions in regard to the
brutal murder were barred by her
attorney,
Married 8 Years Ago.
"Oh. yes! / will tell you that"
, she replied in answer to querry
as to how long she had been mar
ried. Il was married nine years
lago.
"I have no children" she con-
tinued. ...
Eyes, I was married to A. [.
Phillips in Houston, Texas" She
said. Then laughing good humored-
ly at some fleeting thought, she
added, "in the First Baptist
; church."
One of the newspaper men asked
il she would consent to tell her
. maiden name. On advice of her at
. torney. she declined. She declared
the reason for refusing this request
was that she has good many rela-
, tives living In Ell Paso and other
, cities near here.
Basement Cell Hot.
: The basement cell, where this
: brief interview took place, was hot
in spite Of being underground. Mrs.
/, Phillips used her handkerchief
, freely, wiping her forehead and
sometimes twitching 1t nervously
between her two hands. Her win
ming smile. however, was never
lacking.
Rings found upon the person OF
Mrs. Phillips, when she was arrest
ed as Mrs. McGuyer, have been she
! subject Of considerable speculation
among local officials. Three dia-
monds and one pearl ring and two
: canoes are included in the collec-
tion.
Are these your rings she was
: asked.
, "You bet they are mine,' she re-
Iplied