The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1922-12-05
CLARA PHILLIPS Y
At LARGE AGAIN
AFTER DELIVERY
Three Bars Of Cell Sawed From Out.
aide, 10 Indication: Ladder lean.
Ing Against Wall With
Footprint Near.
ALL LEADS TO BORDER
ARE GUARDED BY COPS
News OF Sensational Escape Broad
easied to officers In Southern
California; All Roads Are
Being Watched.
nr Tho United rrr.,

tftN hUk't'Hs fftts wv
mor murdcrcss" is at large.
Mrs. Clara Phillips. sentenced from
ten years TO life Imprisonment for
beating Mrs. Alberta Meadows TO
death. made a daring escape early
today from the Los Angeles county
jail. one Of the strongest prisons In
the country.
Posses were organized throughout
Southern California TO take up tho
search for the fleeing woman.
Immigration and customs officials
were instructed to watch for tho
fugitive at the border. as Il was be-
lievod she would attempt TO reach
Mexico.
The only cluos 10 the escape,
picked up so far. ended just out
side of tho Jail walls.
There bars had been sawed from
the window In her cell. The cutting
had apparently been done by somo
one or the outside of the building.
ladder leaning against the wall
gave silent testimony as to how tho
murderess stepped from prison. An
automobile with friends was watt
ing in the alley below and Just as
soon as the escape was carried out,
the dash to Mexico was started, ac-
cording to the theory of officials.
The exact time of her dellveranco
from prison was not determined.
Mrs. Phillips was In her cell at
2 a. m. today when Mrs. l.. d. Fish
er, night matron. made her usual
tour of inspection, the matron in
sisted.
The window of the cell had been
decorated by a pretty curtain, which
served to conceal the sawed bars,
It was learned. The hole in tho
bars was scarcely large enough to
permit Mrs. Phillips to squeeze
through and the jagged edges of the
sawed bars caught threads from her
clothing.
Iilllo vi WOHluH y UelH ivtS
were found under the window, lead
ing to the point where tho ladder
had been placed
Officers telephoned all Mexican
border points In California and Arl-
iona to watch for her.
Guards were placed on every
.rai leading from the dry deserts
Of Southern California into the
wastes of northern Mexico and on
he roads which cross from the gar
len spots around San Diego and tho
Imperial Valley.
Automobiles secured the roads. Aid
of all peace officers in Southern
California was Immediately enlisted.
It was pointed out that Mrs. Phil
lips herself probably was acquainted
with Northern Mexico and perhaps
with the habits of its people, having
lived in Texas and other border
states. She had some knowledge
If Spanish
The escape of Mrs. Phillips, like
he crime of which she was con-
sicted, was without parallel in Grim
nal annals Of California.
She beat Mrs. Meadows, who had
been her friend, to death with a
hammer when she became jealous of
the friendship between Phillips and
the attractive young widow.
Authorities had received warnings
that Mrs Phillips would escape.
Search was instituted for Armour
Phillips, her husband, and Harry
Karst, who had both recently Wis.
tied Mrs. Phillips at the jail Karst
was named at the trial as the man
with whom Phillips had accused his
wife with staying overnight at Camp
Badly, in the quarrel which Mrs.
Phillips said led to her jealousy Of
Mrs. Meadows.
If Mrs. Phillips headed for Mexico
she was probably over the line be-
fore her escape was discovered. She
had only about $50 miles to go over
good roads.
If she escaped at 2 a. m. as Jail
ers believed she was free for five
or six hours before the alarm was
given.