The New York herald., 1922-12-06
GETS AWAY IN MoToI
Tire Track Trail Causes
Fear of Vengeance on
Peggy Caffee.
HUSBAND is DETAINED
Airplane Pursues Fugitive, Be-
lieved Trying to Get
to Mexico.

Special Dispatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
Los ANGELES, Dec. 5.-Mrs. Clara
Phillips. under a sentence of ten years
to life for killing Mrs. Alberta Meadows
with a hammer, escaped from the
county Jail early this morning and is
still at large.
Three bars sawed out of the window
of her cell told the story of her escape.
She was awaiting completion of plans
for her transfer to San Quentin prison.
Clara planned to kill Peggy Caffee,
witness to the murder. II Is believed, 10:
peculiar tire imprints found near the
county jail were found also in front
of Peggy's home in Long Beach. fortu-
nately for Peggy. who was the prose-
cution's chief witness in the tr.dh the
young woman was in Los Angeles yes
terday. and did not return home last
night.
Armour Lee Phillips. husband of Mrs.
Phillips was held In technical custody
pending further developments tonight,
the Sheriff's office said.
Mrs. Phillips retired early last night
and complained of not feeling well.
When the matron called her this morn
ing she did not answer, and soon after
wards the fact of her escape was known.
Aided by confederates who worked
within twenty-five feet Of the room
where the jail matron sat reading, Clara
was enabled to wriggle through a small
opening made by the removal of three
steel bars and to go from there to the
ground by a perious route, which IN
cluded rope ladders and a sheer descent
down drain pipe, Footprints showed
she was barefoot.
Believed Headed for Mexico.
The most commonly accepted theory is
that Mrs. Phillips is headed for Mexico
via automobile. put there Is also the pos
sibility she may have gone by boat from
Long Beach. Private speed boats were
commandeered to-day and put TO sea In
an effort to cut off the fugitive.
Sheriff Traeger said: II think this
was an outside job. absolutely, and the
reward of days Of plotting and schem-
ing. The getaway was one OF the most
clever and brilliant ever staged by i
woman prisoner. and everything was
done from the outside"
The finding of an abandoned automo-
bile at Long Beach. in which was Mrs.
Phillpss fur wrap. and the running
board of which showed the imprint OF a
woman's bare foot was the first real
clue the authorities had. Then came q
report that Phillips and his wife had
been seen in Los Angeles when they
stopped at a suburban drug store while
Phillips telephoned. II was also reported
that one OF the defense witnesses in the
trial was seen last night in large auto
mobile headed toward the county jail.
Defense Witness Questioned.
Everybody who could have had any
competition with the escape. or knowl-
edge of IL. was questioned by the police
IL within reach. These Included Harry
Karst defense witness, who IS aid to
have declared during Claras trial that
Mrs. Phillips would never 20 to tho
penitentiary." karst steadfastly main
tanned that he had nothing to do with
the escape.
Clara's cell was in perfect order.
vase containing a bunch of red roses was
in Its usual place beside her cot, and
neT ciotneS nunR on tne wall. lie"
night garment, however. lay on the
bed as though II had been used during
the night, but when il was unwrapped
the three steel bars that had been cur
away fell TO the floor
No trace of saw filings could be
found either in Clara's cell or on the
window sill outside and this led to the
theory that the bars had been sawed
several days ago.
Every woman inmate in the Jail de-
MED any knowledge of the plan to cs-
cape Yesterday Mrs Madeain pben-
chain walked from the door Of the Jail.
free. Last hight Mrs. Clara Phillips
went out through the window. give
me Just forty-eight hours" said the
Sheriff, 'and we will bring her back.
CALExico. CAL. Dec. 5.--Cliief OF Police
j. n. Hardwick rccounoltersd the Mex
lean border near here to-day from an
airpiane in an effort 20 Illustrate any
attempt by Mrs. Clara Phillips 10 enter
Mexico at or near this city. An airplane
Is being held IN readiness 10 pursue any
strange aircraft heading for Mexico.
PEARLS FOUND IN FISH.