The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-06-05
BY Jack Jungmeyer
NEA Service Writer


Los Angeles, June 5.-Clara Phil
stripes which dubbed her tiger wo.
man" for the ferocious hammer MUIR
der of Alberta Meadows. i
That is why, recently recapturcc
after Jail break and flight to Cen
trail America, she now is lodged in
San Quentin penitentiary under 10
year to life sentence for Staying the
young widow she suspected of inti-
macy with her husband. Armour Phil
lips, oil salesman.
The "tigress" could not sheathe
her claws even i'm flight. Could not
control that dominant combative
trait which runs revealingly through
her stage and domestic life and
which erupted in the grisly act on
a lonely hilltop to which she had lur-
ed her victim last July.
Ego Causes Downfall
1t was this penchant for fighting,
this Exaggerated self-assertiveness,
upon which the authorities relied
for her eventual apprehension.
Sheriff William Traeger had insisted
that she could not hide her nature;'
that something would provoke her
and provide a clew.
Jesse Carsen, eX-cOnvict and. by
her statement, the man who sawed
her Les Angeles cell bars, did the
provoking. Carsen was Mrs. Fhil-
lips travelling companion. On the
journey through Mexico into Hon
duras where the arrest was made,
Clara posed as Carsen's wife.
They had been Joined by Mrs.
Phillips younger sister, Eta Mae
Jackson. But when her liberatOr
dropped his pose Of chivalry and took
himself for granted as suitor, Clara
says, public squabbles arose. The
behavior of the trip, for which each
blames the other, blaZed the trail
for pursuit, providing the trace con-
fldently awaited by Sheriff Tracger.
In the Honduran Jail Clura's
bravado flared anew. She slapped
guard. She buffeted newspapermen
and smashed cameras. Wearing a
chip on her shoulder. Sharp OF
tongue and fist, as she is reported to
have been at home and in the stage
chorus she once dominated.
Maintained Her Innocence
Returned to Los Angeles, the mer-
curial Clara proposed to reopen the
flight" to disprove guilt for the
murder she has disclaimed since
her husband told officers of her con-
fession and instigated her arrest.
Her effort to secure retrial was
based on certificate of probable
cause, a technical barrier to her
removal to San Quentin.
Clara Phillips was convicted
largely on the testimony of Mrs.
Peggy Caffee, former chorus girl
chum and asserted eyewitness Of
the Meadows girls death under the
failing hammer.
Leaving her victim horribly mu-
tilated, Mrs. Phillips, 26 years old,
compelled Mrs. Caffce to drive away
with her in the. auto by which Al
berta had gone to her doom.
Then, as the convicting jury heard
the grewsome tale, Mrs. Phillips
threatened to kill her companion il
she told, confessed the crime to
Phillips, was by HIM put aboard Il
train and next day arrested in Ari-
iona. She was convicted on COM
promise verdict and sentenced un-
Ter the California indeterminate law.
A B0rn FIGHTER
1t was while in the Los Angeles |
county Jail awaiting decision on ap-
peal that Clara escaped in December
through sawed cell bars from soil,
tary confinement, scaled the roof,
gained the. street and was, whisked
away by confederates, remained hid
len in the city for several weeks,
cached New Orleans in disguise and |
With Carson and her sister sought |
'efuge in Central America.
The nature of the crime, her es-
APE, the drama of 1O,0OO-mile
:hase, the election of her younger
'ister to share Clara's flight and
ate, her reported near success in
her way to, release in
regucigalpa, the suspense inherent
n extradition proceedings-sll these
i've the case all the elements of al
nj o1o