Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-31
Returns to United States
Voluntarily to Clear Name
of Charges, Announces
Clara Upon Arrival

NEW ORLEANS, May 29.-Clara
Phillips, fugitive hammer murderess,
arrived here at 115 p. m, complet-
ing the first lap Of her journey from
Honduras to Los Angeles. She was
standing on the deck with a deputy
sheriff and her sister as, the steam
| ship Copan locked.
She was clad in a brown dress and
brown hat. She was not handcuffed.
A huge crowd collected at the dock
to obtain a glimpse Of the woman
who was convicted Of beating Alberta
Meadows to death with a hammer,
and later made a sensational flight
from the Los Angeles county Jail to
Central America.
Special details Of police mingled
with the crowd to prevent possibili-
ties of the woman again attempting
to escape.
After the usual visit of custom of
ficials to the ship, Mrs. Phillips and
her escort entered the automobile of
the chief of police and drove to po-
lice headquarters, where she prom
ised to give an interview to news,
papermen.
1t was the second time Mrs. Phil
lips had visited New Orleans this
year.
ten days here in January while
journeying to Mexico after her. es-
cape. Here she lived the life Of a
calm, contented, travel.stained tour
list, it was revealed today by the
States.
She posed as the wife of Jesse c.
Carsen, adventurer and prosrector,
who accompanied her on her flight.
They reached here January from
Oklahoma by way of st. Louis. -
They spent the first night at a
hotel. The next day they obtained
quarters in a private home in a
fashionable residential section. They
said they wanted rest and Mrs. Phil
ups spent most of the time on the
front porch of the home. Several
times she accompanied Carsen on
shopping expeditions.
The fugitive became a favorite
among her new acquaintance. She
proved a good corversationalist and
danced well. Frequently she' at
tended moving picture theaters in
the nelghborhood.
Finally the boat on which they
were to take passage to Vera Cruz
arrived and on the morning of Jan
uary 10, a party accompanied the
couple to the dock where they board
ed the steamship Leerdam.
Several letters from both express
ing their gratitude at the wonderful
treatment accorded them and tell
i,oo Of +haiY.
subsequently received by their
friends from Mexico City.
Clara Phillips and her guard con-
sisting of Under Sheriff Eugene
Biscailuz and Deputy Walter Hunt
er, will leave here for the Pacific
coast on the Southern Pacific's Sun
set limited tomorrow at noon, Mr.,
Biscailuz decided after a conference
with railroad officials.
Clara Phillips, Los Angeles girl
convicted of the murder of Mrs. AL
berta Meadows, declared here today
that she was innocent of the crime
and that she was returning to Cali
fornia of her own free will to prove
it. Peggy Caffee, alleged witness to
the killing, was the actual slayer,
she stated. This charge she had
made previously.
Mrs. Phillips was allowed to re-
ceive newspapermen in the parish
house of detention here upon her ar
rival this afternoon from Honduras
where she was arrested recently as
the elimination of search through
out North America that had been
under way since her escape from
Los Angeles Jail early in the year.
II am going back to California on
my own accord" she said, ito fight
for my name and honor and freedom
in the right way. [ am innocent of
the crime and when all comes out
will be indicated"
Full Story to Be Told
Mrs. Phillips declared that her con-
viction resulted from her failure to
tell the details of her story at her
trial, she having maintained silence
upon advice of her counsel.
AS a result. she said. only one side
of the affair was told, that of the