Evening star., 1923-06-04
QUEST|ONERS FAIL
TO SHAKE CLARA
Sticks to Original Story OF
Escape, Which Is De-
cIared Impossible.
,nsc,al Disnatch to The Star,

Special Dispatch to The Star.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 4.-The thick
stone walls of San Quentin prison. De-
hind which she must serve IRON ten
wears to Iife." today failed to shut ou'
the spotlight of publicity and the ao-
miration of men for pretty Clara Pnil-
lips, twenty four-year-old tiger "o"i-
an" and hammer murderess.
Ensconced in her narrow cell WIN
youthful girl burglar as a celiinale'
her only vista from lone winoo"
high watchtower from which guards
and machine guns keep constant vigil
over her and 1850 other penal wards
Mrs. Phillips today, in less than sixty
hours from the time she started 10 ex-
piate her crime, has won for herself the
soubriouet of San Quentin's new
Queen.
Supreme Test Today.
Today came the supreme test. me
escape Of Mrs. Phillips from the Los
Angeles Jail has never peen explained
satisfactorily. True. she mas toiu tlias
Jesse Carsen. soldier of fortune, sawed
the bars of her cell from the outside ana
lifted her to the roof of the Jail efght
feet above But the officers don't pc
lieve it. 1t was physical lmposslDiily
At least one other man must nave as
sisted, they assert. Also, who financed
the flight into Honduras? Last Satur,
day noon, when Mrs. Phillips entered
San Quentin she was near 10 physieai
and mental breakdown. The psycno-
logical effect, the officers figured, or
night or two behind prison Wallis "ouiu
make her talk"
Two deputy sheriffs. both masters
of the so-called art Of third degree,
were left behind to test Clara at the
propitious moment. Today they tested
her, For three hours they questioned
and cross questioned her, and never
once did she deviate from the Original
story of her escape as first told IN
Honduras to Undersheriff Eugene
Biscailuz and his wife. She denied
that any other man had assisted Car
sen, and as steadfast1y maintained
that a certain well known woman
philanthropist in Los Angeles had not
assisted her with funds. The unoer-
sheriffs went home today as empty
handed as they came. But along with
listened to Clara's grilling. they
dubbed her "the gamester.' and II
was in sheer admiration.
Anxious Over Pardon.
Mrs. Phillips declined to he inter-
viewed Sunday morning. her first Sab
bath in prison. Her tautened nerves
had given way to relaxation In tears.
In the afternoon she changed her
mind. Reporters were welcomed with
smile.
ITS terribly lonesome" she ex-
planned
But the interview elected little ex-
cepting reiteration of declarations
that Peggy Chaffee. former friend.
and not Mrs. Phillips struck Mrs.
Meadows down with a hatchet Los
Angeles officers have admitted that
"only half Of the truth has been told"
and that the hammer in the case has
never been found.
do you think they will ever pardon
me?" Mrs. Phillips wanted to know.
In that query was an indefinable
something which pleaded for reply
on which a forlorn hope might be
built. She will be eligible to apply
for a parole after she has served
seven years.
BObs Her Hair.
One of the first things she did this
morning was to bob her hair. She did
1t herself with pair of shears bor-
rowed from the prison matron.
TT will be less trouble. and I don't
need to dress up in here" she ex-
planned.
She was permitted to bring a few
photographs into prison with her.
That of Armour Phillips. her husband.
who was first to reveal to authorities
her connection with the murder. Is
conspicuous by it's absence. Offlcers
hint that if she is ever freed she Will
not flee to the arms OF this man whom
she processes outwardly still to love.
Copyright, 1921