The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-17
WOMAN is CLUBBED TO
DEATH; HUSBAND HELD
Gravel Company Official TO
Face Quiz in Mystery
Killing of Mate.

Detectives holding the husband for
questioning, today found only sfreds
Of clewS in the mystery murder of
Mrs Mary Jane Phillips, 81, in her
kitchen at 1887 South Meridian
street, Friday.
With robbery as the only motive
thus far indicated, she was dubbed
with a heavy bludgeon, two purses
rifled of $37, and the woman left
dying on the kitchen floor.
Alva Phillips, the husband, who
found the body there when he re-
turned from work about $3.50 p. M,
is held at city prisol" under $4,000
bond as material witness. De-
tectives Clifford Becker, Arthur
Schultz, William Brickley and Omer
Larsh this morning were assigned to
tho case.
Mrs. Phillips was struck down
while she was eating mush. OBJ
viously she had been eating peace
fully when the slayer, standing be-
hind her, delivered the first of three
crushing blows against the back Of
her head, Coroner Fred w. Vehling
said after examination this morn
ing.
Doubt Burglary Theory
In holding Phillips for question:
ing, detectives admitted they were
considering improbability of bur-
glar entering the house so stealthily
that Mrs. Phillips would not have
been disturbed.
Only two doors admit to- the
house. One is in the well-windowed
kitchen, in which the attack took
place. The other opens from a
porch into the living room. The
door fits badly, and is opened only
with great difficulty and noise.
Either the murderer managed to
enter in some way and sseerete him.
self until he could spring upon her
from behind, or the murder was
committed by some person to whose
presence she was accustomed, de-
tectives this morning speculated.
Neighbors said they saw a man
whom they believed to be Phillips
leave the house about 7 or 1880 a. m.
Relatives Find Door Locked
Mr.. and Mrs. Matthew Calvin,
1911 Kentucky avenue, brother-in-
law and sister of the slain woman,
knocked at the Phillips door about
ga. m. Mrs. Calvin told police she
thought she saw Phillips inside, but
after beating at both doors and find
ing them locked, she and her hus-
band concluded they had been mis-
taken and left.
Substantiating the robbery theory.
Phillips said there often was $500 or
$500 in the house. He is a partner
in the Speedway Gravel Company
my wife always took care of all
our bills and financial matters" the
husband said.
They had been married eighteen
year,. She was native OF Indi-
annapolis, and had lived all her life
on the south side She was a mem
Der of Sacred Heart Catholic
church. Besides Mrs. Calvin, two
sisters, Mrs. c. E. Brooks, 1926 Nor
dyke avenue, and Mrs. George w.
Gilligan, 1865 Kentucky avenue,
survive her.
Gravel EmpIoye Quizzed
Another witness quizzed by de-
tectives was Curtis Frazier, employe
at the gravel plant, Who said he
hauled one load, returning about
GAS a. m. Phillips was not there
then, he declared, but when he came
back from another trip shortly after
noon Phillips had arrived.
The husband said he came home
about $3.50, found the kitchen door
unlocked, and entered, hating
abruptly at the CHASTITY scene.
He ran to a neighbor's home, from
where police we're called. Search
failed to disclose the weapon used
in the murder