The Bismarck Tribune

GUARD COLLAR MAGNATE WITH WOMAN MANIA

Capitalist Is Obsessed With Idea Women Are Trying to Lure Him

"COUNTESS" ARRESTED

Magnate Claims Attempt Was Made to Involve Him in Imbroglio

New York, Aug. 24.—As the result of what he regards as attempts by women to lure him, and other plots, Max Phillips, wealthy collar manufacturer and polo player, is being closely guarded on his 700 acre estate near Eatontown, New Jersey.

Eight armed detectives are on guard. Phillips carries a pistol. Watch dogs give warnings if a stranger approaches.

Meanwhile three women, presumably detectives and a male detective are out on bail after being arrested on Phillips' complaint. The purpose of the plots, he says, is to weaken his control of the Phillips-Jones company, which makes Van Heusen collars. The hounding has persisted for months at the instigation of a New York banker, he says.

Public attention to Phillips' troubles first developed over the week-end when the arrests were revealed. The charges against the three women and the man vary from conspiracy to carrying concealed weapons. The women were arrested on his estate Friday night after detectives in his employ had listened to conversation with them by means of a telephonic device.

He says the women tried to lure him aboard a yacht and take a trip to New England with the intention of having him arrested for violation of the Mann act. One of the women posed as a countess and the other as her maid.

Frank H. Berg, Jr., head of his own detective agency, who was arrested near the estate, is out with a statement that the whole thing is a publicity melodrama.

"I cannot see, however, that this publicity will assist his collar business," Berg said. "It certainly won't alter the standing Phillips achieved through newspaper accounts of his divorce case in which he was quoted as saying that he would rather have a good polo pony than a wife. Isn't it absurd to think that women crafty enough to engage in such conspiracies would pick Mr. Phillips for a violation of the Mann act?"

Phillips was divorced seven years ago. Berg denied his agency was being paid by a banker. He said he was employed for a purpose by no means hostile to Phillips.

A heavily veiled woman with abnormally large feet and hands eluded the guards sufficiently yesterday to approach Phillips.

"I am sure he was a man," Phillips said after detectives had hustled her out of the house. "She had the largest hands and feet I ever saw. She was most unsightly and wore a scarlet veil. It was lucky detectives were with me or I might have been shot on the spot."