The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-11-03

Says Ch,lnn
Slew Rival
Mrs. Phillips, Accused Of
Hammer Murder, Declares
Peggy Caffcc Killed
Mrs. Meadows.
Tells Tale Of Jealousy

1 Los Angeles. Nov g.--aBy A. P.l-
/ Peggy C1ffce welded tho hammer
that beat the life out of Mrs. Alberta
/ Meadowg. according 10 testimony Civ.
en- here today by Mrs Clarn Phillips,
on tfinl for Mrs. Meadows Blnylnp.
( Percy Caffcc Naa tho states star
witness against Mrs Phillips and was
accredited with being the only eye
witness 70 the alleged alaylng ~ Mrs.
/ Phillips
/ Mrs. Phillips told Of the events
leading 10 tho killing last July. Of
/ Mrs Meadows alleged statement that
she was preparing 10 run away with
/ Armour Philllpr. husband ~ the nc.
cuscd slayer. and on fight that fol.
/ lowed between her aud MfA. Meadow,
and mid that when Mrs Meadows
/ was getting the best Of the fRht that
/ Peggy Caffoe rushed ln with the ham.
( mer
! Peggy came with the hammer and
struck ~ Alberta and beat her with u.
and everything went black before my
eyes was the dramatic climax ~ her
( testimony.
/ Tale of jealousy.
! Weeping and rubbing her eyes with
In handkerchief Mrs Philips gave
| her version Of events surrounding the
Staying.
II was tale of jealousy and 81.
/ legged fnlss accusations which accord.
! Ing 20 the defcnHe's contention, caused
her to go into n "br1instorm" the day
Mrs Meadows was beaten 10 death
With hammer
The defendant first related happen
InRs on the F'rlday preceding the slay'
ing. That night she said her hus'
| band. Armour T.. Phillips. accused her
Of "spondine the night with a man at
Camp Baldy" She said she denied
| this and asked Phillips who told him
that. Phillips, she said, replied IT was
Mrs. Julian McElroy.
The next day. Mrs Phillips contin.
iied, she followed her husband 10 Mrs.
| Mcf,lroy's house and there she heard
| him repeat the accusation, but declar'
/ ing Mrs. Meadows was his informant
/ Mrs. McElroy, she said, told Phillips
/ the charge was not true that she her.
seIf was with Mrs. Phillips at tho
camp.
Charges Against Phillips.
| Mrs, McElroy, who testified to the
| effect earlier III the day, also asserted
/ she had made accusations against
/ Phillips concerning his acquaintance
] With Mrs. Meadows. Sho said mem
/ bers of both Phillips and Mrs. Mea-
aows, families had begged Phillips to
cease his attentions to Alberta Mea-
| doWs."
Julian McElroy, son OF the witness,
| corroborated his mothers testimony
about the conversation tho Saturday
before the staying, also that he heard
Phillips say he had planned a trip
With Mrs. Meadows. McElroy also as-
| serted that Mrs. Meadows had toid
him she loved Armour Phillips"
Mrs. Phillips detailed the cireuin'
stances leading to the arrival OF her-
SELF. Mrs. Caffee and Mrs. Meadows
at the hillside spot where the siaylng
occurred and told OF how the three
talked over the relations Of Mrs. Mea'
dows and Mr. Phillips.
Tells Of Fight.
According to her, Mrs. Meadows ad'
mitted that she loved Phillips and was
preparing to go away with him.
Then she slapped me and "e
fought. and we fought, and We
fought" said the witness and went on
TO tell the details Of the struggle.
Finally, she said. Mrs Meadows had
the best Of it and the witness hhd
called Mrs Caffee.
When she had told OF Mrs. Cafes
alleged response to this appeal her at
torncy halted the direct eXamlilatioh'
Mrs. phillips was SO dlscomposed. now
ever. that little headway was nade
for some time with the cross-e%amina-
ton