New Britain herald., 1922-09-18
WOMAN ON TRIAL
 FOR CRUEL MURDER
Accused of Staying Friend With s,,. Use Of Hammer

Los Angeles, Sept 1s.-That neigh borhood gossip figured prominently in the staying of Mrs. Alberta Mea- dows, lo year old widow near Los Angeles, July l2 which resulted in the indictment for murder of Mrs. Clara Phillips. wife of Armour L.. Phillips local oil promoter, was the assertion of investigators assigned to the case,
 Mrs Meadows body was found late in the afternoon of July l2 alongside an unfrequented road on hillside about two miles from the business center of Los Angeles. The skull had been crushed in several places and the features mutilated. Nearby was the handle of a hammI, the head of which had been broken of. Close to the victims head was a large boodstained rock,
 Twenty-four hours elapsed with no clue being discovered as to the iden- tity either of the slayer or the yic- tim when Phillips walked into the office of Sheriff w. l. Traeger and told story which resulted in his wife's arrest. According to the sheriff Phillips said his wife had admitted to him that she killed Mrs. Meadows at the place where the body was found, and that he had put her on a train for Fl Paso, Texas. Mrs. Phil lips was arrested at Tucson, .Arz, and brought back to Los Angeles two days later.
 Meanwhile. the husband of Mrs. To i,e station and said that his wife had witnessed the tragedy. Mrs Caffee inn mediately was summoned to the sta ton as q witness. Her testimony at the inquest was to the effect that she went with Mrs. Phillips to a store on July Il, and saw the accused woman purchase a hammer, and that evening went to Mrs. Meadows apartments but did not find her there.
 Mrs Caffee's testimony also brought out that she was an eye wit ness to the tragedy.
 The next day Mrs Caffee and Mrs. | Phillips waited for Mrs Meadows at a parking station where she kept a motor car while the latter was at
  to the testimony. When Mrs. Mea- dows came for the car, Mrs Phillips asked Mrs Meadows to drive her to her sisters home.
 The three women entered the car and Mrs. Meadows, under Mrs, Phil lips direction, drove to the hillside where the body was found later In the day.
 Mrs Phillips. Mrs Caffee testified. asked Mrs. Meadows to stop and get out
 Then she asked Alberta if Mir Phillips did not give her the tires for her automobile and wrist watch" Mrs. Caffee went on. Mrs Meadows denied this and Clara said l he certainly did and struck her with the hammer, which she pulled from under her cape"
 Mrs. Meadows started to run down the hill, but Mrs Phillips pursued and brought her back, the witness said. Mrs. Meadows was beaten to the ground with repeated blows Mrs. Caffee said she herself ran from the scene, and looking back, saw Mrs. Phillips continuing to strike the prostrate victim. Presently Mrs. Phillips came down the hill, driving Mrs Meadows car, and told Mrs. Caffee to get in. The women parted at downtown street intersection. Mrs Caffee said Mrs. Phillips said to her then: Don't you dare tell of this. You are in it as much as l..
 A woman guard was assigned to r m 2 Mrs nf e trial. Another was placed with the woman who sold the hammer.
 Mrs. Phillips was indicted for mur- der before she reached Los Angeles from Tucson. She greeted her bus band affctionatey at the county jail, and smiled almost constantly during her arraignment Under advice Of her attorney she refused to discuss the case with anyone