Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-07-14
DETAILS
OF HORRIBLE
MURDER TOLD
Witness To Killing OF
Los Angeles Woman by
Jealous Wife Recites
Whole Story.

Los Angeles, Cal, July 14-The
full horrible details of the beating
to death of Mrs. Alberta Meadows,
20 year old widow, were revealed
to the police today by Mrs. Peggie
Caffee, young woman who de-
clared she was the eye witness to
the hammer blows which crushed
the life from the victim on a hill
side road in the city here Wednes-
day.
Restrained by threats of death
from answering the piercing pleas
of the victim and nauseated by
the scene, Mrs. Caffee said she
fled down the roadway and was a
few moments later picked up by
Mrs. Phillips, who repeated threats
of death should she reveal the
murder. She said she was driven
down town, where Mrs. Phillips
put her off the automobile coupe
which belonged to the slain
| woman.
Was Afraid to Tell
She was found early today by
the police and said that she had
maintained silence through fear of
the threats of Mrs. Phillips. The
full story was recited in the
presence of the chief of police, the
captain of detectives and Detective
Sergeant Herman Cline of the
homicide squad who brought her
to the chiefs office.
Sheriff William l. Traeger, who |
unearthed the details of the slay- |
ing from the attorney of A. L. |
Phillips, husband of the woman
accused of the murder, is speed |
ing to Tucson, Arizona, today,
where Mrs. Phillips is being held
in custody under his orders.
Bought Hammer Tuesday.
Mrs. Caffee declared she had
known Mrs. Phillips for year
and half. They went shopping
Tuesday and Mrs. Phillips pur-
chased a hammer. She requested
Mrs. Caffee to stay at her home
that evening and she did so.
During Tuesday night Mrs
Phillips, according to Mrs. Caffee,
said girl working in local bank
had been intimate with her hus-
band, Mr.. Phillips, and that she
to meet the girl and have
a talk with her. She requested
Mrs. Caffee to accompany her and
it was agreed.
She told of going down town
afternoon, meeting
Mrs. Meadows at the automobile
parking station, and the request
If Mrs. Phillips that Mrs. Mea-
lows drive them to. a sisters
house. The drive was halted on a
I'LL road, isloated by several hun
lred feet from houses, when Mrs.
Phillips requested Mrs. Meadows
o get out of the car for a few
moments, saying she wished to
ak to her alone.
Intimacy Is Denied. I
Mrs. Meadows left the car and
Irs. Phillips followed, according 1
o the story of Mrs. Caffee. On q
he roadway. a short distance a
rom the car, Mrs. Phillips, ac- \
ording to Mrs. Caffee, accused \
Trs. Meadows of intimacy with q
Ir. Phillips. Mrs. Meadows de- 7
led this and in repeating accusa- a
ons and in a sudden anger, Mrs. \
hillip swung her hand from be- n
ind her back, elenching the ham e
Ter she had concealed, and began \
, rain blows upon Mrs. Meadows, +,
ccording to Mrs. Caffee. T
"She screamed for me to help a
er," said Mrs. Caffee. Mrs. n
hillips menaced me with the d
ammer and threatened death If \
interfered. Mrs. Meadows a
owed back terrified under the n
lows and then broke the grip II
hich Mrs. Phillips had upon ner s
nd ran down the road. Mrs s.
hillips pursued and caught her N
id brought her back and began N
eating her again with the ham 3
er. n
Threatened With Death. N
after she fell 1 became sick q
ID walked away down the road. u