davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1922-08-20

women were coming UP the turn
and they were arm in arm. My
first thought was that they had
made up, and I returned to the
car. I stood by, believing that
they were going to get in, but
still I had a fear, a sort of pre-
monition, that there was trouble
yet ahead.
I was right, for Clara again
turned upon the girl. She said:
Now, don't lie to me, Alberta.
You certainly have gone out with
my husband"
TRIED TO SAVE HER.
With that. she hit her again on
the head with the hammer.
I. ran toward them and the girl
called out with such q pleading
voice: ......I . ..r. ..
"Oh, save me, lady, save me-"
As I attempted to give her aid
Clara rushed toward me with:
Get out of my way or I'll kill
your '..t
Then she started welding that
murderous hammer on the girls
head again. I saw blood. I was
nervous and sick from the sight
and tried to get down the hill for
some help. / got to the first
turn, which was about 500 yards.
I was frightened and sick ut my
stomach. When again looked
back the girl was lying down and
Clara was kneeling over and strilk.
ing her with fierce, savage blows.
could see the blood on her arm.
yelled:
"Helpl Help! Oh, Clara, don'tr
then fell in faint against the
stone wall. The terrible sight was
TOO much for me. had been
The Washington times., 1922-08-20

THE INNOCENT VICTIM
Alberta Meadows, who was slain
because of Clara Phillips jeal-
ousy, has been cleared of the
charge that she attempted to
win the affections Of the slay.
er's husband.
ing to do anyway. I have been
staying in night after night by
myself: have been so lonesome.
will be glad to go out with YOU"
LOCKED IN-APARTMENT.
Clara had her cape on, but I did
not pay any attention to whether
she had the hammer with her.
had never seen her in a rage or a
fight, SO naturally I did not con-
meet the use Of the implement with
such an emotion.
We were standing on the corner
of Grand avenue and Pico street
to change cars. We had to walt
quite while, so she stepped into
a hotel nearby and phoned for O
taxi.
As the cab drove up she noticed
that It was q Black and White
company car and observing the
, driver. remarked:
"oh, believe this is the same
man that drove me about this
afternoon"
Clara gave the chaffeur specific
instructions concerning the loca-
ton of the Alberta Meadows flat
and told him 20 drive about three
doors beyond the place. We got
out. 1t was very dark at the place
where we alighted. She paid the
driver and dismissed him. v.
We walked to the rear Of the
girls apartment house as she ex-
planned:
II want to see II the girls cur
Is out Of the garage"
Clara never told me the girls
name, always referring to her
as "the girl" We found the car
had not yet been driven into the
garage.
There are stairs leading up to
the rear entrance Of the apartment.
We both went up them, I waiting
at the top Of the steps for her. IL
was then that she spoke the girls
name. She said:
The Washington times., 1922-08-20
Hammer Slayer Will
Plead Insanity in
Murder of Rival

ERE the latest developments in the Stone Age
! murder:
l. CLARA Phillips indicted for murder in the first de-
gree planning to offer evidence Of temporary insanity
and the unwritten law to justify the Staying of Alberta
Meadows who she believed was stealing her husbands
love-
The slayer entered formal plea of not guilty when
arraigned in court for preliminary hearing and was
held without bail
g. Superior Court Judge Housef Of Los Angeles, has
set September IS as the date for the trial
The prosecuting officials, tracing the record Of Mrs
pbiIps have been informed that the accused
twice married. and important evidence expected from
her first husband, who is said to be still living.
g. A. L. Phillips, present husband Of the slayer, has
been refused permission to visit her in prison.
The Washington times., 1922-08-20

side. Can talk to you a minute"
Alberta answered.:
Eyes"
Clara said:
Alberta, my husband bought
these tires for you, didn't he?"
The girls answer was emphatic:
why. no! purchased them
myselfr'
All this time Mrs. Philips had
the cane over her shoulders. There
was no sign Of the hammer.
Az I stepped out Of the car after
them Cara said: .
"And he also bought you q wrist
watchw ..
Alberta replied:
mo, Mrs. Phillips. I purchased
that myself. and ! have the bill Of
SALE"
THE HAMMER SWUNG.
Then Clara became more angry.
She flashed at the girl:
He did. too" ...
And with that remark she drew
the hammer from beneath the cape.
swung It. around back OF her and
then, with a blow, hit the girl over
the forehead. AS she struck, the
girls hat fell off.
] said:
clara, for Gods sake, don't do
that" ....
Alberta started down the hill,
with Mrs. Phillips after her. 1
started up the hill to see IL could
find some house where might get
help to the victim. / had seen the
rage in Clara's eyes, and knew
she was then a woman to fear.
After had gone a short dis
tance up the road. I heard voices
and turned around. The two
The Washington times., 1922-08-20

over town with her while she did
a little shopping. ..
She didn't tell me what she had
In mind to purchase. In fact, did
not give 1t much thought. We
went first to an automobile park.
ing station ut Ninth and Broadway,
where she said she was going TO
borrow q friends car. She asked
me to wait outside the entrance
for q minute and she went over TO
the man i'm charge.
VICTIMS CAR REFUSED.
She told this man that she had
permission to use Mrs. Alberta
Meadows car for part OF the
afternoon, but the employe refused
to let her have 1t. He gave some
excuse about not having received
the owners o. k. and Clara cas-
ually replied:
ooh. very well; then I'll take a
taxi" 49,
She made some excuse to me
about wanting to go on some er.
rand In a car and said she woul
call for me later for the shopping
tour. I took a street car and re-
turned to my fiat.
Where Clara went I don't know.
She never discussed this mission
with me. About o'clock that
same afternoon, she came to my
apartment and we again started
out.
She purchased some slippers and
then went to a shop for lunch
con. She seemed happy, but
strangely meditative and quiet.
There seemed to be something OH
her mind.
The first I heard about any con-
Germ she had over her husband was
when she called at my fiat that
morning. While I was dressing to
go out with her she grew quite
confidential and said to me:
Peggy. I've found out from
some nelghbors that my husband
has been going out with some
other girl. He seems to pay q
great deal OF attention to her.
He bought some things for her
car. He also gave her wrist
watch.
"Once, when was in her
presence, she showed the watch
to me and said she got it for
her birthday. believed her.
But my husband doesn't pay
much attention to me-"
CLARA BUYS HAMMER.
I said:
"Oh. well, maybe It isn't so. II
probably IL Just talk about his
paying attention to this girl"
After our luncheon that day
she purchased some hosiery and
a skirt. She didn't seem much
excited about anything. I noticed
nothing unusual in her manner.
We next went to the Woolworth
store and into the basement.
I was carrying the skirt she
had purchased. She led the way
to the hardware department,
where she bought the fatal ham,
mer-the instrument which has
brought about such q tragedy.
1t appeared at that time that
she merely wanted It for house
hold purposes and I asked no
questions.
want to explain here that if
she made a visit to that bank in
which Alberta Meadows worked,
1t was on the day preceding this.
I didn't see her at all that day.
I never had been at that bank
with her or with anyone else.
In fact. I don't even know where
II is located.
Clara carried the hammer her.
self after we came from the
woolworth store. I suggested
returning to the apartment. A
little later she said to me:
Peggy, would you mind coming
along with me? want to see
this girl that they say has been
going out with my husband. 1
want to find out what she has to
say for herself"
said:
.Certainiv I,uvtiI hay. .o,,,
The Washington times., 1922-08-20


Clara started across the street
and I followed her. Stepping up to
the girl she said:
Alberta, would you mind TAX.
Ing me out home. You're going
my way and the street cars are
SO crowded chat I hate to ride In
them"
All this time, thought Clara
wanted to ride with her just to
talk things over with her. Alberta
replied:
why yes. I'd be glad to-
Then Clara said:
"Oh. by the way, I want you to
meet Peggy.
She did not even mention my
last name. / got into the coupe.
because thought Clara wanted
me to ride t. keep them company.
And even at this time that fatal
hammer never. came into view.
Clara's hands were always beneath
that cape she wore. We were just
a short distance from the parking
station when Clara said:
by the way, would you mind
taking me up to my sisters? She
lives quite a way out"
Then she added: ..--.. .,
The trees are very puzzling.
but I guess can direct you."
Alberta replied:
"why, yes, I'll take you. often
60 for drive after work."
Their conversation turned to the
subject of Mrs. Meadows husband.
Alberta said:
"Yes, he died just seven months
ago, and I certainly miss him."
But Clara seemed more intent
on the automobile subject, evil
IDENTIFY with purpose. For after
Alberta had made some mention
about wanting to get larger
steering wheel for her car, Mrs.
Phillips said: 'r
You've changed your tires for
this machine and gotten larger
ones"
THE FATAL TURN.
Alberta replied:
"Yes, they were such little tires"
There was nothing said about
Mrs. Phillips husband. As we
came to the fatal turn Clara said:
Lets stop here. Alberta"
The machine slowed up and then
came to a stop. Then Clara added:
The Washington times., 1922-08-20

Copyright. 1893. by Los Angeles Examine
Reproductien ProhibitedJ
~ EFORE this CHASTITY murder
which I witnessed on the
- Two Tree Hill Of Montecito
drive--a tragic sight which can
never be eradicated from my mem
ory--I never had given the un-
written law much thought.
At times 1. believed It had is
justification, though I knew that
Conscience would be the avenger.
But now I realize the terror that
must grip the heart Of the victim
who sees death, q terrible death,
without a glimmer of hope for
retribution.
THE REAL SUFFERER.
I do not say that Alberta Mead
ows was murdered with cause. I
am not sure but that she might be
entirely innocent of the act Of
which she was accused. Clara
Phillips stated only her belief to
\ me that her husband had been
paying undue attention to the girl.
She only said that friends had told
her so.
I have been the real sufferer
since this tragedy. The sight Of
that brutality has haunted me day
and night. II Clara Phillips-the
woman with the ice-cold heart
has known any remorse she has
never betrayed II. She must have
nerves Of steel--the sort that meet
any emergency without tremor.
Any emergency-except love.
Clara and I first met about two
years ago when we were both play
ing in a Pantages circuit review.
We were just out of our teens and
had been in the show business only
a short time.
We could both sing and dance
and were doing speciality work in
the chorus numbers. After a two
weeks Engagement at Long Beach
we travelled with the company to
san Francisco. At this city I re-
ceived a better offer with a musi-
cal organization en- route East
and I left the company in which
Clara and were appearing.
HUSBANDS FOR TWO.
She came to Los Angeles with
the company and I went on to
San Diego. Meeting M. d.
Caffee there, decided to give up
the show business and coming to
Los Angeles: I signed a new con-
tract-a marriage contract. Clara
had much poise and was always
unaffected In her mannerisms.
Although she was married Mt the
time, she did not talk much
about her husband. ! don't know
how long she continued with the
company after I left Il and I
never heard from or about her.
The Wednesday preceding the
murder was the first time I had
seen her since our separation in
San Francisco. It was on Broad
way in Los Angeles and she was
with her, mother on a shopping
tour. ....
The following Sunday she call.
ed up my fiat but I was at Long
{, Beach with Mr.. Caffee. Two
days later, the day preceding the
murder, she called again. That
was about 1890 in the morning.
and she asked me II I would 60
The Washington times., 1922-08-20
THE FIRST
COMPLETE
ACCOUNT
OF CRIME
Peggy Caffee Writes
of the Shocking Kill
ing by Mrs. Clara
Phillips Which Fur
nishes a Chapter i'm
the Annals OF Un-
bridled Passions AL
most Unexampied

JUST one person sGw Clara
Phillips kill Alberta Meadows
soith hammer in Los Angeles
q tragedv as elemental IN its
ferocity as a Stone Age Staying,
and with Jealousy the primitive
motive! -.
The one toitness to the savage
scene ,oas Mrs. Peggy Catfee, a
friend of the slayer, and the sub
Joined article is her story Of the
circumstances of the crime and
the events leading up to 1t.
Mrs. Caffee has given frag-
mentary statements to the prose-
cutor and press, but here she
tells for the first time the COM
plete details Of the tragedy
Which has stirred the Uhole
aation--the most extraordinary
case Of homicide recorded IN the
present century.
Mrs. Caffee calls attention to
the calm deliberation of the kill
ing and the strange serenity Of
the slayer, and it is one Of the
amazing phases of this most
amazing case that Clara Phillips
sppears to regard the entire
tragedy nonchaIantly.
Hundreds of photographs haze
been taken of her in the last t,oo
soeeks and all show her eyes
flashing mirthfully, her eVen
White. teeth cleaning as she
smiles. They call her "T'he
Laughing Woman"
The Washington times., 1922-08-20

II want to see II Alberta Is
home"
could seS her as she walked
down the hallway. She looked
about to see II there was a light
coming from under the door of the
girls apartment. saw there was
none and returned to where 1 was
Standing.
She was calm. very calm, as she
remarked:
Alberta is not at home"
As we descended the stairs, she
said:
Lets 60 over to my mothers
house."
SEARCH RESUMED.
AS we approached. she saw her
mother through the window of a
neighbor's place. ] told her thatI
would wait and soon afterwardshe
returned. Then she said:
MY mother said my husband Is
at home, but am not going there
tonight. I am going to return with
you, II you don't mind"
Next morning we got to the
parking station about $50. Clara
glanced through the cars there and
remarked: ...-....
wen, the girls car is here"
She said nothing more about it
as we went through the town, win
dow shopping. I told her that I'd
like to see my husband at Long
Beach for a visit and we boarded n
Pacific electric car. I didn't find
Mr.. Caffee. as he was at work.
We again reached Los Angeles
about 3 o'clock. Upon our return
to the city she said: -"
IT want to 60 to the parking
station again to see II Alberta has
gone home. I want to talk with
her. We may have 20 walt. IL you
don't mind" .....
ENCOUNTERS VICTIM.
She always was very polite in her
requests. We waited across the
street perhaps an hour and a half.
She seemed very anxious and
watched closely every person who
might resemble Alberta. She said
very little except an occasional re-
mark about wanting TO see her.
She seemed very determined to see
hero that day. .-N. .
About o'clock the girl entered
the parking station. Clara re-
marked:
There she Is now"
The Washington times., 1922-08-20

THE WEAPON OF vENGEANcELThisi is
the Scent hammer with which Mrs. Phillips, the
laughing woman, battered in the head Of her
imagined rival, Alberta Meadows. Investigation
has since made Mrs. Phillips beliefs against
Mrs Meadows appear without foundation.
The Washington times., 1922-08-20
By PEGGY CAFFEE.

Copyright. 1899. by Los Angeles Examiner
(Reproductien ProhibitedJ
~ EFORE this CHASTITY murder
which I witnessed on the
H. Two Tree Hill of Montecito
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-03-28
LEWIS WILSON, IS,
DIES IN AUTO MISHAP

Lewis Wilson, 13-year-old son of
Mr.. and Mrs. Carl c. Wilson, 218 South
West Third street, died Tuesday
morning at 1920 o'clock at Reid Me-
mortal hospital from injuries received
when he was hit by an automobile
driven by John Saylor. 122 North
Fourteenth street. The boy was rid
ing a bicycle when struck by the ma
chine.
Mr.. Saylor was driving east on
North A street and the Wilson boy
was riding west on the same street.
When Mr.. Saylor turned north into
Thirteenth street, it is believed that
neither he nor the boy saw each other.
The rain, which was coming down
hard at that time, hindered the vision
of both Mr.. Saylor blew his horn at
the intersection for pedestrians who
were at the corner, but the boy evil
IDENTIFY did not hear it.
The injured boy was taken into the
home of George HI. Porter, % North
Thirteenth street, and physician was
summoned, who removed the boy to
the hospital. The boys father was
summoned to the hospital and he re-
manned with him until the lad died.
An examination showed that the vic
tim suffered several broken ribs, a
punctured left lung. Other internal
injuries were thought to have caused
suffering.
Funeral services will be held Thurs
"a day afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from
the home.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-03-28
THE FORUM

The time to perform a major opera
ton is when the patient is strong
enough to stand it. After the undesir-
able growth has been successfully re-
moved the patient as rule, is in
better physical condition than ever
before, and by following the advice
of the operating surgeon to husband
his strength, grows better and
stronger from day to day.
If the operating surgeon also re-
mains on the case, giving it his indi-
vidual and expert daily attention, to
the exclusion of everything else, quick
and complete recovery is assured.
This is precisely what has happened
to the Dickinson Trust company. The
X-ray searchlight Of the state bank
ing department of Indiana was turned
upon the records of the company and
it disclosed some undesirable securi-
ties. An operation was Immediately
performed and the undesirable Sc
curities" were successfully removed.
Good American dollars were substi-
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-03-28

consolidated and by the time the COM
mittee gets through with it's task OF
stopping this leak the number will be
reduced to about 20 and a net saving
of approximately $2,250,000 will be
the result. That Is not a very great
sum In the aggregate, but it has been
hard and long fight to achieve the
elimination of more than 200 Of what
the committee mildly characterizes as
''non-essential publications"
The fight to curtail the cost of gov
eminent printing began toward the
close of the Wilson administration,
and the first obstacle that congress en-
countered was presidential veto. Mr..
Wilson charged congress with attempt
ing to exercise censorship over the
executive departments" He advised
congress to fix the amounts to be ex-
pended for publications and to hold
each department strictly responsible
for such expenditures. He said that
this could be accomplished through
the enactment of legislation establish
ing an effective budget system. This
was subsequently done and the budget
act was vetoed by Mr.. Wilson. 1t did
not become a law until the present ad
ministration came into office.
Change Tactics
Congress then changed tactics. In
the sundry civil appropriation bill oil
June, 1920. there was written an abso
lutte prohibition against the continu
ance of publications after the end Of
| the fiscal year, 1921, unless specifical
| ly authorized by congress.
From that time on propaganda in
! government entered into a RAPID
| decline.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-03-28
TEST NEARLY 100
BUSHELS OF CORN;
METHOD EXPLAINED

Nearly 100 bushels OF seed corn,
$500 ears of size that averages larg-
er than the standard 70-ear-to-the-
bushel size, have been tested by the
Wayne county corn testing outfit be-
ing operated in the office of the coun-
ty agent in the courthouse. Over half
a hundred Wayne county farmers
have made use of this privilege and
have had an average of a bushel and
half of corn tested.
Ears are tested individually for
termination and for root rot. Six kerr
nels from each ear, selected from tip,
middle and butt, are terminated. The
kernels are placed in the doll or
testing roll in the same relative posi-
tion that they occupy on the ear, so
that slight infections of either end
can be cut out without wasting the
whole ear
The tester is operated by Charles
Fluke, who Is kept busy at full days
work every week in taking sample
kernels from each ear, making up the
dolls" or rolls of muslin. each con-
tanning six kernels from 20 ears.
These are placed in the tester, a tight
box heated by three 100-watt electric
lamps. A water pan furnishes moist
ure.
Ears Discarded.
After the corn is sprouted, the dolls
are unrolled, the kernels examined and
ears corresponding to poorly testing
kernels are discarded.
Few samples of white corn are
brought in, yellow being the favorite,
with mixed corn also popular. White
corn has shown higher quality than
the yellow said Mr.. Fluke, but it could
not be stated whether this was due TO
the variety or to the fact that there
had been coincidence in a few extra
good samples of white corn being sub
mitted. Mr.. F1uke pointed out that
there are not enough of either the
mixed or white corn samples from
which to draw conclusions in compari
son with the yellow corn.
II is understood that the tester viii
remain in operation until corn plantins
time. A small charge is made fol
testing Those farmers who have had
corn tested are expecting to grow mex
years seed from pure seed and gradu
ally eliminate disease.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-03-28

paid circulation and, necessarily, no
income from advertisements
Many of these publications had
practically no public value and consti-
tuted drain upon the revenues OF
the government from which there
came no return whatever. After 4
careful study of the situation the com
mittee found that they were costing
the people $2,500,000 annually.
AK Used Effectively
At the beginning of this year the
congressional AK had been used sc
effectively that there were then only
40 of these publications being issued
Since then some have been merged OF
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-03-28

tuted for them. Could anything be
better?
1t adds an element of financial
strength to the institution far better
than any other conceivable thing.
1t Is almost a personal and COM
munity duty for every present de-
position and local business concern to
/, show the same confidence in the re-
organized institution as has been
shown by the stockholders and di.
rectors.
! Leave your account with the Dick.
| inson-and add to it. The effect will
be far-reaching for good of the com
munity.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-03-28
L|THUANIA, MIFFED,
OUT OF CONFERENCE
6By Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, March 2S-Differ-
ences with Poland over the Wilma ques-
ton have prompted Lithuania to re-
fuse an invitation to participate in the
Baltic states conference which was to
meet today at Riga for adoption of a
common policy at the Genoa confer
ence according to advices received
from Kovno by the Lithuanian repre-
sentative here.
Upon the initiative of Russia" it
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-03-28

was said, "Latvia has invited Lith-
uania to the Riga conference on March
49, Poland also has been invited. Lith-
uania has expressed her inability to
participate owing to the fact that
Poland has constantly ignored treaty
obligations, has rejected the proposal
for settlement of the Wilma question
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-03-28
CONGRESS
CONTINUED from Page one.)

the congressional joint committee on
printing that is designed to reduce
will be introduced this week with this
end in view.
When the congressional committee
began its investigation of the waste OF
public funds in the printing of publ
cations it found the total number of
them to be 266, not a one having a
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-03-28

by The Hague court of international
justice and at the present time is or
ganizing armed bands in the neutral
zone between the two countries"