Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-11-03
ACCUSES ANOTHER
IN HAMMER KILLING
Mrs. Clara Phillips Asserts
Peggy Caffee Murdered
Mrs. Meadows.
TELLS OF FATAL FIGHT
Witness, Charged With Slay-
ing, Shifts Blame 10
Chorus Girl.
TELLS OF FATAL FIGHT
LEY Associatnd rr.ss


Los ANGELES. CAL. Nov. g
Peggy canee welded The hammer
that beat the life out OF Mrs AL
bcrta Meadows. according to tcsti-
mony given here today by Mrs. Clara
Philips. on trial for Mrs. Meadows.
Staying.
Peggy Cafrce was the states star
witness against Mrs. Phillips and
was accredited with being the only
eyewitness To the alleged staying bv
Mrs. Phillips.
Mrs Phillips told OF the events
leading 10 IN" killing last July, OF
AIRS. Meadows alleged statement that
she was preparing to run away with
Armour Phillips. husband OF the ac-
cused slayer. and OF fight that fol-
lowed between her and Mrs. Meadows.
and said that when Mrs. Meadows
was getting the best Of the fight that
Peggy caffce rushed In with the
hammer.
"E,rrythinE Went Binrk."
Peggy came with the hammer and
struck At Alberta and heat her with
IT, and everything went black before
my eyes" was the dramatic climax
OF her testimony.
Weeping and rubbing her eyes with
"A handkerchief. Mrs. Phillips gave
her version OF the events surround
ing the Staying. II was tale OF
Jealousy aud alleged false accusa-
tions. which. according To the de-
PENDANTS contention, caused her to
20 into ''brainstorm" the day Mrs.
Meadows was beaten TO death with a
hammer
The dcfandant first related happen
inEs on the Friday preceding the
staying. That night. she said. her
husband. Armour l.. Phillips. accused
her OF spending the night at Camp
Baldy." She said she denied this. and
asked Phillips who told him that.
Phillips. she said. replied il was Mrs.
Julian Mctlroy.
ChnrRe is Denied.
The next day. Mrs. Phillips contin-
ued. she followed her husband Ia Mrs
McElroy's house and there heard him
repeat the accusation, hut declaring
Mrs. Meadows was his In nformant
Mrs. McElroy. she said. told Phillips
the charG. was not true: that she
herself was with Mrs. Phillips at
the camp
Mrs. McElroy. who testified to th"
same effect earlier In the day, also
asserted she had mad. accusations
against Phillips concerning his ac-
quaintancc with Mrs. Meadows. She
said members of 10th Phillips and
Mrs. Meadows families had "hcggru
Armour Phillips To ceas. his att.n
tions To Alberta Meadows"
Julian McElroy. son or the witness.
corroboratcd his mothers testimony
about the conversation the Saturday
before the Staying. also tha; he heard
Phillips say he nad planned a trip
with Mrs. Meadows. N"Elrov also
asserted that Mrs. Meadows uau tod
him she loved Armour Phillips"
ave Fought nnd We Fought"
Mrs. Phillips detailed tbs circum-
stances leadtpR to the arrival "f her
self. Mrs, Cafree and Mrs. Meadows
at the hillside spot where the slay-
ing occurred, and told OF how the
Mrs. Meadows and Mr.. Phillips.
According To her, Mrs. Meadows
admitted she loved Phillips and was
preparing 10 go away with him.
Then she slapped me. and We
fought and we fought and W.
ought" said the witness. and went
N to tell tho details OF tho struggle
.'inaIlv. she said. Mrs. Meadows had
Tho best OF IL and the witness had
allied Mrs CaT"e.
when she had told OF Mrs Canee's
IlleSed response to this appeal, her
ttorney halted the direct examina-
ion. Mrs. Phillips was so discom-
sosed however. that little headway
Sas made for some time with the
Gross examination.