Evening star., 1922-07-16
CALLS WIFE MAD
IN HAMMER CRIME
Husband Tells Los Angeles
Police Confession Was
a., Mark of Insanity.
PRISONER DENIES GUILT
False Name Abandoned When Mrs.
Phillips Is Jailed at
Tucson, A1iz.
PRISONER DENIES GUILT

LOS ANGELES. Calf, July 15.-
Because he thought his wife, Mrs. Clara
Phillips, was insane and dangerous to
the community, was the reason her huS-
band, A. l.. Phillips told officers that
she had confessed to him that she killed
Mrs. Alberta Meadows with a hammer
here last Wednesday, thereby bringing
about her arrest at Tucson, Ariz., and
an indictment against her for murder,
according to a statement he made to
his attorneys tonight.
officers assigned to the case spent
most of today investigating various
angles of the story told before county
grand jury by Mrs. Peggy Caffee, who
said she had seen Mrs. Phillips beat
Mrs. Meadows to death
The officers asserted there We're sew
eral discrepancies in Mrs. Caffee's story.
Probe Results Withheld.
They refused to make known the re-
suit of their investigation. but declared
that there will be important changes
in the situation before the inquest
which will be held Monday morning
Fred A. Tremaine and Genera IRE
maine father and sister of the slain
woman, were questioned by the sheriff
who said he had some doubt as to the
truth of the charges. of intimacy be-
tween Mrs. Phillips husband and Mrs
Meadows. as alleged to have been made
by Mrs. Phillips to Mrs. Caffee prior to
the attack upon Mrs. Meadows.
Shortly after Mrs. Phillips admitted
her identity at Tucson, according TO
dispatch to the Los Angeles Times she
discovered her legs badly marked with
what apparently We're finger-na an
scratches These marks. in the opinion
of the authorities. at Tucson, the dls-
patch added. We're made by Mrs
Meadows after she had been felled by
n hsafp
beaten into insensibility. Other marks
were found on Mrs. Phillips hands and
one finger had become badly infected
and swollen.
Former Bathing Girl.
Mrs. Phillips. is a former movie
bathing girl. while her husband is an
oil promoter The killing occurred
on a road in the northeastern section
of Los Angeles ...
Police say all doubt as to their con-
viction that the widow was beaten TO
death by Mrs. Phillips was removed
by the graphic tale of horror reclted
before the grand jury by Mrs cafee;
chum of Mrs. Phillips. This story led
to the Indictment of Mrs. Philips upon
a charge of murder.
Ola Weaver, sister of the woman
accused of the murder, and in whose
home Phillips and his wife lived; sad
II have heard the name Alberta
Meadows in quarrels between my sis
ter and her husband and | have also
heard gossip about my brother-in-
law and the dead girl" said Miss
Weaver CLARA often accused him of
infidelity Just before the terrible
day Clara asked him if he had not
given the young widow wrist watch
He denied everything, and they had
another quarrel"
Phillips maintains silence toward
all questions concerning his past
movements and disposition of time in
relation with the slain girl. He lntl-
mated that through his attorneys
statement may be Forthcoming today.
While not under arrest Phillips is
held in surveillance by a deputy
sheriff.
ABANDONS FALSE NAME.