New Britain herald., 1922-07-18
ACCUSED WOMAN IS
 AT MURDER INQUEST
Mrs. Phillips Indicted for Brutal
 Hammer Killing"

Los Angeles, July 1s.-The hammer
 murder of Mrs. Albert Meadows, 20
 year-od widow. was charged to Mrs.
 Clara Phillips by a coroners jury fol-
 lowing brief. dramatic inquest here
 yesterday.
 The verdict was that deatA was due
 Ito a fracture of the skull by a ham,
 nler blow at the hands of Mrs Clara
 Phillips in premeditated murder" | Officials called for the presence at
 the inquest of Mrs. Clara Phillips, | charged with the crime; Mrs Peggy Caffee, chum of Mrs. Phillips, who
 gave the county grand jury the eye
 witness story of the staying that re-
 suited in the indictment against Mrs.
 Phillips; A. L. Phillips, oil promoter | husband of the accused woman, who 1 told the sheriff of her alleged confess sion of the crime to him. and Dr. A. F. Wagner, county autopsy physician | Mrs. Phillips, who was brought back here Sunday from Tucson, Ariz., where she was taken from an east bound train, surprised officers and all coming in contact with her by her smiling demeanor. She smiled at [ erything from the time she left the train until she was placed in cell adjoining that of Mrs Madalynne Obenchain. on trial for the second time for the murder of J. Belton Ken nedy.
 Law Suit Threatened.
 Confirmation of the statement of Phillips that he had accidentally met Mrs, Meadows the night before she was slain was given by Miss Genora Tremaine, the dead girls sister
 Miss Tremaine stated, as Phillips had that the meeting occurred in a traffic jam. sha and Mrs. Meadows | were riding in the latters automo- bile; Phillips was riding in his Both | cars were drawn to the curb a few minutes.
 There was absolutely nothing but accident in that meeting said Miss | Tremaine We were greatly surprised when we saw Mir. Phillips. We chat ted for few minutes and then drove Il away in opposite directions We made no reference to any future meetings
 F. A. Tremaine, Mrs Meadows father, declared that if possible he would bring damage suits against any persons responsible for gossip about the dead girl
 Mrs. Julia McElroy, mutual ac- quaintance of Phillips and Mrs Meadows, told officers of an alleged visit by Mrs, Phillips to her home five days before the murder
 She talked wildly about her hus- band intending to go away with an- other woman" said Mrs. McElroy. She told me he had purchased a trunk and a suitcase and said he was going to pull out of this mess She mentioned Mrs. Meadows name and said: For reaven's sake, Clara, don't do anything crazy. You know you haven't anything to base your s,s- picions on.' And she said, Well, I know this is the only woman he sees The Phillipses and Mrs. Meadows and her sister sometimes happened to call at my house at the same time, but I , never saw anything out of the way. ,, Mrs. Phillips used to complain to me . that her husband was unfaithful to her. Mrs. Meadows once accom- panied me and my boys on a little trip and before we returned home we dropped in at Mir Phillips place, where he was ! working in his garage. l introduced him to Mrs. Meadows. That was a |. few months ago."
 Mrs. Phillips counsel stated a di- rect plea of insanity would constitute her defense. They said they were mak- Ing most exhausted probe of their clients life. and would determine after it's completion whether the plea would be permanent or temporary in- sanity.' They added they were pre- pairing a lengthy statement for Phil ips. that would "divulge new and startling revelations appertaining to he case"
 Stories Don't Jihe
 Officers said they had discovered apparent discrepancies in the story /, old by Mrs Caffee She declared the i lay of the staying she and Mrs Phil ips met Mrs Meadows at the down own automobile park, where the lat CT had left her car. and that she was introduced to. Mrs. Meadows there md then for the first time. Opposed o this, employes of the park said hat the previous day Mrs. Meadows lad told them two girls" might call md ask for the use of her car She aid they were to have it if they lsked for it. And the two girls" ac- ording to the park employees, were drs. Phillips and Mrs. Caffee iudg- 6 ng from pictures published in the i lewspapers. But the employees added. C he one they believe was Mrs Caffee c aid they would take a taxi "out here" and the one they believe was T irs. Phillips asked them to be sure V