The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-10-16
BY JUCK JUNGMEYER.
NEA Staff Correspondent.


NEA Staff Correspondent.
Los Angeles, Oct. 16.-First, he
told on his wife to shield himself
Now. to save his wife, he attempts
to besmirch the girl she is charging
with killing.
Pictured by the prosecution in this
role, Armour L. Phillips, dapper
young Texan, waits to testify IN be-
half of his wife, Mrs. Clara Phillips,
after proclaiming himself "love
chameleon" on the eve Of his wife's
trial for the brutal hammer slayina
here of Alberta Meadows, attractive
young widow.
Phillips, whose statement Of in
timacy with the slain woman, will
bolster an unwnitten law defense for
his wife, has temporarily drawn the
spotlight of public interest.
First, he brought about his wife's
arrest after he had helped her to
fee, telling the officers she had con-
fessed the crime to him. He said he
feared she might harm herself, and
insisted that her fatal jealous fury
was. without foundation.
Now, assuming moral share in the
tragedy, Phillips he's confessed,
through Claras attorney, that he
and Mrs. Meadows were desperately
infatuated, that they were even plan
ming a trip abroad at the time of the
murder.
GirFs Family Reused.
By these dramatic Inconsistencies,
the old-time soldier, garage man and
oil worker promises to share with
Mrs Peggy Chaffee, chief state wit
ness, the heaviest legal crossfire of
the trial, which is, scheduled to start
Oct. 20.
The prosecution declares it's belief
that the confession is shockingiy
false. It also has aroused the fight
ing bitterness; of the slain woman's
family, who characterize it can un-
speakable attempt to besmirch Al
berta's untarnished name to help
Mrs. Phillis, and wholly without
foundation"
The killing of Alberta Meadows on
a lonely road, in the asserted pres
ence of Peggy Chaffee, former chorus
girl friend of Mrs. Phillip, shocked
the country with its grisly details.
The state will contend Mrs. Phillips
adroitly lured her victims into the
death trap, charged her with undue
interests in Phillips, and then smoth- :
cred her terrified denials in a volley
of mutilating hammer blows.
The state attorneys will declare
Phillips latest statement was con-
cocted at his wife's instigation in a
desperate dilemma. 1t will call many |
witnesses to refute aspersions Oh
the dead girls character.
Wno Love Probed. |
But the, states original intention
putting the domestic relations Of
the Phillips couple through pitiless
analysis-will be carried on. The
nature of Clara's love for her hus-
band will be the main issue, prose-
cutors say.
The state will challenge the gen.
uineness of her professed ardor for
Phillips, which it hitherto accepted
as a matter of fact. Overwhelming
love must be ,sh own as basis for al.
"unwritten law" defense. ...
Miss frankie Lee, former chorus
girl associate Of Mrs. Phillips, the
admits, will be called in
an effort to strike at the very un-
of such an assumption Of
deep, unquestioned devotion. Miss
Lee is ready to testify that Mrs.
Phillips kissed the stage manager Of
a Los Angeles theater week before
the killing, the prosecution declares.
At that time, the state says, Mrs.
Phillips made disparaging remarks
about her husband, according to the
expected testimony of Miss Lee.
Many Surprises.
Into the trial the state will also
try to introduce testimony to show
the couple had stormy domestic
life. Married at Houston, Tex, IN
1915, they were divorced and re-
married in 1918, according to state
witnesses. The state will also seek
to delve into alleged tempestuous
scenes. at tn ePhillips home for days
the murder; to show that
Phillips told friends that life at
home was unbearable and that he fed
from Clara's alternate embraces and
rebuRs to more sympathetic com
pany.
inal hours proceeding the trial
are filled with many surprises. The
defense maintains the state adroitly
inflamed public opinion by printing
fragmehtary evidence, that only
part of the Albert Meadows dairy
has been divulged, that even Peggy
Chafee, eyewitness, has failed to de-
tail many obscure phases Of her ac-
Continued on Page p