New Britain herald., 1922-07-15
WIFE MURDERS HER
 RIVAL WITH HAMMER
Jealousy Is Motive for Crime in D. Los Angeles


 husband denies, Mrs. Clara Phillips beat Mrs. Alberta Meadows. twen- ty-year-old widow. to death with a hummer and stones here on Wednes- day evening. After overriding a woman friend whom she forced to witness the crime, and threatening her with death If she told. Mrs, Phil lips, leaving the body in the road, drove herself home In the dead wom- ans car.
 There the slayer, with the assist apce of her husband. removed the traces of her crime, tidied up and fled by train into Arizona.
 A dispatch from Los Angeles late yesterday afternoon told of the ar rest of suspect in Arizona and also of the reported confession Of anoth- CT young woman who claimed to have seen the actual staying. It was not until, today. however. that the entire detail of this gruesome crime be- came known.
 The prisoner denied all knowledge of the crime, maintained stolid indif- ference when newspaper clippings de- scribing it with lurid details were shown to her, and insisted she was Mrs. Clara McGuyer The address she gave for her Los Angeles home. 703 West Eiftv-third street, however, is that of A. l.. Phillips. husband of the o-.yef.
 Indicted for Murder
 Mrs. Phillips. who is 23 years old, was indicted for murder by the Los Angeles county grand jury. An alarm had been sent out for her meanwhile, stating that she was wanted for a brutal murder, and she was quickly apprehended The sole witness be- fore the grand jurors was Mrs. Peggy Caffee, the woman who was forced to look on while the murder was done.
 The whole story of the crime was unearthed quickly after the body was found in lonely road in the northern part of this city soon after the killing. a big stone lying on one shoulder.
 Reveals Wife's Crime
 Phillips. an oil promoter, having escorted his wife to railroad sta tion, bought a 'ticket for Fl Paso and placed her on train, sought the ad- vice of his lawyer. The lawyer told him to tell the whole story to the au- thorities without delay. Phillips then hunted up Sheriff Traeger and dis closed the murder
 After defending the good name of the slain woman, Phillips told how he had learned from his wife that she had persuaded Mrs. Meadows to drive her and Mrs Caffee to a dark, lonely spot. There the car was halted while Mrs Phillips accused the young wi dow of misconduct with her husband There was an indignant denial. Mrs Phillips produced the hammer, ap- parently bought on the day before with the murder in mind and the kill ing followed.
 Lurid Details
 Vivid details of the crime were SUD- piled little later by Mrs Caffee, who was found early today by the police She said that she had maintained s- lence in fear of the threats of Mrs. Phillips, but was easily persuaded to tell her story. Mrs. Caffee said she had known Mrs Phillips for a year and a half. They went shopping on Tuesday and Mrs. Phillips, according to Mrs. Caffee, said that a girl work ing in local bank had been intimate with her husband and that she want ed to have a talk with the girl sh1 requested Mrs. Caffee to accompan, her and it was so agreed.
 .~ Friend Looked on, Helpless
 She told of going downtown on Wednesday afternoon and meeting Mrs. Meadows, and of the request of Mrs. Phillips that Mrs. Meadows drive them to sisters house. The drive was halted on a hill road, when Mrs. Phillips requested Mrs. Meadows to get out of the car for few moments, saying that she wished to talk to her alone.
 Mrs Meadows left the car and Mrs Phillips followed, according to the story of Mrs. Caffee. On the road, u short distance from the car, Mrs Phillips accused Mrs. Meadows of in timacy with Mir. Phillips. Mrs Mea- dows denied this.
 Then in a sudden rage, shriekins ations. Mrs. Phillips swung hel hand from behind her back, clench- Ahs eiiS iioiiAhiCl oiIc lldu COICSdleu, and began to rain blows upon Mrs Meadows
 Mrs Meadows screamed for me to help her." said Mrs. Caffee. Mrs Phillips menaced me with the ham, mer and threatened death if I inter- fered Mrs. Meadows moved back terrified under the blows, and then broke the grip which Mrs. Phillips had upon her and ran down the road Mrs Phillips pursued and caught her and brought her back and began beat ing her again with the hammer
 Threats of Death
 After she fell I became sick and walked down tho road I was soon overtaken by Mrs. Phillips. She was driving the car. Mrs. Meadows car, alone. She made me get in with her. She again threatened me with death if 1 ever said a word about the affair. She drove downtown and let me off at one of the downtown streets and drove away" Mrs. Caffee was detained by the po- lice.
 Trace Victims Activities Whereabouts of Mrs. Alberta Mea- dows on the night before she was the victim of what has become known To- cally & the "stone pe murdero ,pd