The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-16
MANY SURPRISES
IN HAININERCASE
BENGDISCLOSED
Husband Of Clara Phillips
Now Draws Spotlight Of
Plbllclnterest.
81 JACK JUNGNtEYER

Now, 10 save his wife, he at
tenipts 10 besmirch the girl she is
charged With killing.
Pictured by the prosecution in
this role, Armour L. Phillips,
dapper young Texan waits to teS-
tify Ia behalf Of his wife, Mrs.
Clara Phillips, after proclaiming
himself Ylove Chameleon" on the
eve Of his wite's trial for the brut-
~ hammer Staying here Of Alberta
5eadewsi attractive young widow,
Phillips whose statement Of in
tlnaey with the slain woman
will bolster an unwritten law de-
fense for his wife, has temporary
IS drawn the spotlight Of public
interest
First, he brought about his
wife's arrest after he had helped
her to fleei telling the officers she
had contested the crime to him.
He said he feared she hight harm
hefselt and Insisted that her fatal
Jealous fury was without founda-
ton.
NOW; assuming a moral share
In tie tragedy, Phillips has con-
fessed through Clara's attorney,
that ne and Mrs. Meadows weeI
desperately infatuated, that they
were even planning a trip abroad
at the time Of the murder.
Girls Family Reused
BY these dramatic inconsistent
cies the one-time soldier, garage
man and oil worker promises to
share with Mrs. Peggy CaffeE,
chief state witness, the heaviest
legal crossfire OF the trial, which
Is scheduled to start Friday.
The prosecution declares Its be-
lief that the confession IS shock.
ingly false. It also has aroused the
fighting bitterness Of the slain
woman's family, who characterize
1t an unspeakable attempt to be-
snirch Alberta's untarnlshed
name TO help Mrs. Phillips. and
wholly without foundation"
The killing Of Alberta Meadows
on a lonely road. in the asserted
presence % Peggy Catfee, former
chorus girl friend Of Mrs. Phillips,
shocked the country with It's grI3-
" details. The state will content
Mrs. Philips adroitly lured her
victim into the death trap. charg-
ed her with undue interest in
Phillips. and then smothered her
terrified sdenials in a volley Of
hnutilating hammer blows.
The state attorneys will declare
Phillips, latest statement was, con-
cocted at his wife's instigation la
q desperate dilemma. 1t will call
many WITNESSES to refute aspei.
sions on the dead girls character.
Nife's3 Love Probed
But the states original inten-
ton putting the domestic rela-
lions 81 the Phillips couple
through pItiless analysis-will be
carried on. The nature OF Clara's
love for her husband will be the
main issue, prosecutors say.
The state will challenge the
gennineness Of her protested ar
dor for Phillips, which 1t hithert)
accepted as a matter OF fact. Over
whelmihg love must be shown as
a basis for an sunwrltten law" de-
Tease
MIS- frankie Lee, former
chorus girl associate Of Mrs.
Pfillips the prosecution admits.
WILDE called In an effort to strike
at the very underpinning of such
an assumption Of deep, unqueo-
tened devotion. Miss Lee is ready
TO testify that Mrs. Phillips kissed
the stage manager Of a Los Angel
Is theatre a week before the kill
lng, the prosecution declares. At
that time, the state says, Mrs.
Phillips made disparaging re-
mark about her husband, accord
ing to- the expected testimony Of
MSS Lee.
Many Surprises
Into the trial the state will also
Try tointroduce testimony to show
The couple has a stormy domestic
lie, Married at Houston. Tex. in
1915, they$were divorced and re-
married. In 1918, according to
state witnesses. The state will also
seek 70 delve into alleged tempes-
tuous scenes at the Phillips home
FOR DAYS preceding the murder; TO
show that Phillips told friends
that life at home was unbearable
and thatshe fled from Clara's al
ternate embraces and rebuffs to
more syntpathetIc company.
Final hours preceding the trial
arc filled with many surprises.
The defense maintains the state
adroItly inflamed public opinion
by printing fragmentary evidence,
that onlyipart Of Alberta Meadows
diary has been divulged, that even
Peggy eaffee, eyewitness has fall
ed 70 detail many obscure phases
Of her account Of the murder. The
state REPLIES that Phillips con-
fosaon is5untrue.
Through all the last-minute sur
prises charges and counter
charges, Clara Phillips, rs, who
pleaded not guilty, sits tlght-lip-
ped but With reinsurance In her
cell awaiting trial, her husbands
alleged vagrant affections now
IL ~, j, es,.is - In ne ta Hgorbs For