The New York herald., 1922-07-16
Detectives Seek Facts Be-
hind Jealousy Of Former
Movie Bathing Girl.
HORROR OF CRIME TOLD
Alleged Coast Slayer Visited
Home Of Victim Night Be-
fore Staying

Los ANGELES. July 15.-The veil is
being lifted to-day from the life Of
lara Phillips, former movie bathing
Firl and AL Phillips. oil promoter, by
detectives seeking to discover the cir
umstances leading to the murder Of
Irs. Alberta Meadows. twenty-year-
Id widow, hammered to death Wednes-
lay afternoon on q lonely hillside road
n the northeastern section Of Los
angeles
Police say all doubt in their minds
Is to whether 1t was Mrs. Phillips who
had beaten the widow to death was
wept away by the graphic tale OF
horror recited before the Grand Jury
yesterday by Mrs. Peggie Caffee. chum
bf Mrs Phillips. This story led to the
Indictment Of Mrs. Phillips on a charge
bf murder She is expected to be re-
urned here tomorrow from Tucson,
Ariz, in custody Of Sheriff w. l.
rreager.
Among statements received by authori-
les Is that Of Miss Ola Weaver, sister
bf the woman accused of the hammer
murder. Phillips and his wife lived with
Miss Weaver.
Quarreled over widow.
II have heard the name Alberta
Meadows in quarrels between my sister
hnd her husband. and have also heard
gossip about my brother-in-law and the
Head girl" said Miss Weaver. "Clara
pften accused him Of infidelity. Just be-
fore the terrible day Clara asked him II
be 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 his alleged friendship with the slain
girl. He intimated that. through his
attorneys, a statement might be forth
coming soon. While not under arrest.
Phillips Is held under surveillance by
1eputy sheriff
The whereabouts Of Mrs Meadows on
the night before she was the victim of
what has become known locally as the
f'stone age murder" because it was ac-
|,omplished with a hammer and a rock.
and where Phillips spent the night were
under inquiry to-day.
Mrs. Caffee went to the scene of the
Elaying yesterday and pointed out to
Officers the spots where she said the
argument and ensuing battle between
.the two women took place.
Girl Appealed for Aid.
After Mrs. Phillips began striking
Mrs Meadows with the hammer" said
|hIrs Caffee, "the girl kept asking me
10 help her and I went toward her. /
.was right In front Of the girl. And
Mrs Phillips came toward me. don't
know whether she was meaning to hit
rne but she called out to me Get out
! OF my way
"All the girl said was. Lady. save
I1ne / didn't hear her say anything
klse. That was before she fell down. l
Started down the hill And when I got
Eovn there looked back and saw Mrs.
Phillips hitting her then and the blood
sn this hammer and on her armand
II saw the blood--saw her hitting--and
|eort of cried out oh! to myself. oh.
.Clarav
"she didn't say much when got back
Ia, the girls car. saw the blood on her
|arms- and she said, Wipe my face off,
|a,d took my handkerchief and did 1t.
Mrs Phillips said. Anybody that can
|talSe my husband away from me! and
|khe said. I can do that again.
And then she calmed down and pre-
tended to me that she wasn't afraid of
anything. But I was pretty afraid Of
her.
"she had the hammer In the car And
|her silk white gloves were all full of
blood and she took mine and put them
bon her arms. And there was blood all
lover her face and arms and dress and
|shoes and stockings.
"She drove Mrs. Mcadows's car back.
AFTER she got me in she took It and
went as fast as ever she could down the
|hill and way down along the car line
lon the street there and kept on until
|she came to her home. She didn't bring
|mo home. She let me off at Figueroa
and Pico streets.
What did she say to you before she
|let you out--anything? asked w. c.
Doran, chief Deputy District Attorney.
Before" answered Mrs. Caffee, when
I was up there and started down thea
hill, she said--she was hollering to me-
III you say anything. / will kill you!
That was when was running down the
hill. because / got sick standing there
and sort Of fell over against a wall"
Mrs. Caffee told the Grand Jury her
parents, whose names were not stated.
lived "in fhe East near PHILADELPHIA