The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-11-17

h"S StS"o NV hhS WITT IOOH
that deputy sheriffs were scat
tered among them and that any
demonstration would be dealt
with severely. Mrs. Phillips
heard the Verdict without any
evidence Of emotion.
Judge Houser set next Mon
day as the time for sentence.
Los Angeles, Cal, November 16.
"A verdict of murder in the second
degree was returned by the jury to-
day in the case of Mrs. Clara Phil
lips, charged with beating Mrs. AL
berta Meadows to death with ham
mer. r.....
That neighborhood gossip figured
prominently in the Staying of Mrs.
Alberta Meadow, nineteen year old
widow rear Los Angeles, July IL,
which resulted in the indictment for
murder of Mrs. Clara Phillips, wife
Of Armour L. Phillips, local oil pro-
moter, was the assertion of investi-
gators assigned to the case.
Mrs. Meadows body was found
late in the afternoon of July IL along
side an unfrequented road on a
hillside about two miles from the
business center of Los Angeles. The
skull had been crushed in several
places and the features muLilated.
Nearby was the handle of a hammer,
the head of which had been broken
OF. Close to the victims head was
a large bloodstained rock.
Results in Mrs. Phillips Arrest.
Twenty four hours elapsed with
no clue being discovered as to the
identity either of the slayer or the
victim when Phillips walked into the
office of Sheriff w. |. Traeger and
told a story which resulted in his
wife's arrest. According to the sher-
if, Phillips said his wife had ad-
mitted to him that she killed Mrs.
Meadows at the place where the body
was found, and that he had put her
on train for FL Paso. Texas. Mrs.
Phillips was arrested at Tucson,
AriZ., and brought oack to Los An
geles two days later
Meanwhile, the husband of Mrs.
Peggy Caffee appeared at the police
station and said that his Wife had
witnessed the tragedy. Mrs. Caffee
Immediately was summoned to the
station as witness. Her testimony
at the inquest was TO the effect that
she went with Mrs. Phillips to a
store on July IL, and saw the &C
cused woman purchase a hammer,
and that evening went to Mrs. Mea-
dows' apartment but did not find her
there.
Mrs. Caffee's testimony also
brought out that she was an eye
witness to the tragedy.
Finding of Body.
The next day Mrs. Caffee and Mrs
Phillips waited for Mrs. Meadows at
a parking station waere she kept a
motor car while the latter was at
work in downtown bank, according
to the testimony. When Mrs. Mea-
dows came for the car, Mrs. Phil
lips asked Mrs. Meadows to drive
her to her sisters home.
The three women entered the car
and Mrs. Meadows, under Mrs. Phil
lips direction, drove to the hillside
where the body was found later in
the day. Mrs. Phillips, Mrs. Caffee
testified. asked Mrs. Meadows to stop
and get out.
Then she asked Alberta IL Mr..
Phillips did not give her the tires
for her automobile and a wrist
watch" Mrs. Caffee went on. Mrs.
Meadows denied this and Clara said
he certainly did and struck her
with the hammer, which she pulled
from under her cape" t..
Was Beaten On Ground.
Mrs. Meadows started to run down
the hill, but Mrs. Phillips pursued
and brought her back. the witness
said. Mrs. Meadows was beaten to
the ground with repeated blows. Mrs.
Caffee said she herself ran from the
scene, and looking back, saw Mrs
Phillips continuing to strike the
PROSTATE victim. Presently Mrs.
Phillips came down the hill, driving
Mrs. Meadows car, and told Mrs. CAT
fee to get in. The women parted at
a downtown street intersection. Mrs.
Caffee said Mrs. Phillips said to her
then: Don't you dare tell of this
You are in 1t as much as II.
A woman guard was assigned to
remain with Mrs. Caffee until the
trial. Another was placed with the
woman who sold the hammer.
Mrs, Phillips was indicted for MUIR
der before she reached Los Angeles
from Tucson. She greeted her hus-
band affectionately at the county Jail,
and smiled almost constantly during
her arraignment. Under advice of
her attorneys she refused to aiscuss
the case with anyone.