Murderess on the Loose: The 1922 Hammer Wrath of Clara Phillips (A Historical True Crime Short)
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About this ebook
From award-winning criminologist R. Barri Flowers and bestselling author of Murder During the Chicago World’s Fair, Murder of the Doctor’s Wife, Murder at the Pencil Factory, and The Pickaxe Killers, comes the gripping historical true crime short, Murderess on the Loose: The 1922 Hammer Wrath of Clara Phillips.
On the evening of Wednesday, July 12, 1922, Los Angeles, California, was the scene of a shocking and deadly assault. The victim was an attractive twenty-one-year-old widow named Alberta Meadows. Her death came as the result of a vicious hammer and boulder attack on a twisting dirt road at the bottom of a hill in the subdivision of Montecito Heights on the city’s northeast side.
The violent act was perpetrated by a romantic rival named Clara Phillips, who lured the unsuspecting victim to the unlikely crime scene. The twenty-three-year-old murderesses’ actions were spurred by jealous rage as Mrs. Meadows was the mistress of Clara’s husband, Armour Phillips, an oil stock salesman who was three years her senior.
The heinous crime was witnessed by Peggy Caffee, a friend, who was too frightened to lift a finger to stop the attack. Afterward, Clara and Peggy fled the murder scene in the victim’s brand-new Ford automobile. Surprisingly, the killer’s husband Armour came to her aide in ditching the vehicle and fleeing Los Angeles by train, before self-preservation kicked in and he reconsidered his own actions after the fact, alerting authorities as to her whereabouts, leading to an arrest.
Clara Phillips was given the moniker, “Tiger Woman,” by the overzealous L.A. press of the day after a police detective on the case suggested that Alberta Meadows looked like “she had been mauled by a tiger.”
But Clara didn’t go away quietly, proving to be not only a cold-hearted killer, but a fabricator and masterful escape artist before justice for the victim finally had a chance to be served in what proved to be one the 20th century’s most disturbing acts of homicidal violence.
Included are bonus excerpts of R. Barri Flowers’ bestselling historical true crime book, The Dreadful Acts of Jack the Ripper and Other True Tales of Serial Murder and Prostitutes, and historical true crime shorts, The Pickaxe Killers, Murder at the Pencil Factory, Murder of the Doctor’s Wife, and Murder During the Chicago World’s Fair.
R. Barri Flowers
R. Barri Flowers is an award winning and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of romantic suspense, mystery, thriller and crime novels, with twenty Harlequin titles published to date, such as Honolulu Cold Homicide and Special Agent Witness. Chemistry and conflict between the hero and heroine, attention to detail, and incorporating the very latest advances in criminal investigations, are the cornerstones of his crime thriller fiction.
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Murderess on the Loose - R. Barri Flowers
MURDERESS ON THE LOOSE
The 1922 Hammer Wrath of Clara Phillips
A Historical True Crime Short
By R. Barri Flowers
MURDERESS ON THE LOOSE
The 1922 Hammer Wrath of Clara Phillips
A Historical True Crime Short
Copyright 2018 by R. Barri Flowers
All rights reserved.
Cover Image Copyright Simon Gleeson, 2018
Used under license from Shutterstock.com
In memory of Mrs. Alberta Tremaine Meadows and other tragic victims of historical as well as present day crime and violence.
And to Michigan State University’s esteemed College of Social Science and School of Criminal Justice that gave me my start as a young and optimistic student and propelled me to a longtime and successful career as a literary criminologist and bestselling writer of narrative true crime books, criminology titles, and mystery and thriller fiction.
* * *
OTHER TRUE CRIME TITLES BY R. BARRI FLOWERS
Dead at the Saddleworth Moor
Kids Who Commit Adult Crimes
Killers of the Lonely Hearts
Prostitution in the Digital Age
Mass Murder in the Sky
Masters of True Crime
Missing or Murdered
Murder at the Pencil Factory
Murder During the Chicago World’s Fair
Murder of the Banker’s Daughter
Murder of the Doctor’s Wife
Murders in the United States
Murder of a Star Quarterback
Serial Killer Couples
The Amityville Massacre
The Dreadful Acts of Jack the Ripper
The Dynamics of Murder
The Gold Special Train Robbery
The Pickaxe Killers
The Sex Slave Murders
The Sex Slave Murders 2
The Sex Slave Murders 3
MYSTERY & THRILLER FICTION TITLES BY R. BARRI FLOWERS
Before He Kills Again: A Veronica Vasquez Thriller
Dark Streets of Whitechapel: A Jack the Ripper Mystery
Dead in Pukalani: An Eddie Naku Maui Mystery (Book 1)
Dead in Kihei: An Eddie Naku Maui Mystery (Book 2)
Deadly Defense: A Grace Gaynor Christian Mystery
Justice Served: A Barkley & Parker Mystery
Killer in The Woods
Murder in Maui: A Leila Kahana Mystery (Book 1)
Murder on Kaanapali Beach: A Leila Kahana Mystery (Book 2)
Murder of the Hula Dancers: A Leila Kahana Mystery (Book 3)
Persuasive Evidence: A Jordan La Fontaine Legal Thriller
State’s Evidence: A Beverly Mendoza Legal Thriller
* * *
PRAISE FOR TRUE CRIME BOOKS BY R. BARRI FLOWERS
Must read for all true crime fans.
— Amazon reviewer on Serial Killers and Prostitutes
Selected as one of Suspense Magazine’s Best books.
— John Raab, CEO/Publisher on The Sex Slave Murders
A gripping account of the murders committed by husband-and-wife serial killers Gerald and Charlene Gallego.
— Gary C. King, true crime author on The Sex Slave Murders
Vivid case studies of murder to complement this well researched criminology text.
— Scott Bonn, Ph.D., criminology professor on The Dynamics of Murder
A model of exposition not to be missed by anyone interested in the annals of American criminal behavior.
— Jim Ingraham, Ph.D., professor emeritus of American Studies at Bryant University on The Pickaxe Killers
R. Barri Flowers always relates an engrossing story.
— Robert Scott, true crime author on The Sex Slave Murders
Striking, well-written tales sparkle in this ocean of murder.
— Diane Fanning, true crime author on Masters of True Crime
Exhaustively researched, each storyteller brings their own unique prose to these pages, creating what will soon become a true crime classic.
— Kevin M. Sullivan, true crime author on Masters of True Crime
This book should be a mandatory purchase and read for any true-crime buff.
— Steven A. Egger, Ph.D., associate professor on Masters of True Crime
Incredible cases, psychopathic killers, unwitting victims, along with the very best writers, make for an exciting, no-holds-barred, soon-to-be true-crime classic.
— Dan Zupansky, host of True Murder on Masters of True Crime
An indispensable sourcebook for anyone interested in American homicide, from law-enforcement professionals to armchair criminologists.
— Harold Schechter, true crime historian on The Dynamics of Murder
* * *
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Murderess on the Loose: The 1922 Hammer Wrath of Clara Phillips
The Dreadful Acts of Jack the Ripper – bonus excerpt
The Pickaxe Killers: Karla Faye Tucker & Daniel Garrett – bonus excerpt
Murder at the Pencil Factory: The Killing of Mary Phagan – bonus excerpt
Murder of the Doctor’s Wife: The 1867 Crimes of Bridget Durgan – bonus excerpt
Murder During the Chicago World’s Fair: The Killing of Little Emma Werner – bonus excerpt
Notes
About the Author
MURDERESS ON THE LOOSE
The 1922 Hammer Wrath of Clara Phillips
On the warm evening of Wednesday, July 12, 1922, Los Angeles, California, was the scene of a shocking and lethal assault. The victim was a twenty-one-year-old attractive widow named Alberta Meadows. Her death came as the result of a vicious hammer and boulder attack on a twisting dirt road at