Murderess on the Loose: The 1922 Hammer Wrath of Clara Phillips (A Historical True Crime Short)

By R. Barri Flowers

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R. Barri Flowers
• Release date: May 7, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463974070

R. Barri Flowers

R. Barri Flowers is the award winning author of romantic suspense, mystery, thriller and crime fiction with thirteen Harlequin titles published to date. 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 and thriller fiction. He enjoys travelling around the country and abroad to scope out intriguing settings for future storylines, books, and miniseries.

Book preview

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.

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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

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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

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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