I recently came across this photograph showing the location of the infamous hammer slaying of 1922.
ebay
I wonder who the woman is..... Clara, the murder suspect, or Peggy, the witness?
info. on reverse
The following is an excerpt from
http://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/h...me-tiger-girl/
After purchasing a 15-cent hammer from a local five-and dime, Clara Phillips, a former chorus girl and film extra, spent the afternoon in a Long Beach speakeasy with a friend,
another ex-chorine, Peggy Caffee. Clara told Peggy she had recently heard a rumor that her husband, Armour, was having an affair with an attractive widow, Alberta Meadows.
By the end of the day, Clara had formulated a plan to eliminate her rival.
Fabricating a story of needing a lift, Clara and Peggy caught a ride with the unsuspecting Alberta. On a secluded stretch of Montecito Drive, Clara asked Alberta to pull over for a private conversation; she then brought down the 15-cent hammer on Alberta's head and battered her until the weapon broke. For the coup-de-grace Clara rolled a 50-lb. boulder onto her victim's chest. Peggy witnessed the horrific murder from the car.
below: Here's poor Alberta Meadows (note the boulder beside her)
[Courtesy of UCLA]
http://digital2.library.ucla.edu/#images
...and here's Clara, shortly after her arrest. (I first posted this mug-shot back in Sept. of 2012)
ebay
On Dec. 5, 1922, she escaped from Los Angeles County Jail.
She was eventually found in Honduras....extradited....and sent to San Quentin for 13 years.
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I've often wondered
where on Montecito Drive the murder took place.
Despite being in close proximity to downtown L.A., the drive still has it's 'lonely' spots and 'noirish' views.
GSV
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