The Ghastly Murder of Alberta Meadows
In 1922 a Los Angeles bank teller named Alberta Meadows was mauled to death so savagely, police dubbed her killer “Tiger Woman”
The woman who would become the infamous “Tiger Woman” of Los Angeles was born Clara Anne Weaver on June 23, 1898, in Waco, Texas. She was the fourth of five children born to John Weaver and Anna Jackson. Clara was especially close to her baby sister, Etta.
Throughout her childhood, Clara’s family bounced between numerous small Texas towns. They settled in Houston when Clara was a teenager.
Shortly after moving to Houston, 15-year-old Clara met 22-year-old Armour Phillips, and a passionate romance ensued. Armour was handsome and ambitious. Clara believed every sweet word and promise that dripped from his lips, especially when he promised to build her a better life out west.
The couple married in Houston on November 13, 1913. Armour aspired to become an oilman, and Clara wanted a shot at stardom. The natural compromise was to move to California, where the couple made their home at 703 West 53rd Street, Los Angeles.
They were both reasonably successful. Clara was classically pretty, with dark hair fashionably bobbed to her chin, a coke bottle figure, and a luminous smile. Mack Sennett hired her for print work as a “Bathing Beauty.” She also worked as a chorus girl at Pantages Theater in Hollywood. Armour worked in the oil industry and made enough money to hire servants to care for the Phillips home. He even sent for Clara’s mother and sister, who joined the household.
Clara was a kept woman, but luxury didn’t bring her happiness. Her schedule often conflicted with her husband’s, and Clara was emotionally dependent on Armour. She decided to quit her jobs and dedicate her time to being Mrs. Armour Phillips, but this solution was imperfect.
Armour began spending his evenings elsewhere, and Clara grew suspicious. Of course, he said he was working or meeting with important people. He might have been, but when Armour was away, the neighbors…