davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1920-12-09
By Francis Davis,

Mrs. Clara Smith Hamon, now
in flight, charged with the shooting
Of Jake Hamon, millionaire oil and
railroad magnate and Republican
national committeeman, feared for
her life at the hands of Hamon. This
is revealed in her diary, an intimate
personal story in which she says she
made a clean, good fight" for her
rights, and that she realized cher
life hung by a single thread
May II, 1920, was the date of her
first "break' with the man to whom
she had been a companion 10 years.
In words of dramatic import, she
describes the scene with the million
aire in which she says death stalked
near.
That she might be found dead her
head crushed and beaten, seemed a
near possibility to Mrs. Hamon when
she penned the tragic words in this
entry which tells the whole sordid
story.
81 didn't show the slightest weak
ness she writes. "And at some flu
ture time, should l be found stabbed
or with my throat cut, l want the
world to know made a clean, good
fight for my rights"
Mrs. Hamon here apparently re-
fers to a demand that Hamon get a
divorce and marry her.
Words white-hOt with scorn,
brand Hamon as unspeakable in
character. The last entry in the
diary was written just six days be-
fore the killing of the wealthy rail
road and oil magnate, November 81.
Disillusionment; Then
Warming to Other Girls.
Rife with drama; complete in its
revelation; poignant with the life
story of a woman who "gave 10 of
the choicest years of my life and my
youth, health and beauty" only to be
put aside, this diary of a woman's
innermost thoughts discloses be-
tween the lines, the character of the
woman who is being hunted on a
charge of murder.
A warning to other girls; the long
ing for a home and children; the |
establishment of learning she dealt !
with "a demon who tried to terrori2e
me-a cunning, tricky devil" all |
these are told by woman of not a
little education, some culture and |
possessed of the ability to anylipa for
herself.
The first break between this man
and the woman who has "given her
companionship" according to the
diary, was May 10, 1920. From that
entry, a lengthy one, throughout the
months until the conclusion, Novem-
Der Is. 1920 tragedy is her compan-
ion; pain her associate and lonlness
and misery her portion.
Some Sincerity and
A Certain Philosophy.
The diary was begun April 5, 1920. |
These entries were first marked
"March" but had later been chang
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1920-12-09

Gerry store lunches-went to Wal
tiers and then back to Duncan where
we stayed until II p. m. before we
started home. l slept in the car at
Duncan.
APRIL 800.
Arrived Ardmore $3.50 a. ma lit
tie sleepy and tired-and Got up
late and did some more trading at
the office. I did some shopping, also.
Went to bed early in evening after
some letter writing, etc.
- APRIL 1920
Worked on my clothes in morning
went to office in Afternoon Mr..
Mcdonald had dinner with us, then
we went to automobile show. Only
stayed few minutes. Read until ~,
then to bed.
APRIL 11-20.
Breakfast at II a. m. Beautiful
spring day-a little windy. Ride in
afternoon to Wilson-was miser-
able one was very unhappy. Quar-
relied all evening.
APRIL 1920.
Out to Wilson on 7 a. m. train.
Spent day visiting. In afternoon we
went out to TOWNSHIP sale. My sis
ter bought some lots. l bought IL
lots After school Phyllis and I
made some candy. Was very fine
it brought memories of other candy
making days. Col came for me at
9:15 and We drove back to Ardmore.
APRIL IS, 1920
Started earl for Duncan Field.
Was a beautiful day and we enjoyed
the ride. Bought oil property at
court sale in Duncan at two o'clock
then drove to Cement where we
stayed all night. The hotel was the
worst possible. Poor bed-little
dresser (no knobs bare floor, walls
just little above the head-curtain
for a door-no water.
APRIL ID 1920
Started at $3.50 for Walters. Ate
lunch there. Had my first drink of
corn whisky. 1t had some kick. but
made me feel'much better. Had
nap in the car while party finished
their trades. Drove to Temple where
we stopped for another trade-then
Wauriko and on to Ardmore. Ar
rived Ardmore II p. m. Left for
Oklahoma City at 1890. Very, very
tired Didn't sleep but two "winks"
on the train.
APRIL Is, 1920
Breakfast at $3.50 at the Lawrence I
cafe. | spent morning in beauty !
parlor-?Saw Hapgood in afternoon.
Harell and myself had din .
ner at the fish camp-after a big
drink of corn" After dinner drove |
around. | got on berth at 1890 for
Ardmore. Very tired.
APRIL 16, 1920
Slept late. Uneventful day. Rest
ed all day. Dinner in eve with Mr..
Blake and car ride over town. To,
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1920-12-09
SECRETS OF TEN YEARS REVEALED
IN DIARY OF WOMAN SOUGHT FOR
MURDER Of WEALTHY 0KLAH0MAN
CLARA SMITH HAMON kept RECORD OF EVENTS IN HER LIFE
WHICH TELL OF WRECKED LIFE AS
SWEETHEART OF JAKE HAMON

Copyright, 1920 by the Kansas City
Post. all rights Reserved. Reproduc-
ton Prohibited.
Especial permission to publish this
article obtained through Interna-
tional News Service.)
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1920-12-09

tween four walls before you sell your
soul to him." The only time wom-
an has real power over a man, she
says, is when he is madly in love with
her and wants all she has to give"
How Hamon promised to marry
her; "iied" to her; pictured alluring
future and how, when she "tried to
quit" he brought her back ito fin
ish running my life," is poured out in
graphic and dramatic fashion. as if
she knew that sometime, somewhere
there would be occasion for the
world to know and understand her
story.
Insane Desire to
Destroy Innocence.
Hamon, she says was insane, and
she was doomed to be one of the vic
tins of his insanity. His desire was
Continued from page one)
not murder of the physical being she
says in soaring words, but murder
of the soul; to destroy innocence"
Little trips to Albuquerque are re-
called and one starry night when she
dreamed Of lover" and had none.
On May 30 a trip to California
was made by Mrs. Hamon, in COM
pany with friends. She tells of see
ing motto npicture stars. OF Mary
Pickford and Doug" her "idols"
and of the trivial affairs of her daily
life; such as visits to the beauty par
lor.
That she was a woman of cultiva-
ton and some appreciation of the
finer aspects of life is proved again
and again in entries where she des-
cribes the Pacific ocean, the persons
on the beach and the mountains
above Los Angeles.
Sympathy and love for a woman
whose husband deserted her is voic-
ed and the second serious break
comes in the entry of November IL.
Hamon "Has Lost
Balance Ovef All'
Hamon, it appears, has begun to
display GOODNESS and neglect. "He
always finds excuses; always puts
me off F." he says, and again there is
voiced the conviction that he has
lost his balance over "all" things.
She tells of quarrels, "fussing"
and of "Col" the term by which she
describes him, recovering from a big
drunk" A love of pretty things
comes out in mention of the pur-
chase of negligee.
"Baby Jack" evidently one of
lannon's children, she terms her
"dream baby" and hopes that she
may have an opportunity to rear
him to fine manhood in a happier
future. Real pathos breathes between
these piteous lines.
At this point she has begun to
walk the floor and to know that the
end is near
Heart Sinks Viewing
"Desolate Future"
Loneliness is a word used fire.
quently. Once again she mentions
lannon's children and "doing a little
shopping for them" Later introspec-
ton begins and she finds herself
facing realities" and looking di-
rectly at facts and analyzing herself.
81 read many beautiful poems and
Christian Science to aid" she writes
November 13, the date of the last
entry, "but my efforts seem useless"
The story is all there-more ade-
quately than Mrs. Hamon could tell
it to the prosecutor. The end of the
story came six days later when Jake
Hamon was shot. The book was
found among Mrs. lannon's personal
belongings in her trunks at the
Union station. On that last day she
wrote, more truly than she knew.
"My heart sinks as I look out up
on the bleak, desolate future"
THE COMPLETE DIARY
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1920-12-09

Received the name of Hamon, not
from Jake Hamon, the man whom
she is accused of having shot, but
from the millionaire's nephew, to
whom she is said to have been mar
ried.
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1920-12-09

Left Chicago at 9:45 a. m. 1t was
a long ride to X. c. and the train
got later every hour. I wrote let
ter and read two movie magazines
and some papers. Missed my first
train out of K C. and had to run to
catch the next one. which was the
slow train.
APRIL g. 1920
Long lonesome trip to Ardmore.
Arrived about p. m. Train late.
Did some phouing and went to bed
very early. 1t was a bad day for me
"a disappointing one in general.
APRIL 7-2o.
Spent morning in packing. Col
(this apparently means Colonel,
which Hamon was something's called)
came at 1850 from Ranger. Visited
with him all afternoon. Uneventful
evening.
APRIL 500
Up at 6 a. m. Left at Z for Dun
can field in Pierce. l. was fine day
and We had good trim Visited big
well-had one of our famous gro.
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1920-12-09
APRIL 16, 1920

Slept late, Uneventful day. Rest
ed all day. Dinner in eve with Mr..
Blake and car ride over town. To
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1920-12-09
THE COMPLETE DIARY
is AS FOLLOWS:

Copyright, 1920, by The Kansas
City Postl
Copyright, 1920, by the Chicago
--...-.. Herald and Examiner)
Copyright, 1920. by the Illinois
Publishing and Printing Company
All rights reserved Reproduction
Prohibited.
Especial Permission to Publish This
Article Obtained Through Interna-
tional News Service.)
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1920-12-09
APRIL is, 1920

Breakfast at $3.50 at the Lawrence
cafe. I spent morning in beauty
parlor-?Saw Hapgood in afternoon.
Hapgood, Harell and myself had din
ner at the fish camp-after a big
drink of Corn" After dinner drove
around. l got on berth at 1890 for
ArdmOre. Very tired
Norwich bulletin., 1920-08-10

The matter was called to the atten- ton of the Norwich police Sunday night
 Arthur l.. Peale, president of the Nor
 wieh Council of Scouts, made arrange
 ments to have the Boy Scouts aid in the
 search Monday. Telephone and other messages came to the hospital, but neth- ing afforded a clue of any value.
 As Mrs. O'Meara appeared content and cheerful when last seen, it is be lieyed that she merely wandered into the pond, since she had given no evidences of suicidal intent, was happy at the hos pital and had spoken with enthusiasm to
 her companions of the faneied arrival of her husband.
 Mrs. OMeara was Miss Teresa Hart 1 ley. of Branferd Her marriage with
 John O'Meara ,an empleye of the New Haven railroad. was so,ernnized in Bran ford, the officiating clergyman being Mir o'Meara's brother from Ahsonia. Rev. J | A. O'Meara, formerly of St. Mary's church, GFeeneyille They bore three 1 children, Helen. IS. James. II, and
 John g. Mrs. o'Meare's brother and sis | ters reside in New Haven.
 1 Dr. N. B. Lewis, medical examiner fel the town of Preston, after viewing the body Monday morning, gave permission l for it's removal ta Heurigan Brothers, o1
 Norwich. Mir o.Meara and a New Ha.
 ven undertaken took the body to that
 city on the 4.50 train, Monday after noon
Norwich bulletin., 1920-08-10
MISSING WOMAN DROWNED IN POND

At o'clock Monday morning. John Atchison, an enploye at the Norwich State Hospital discovered in pond near that institution the body of Mrs. John J. O'Meara, 45 of New Haven, patient, who has been missing since Thursday afternoon, and for whom a general search was being made. Mrs. 0'Meara had been suffering from ner- veus breakdown and had been at pri- vate sanatorium at West Haven for cleo l trical treatment, later at a noted rest cure in Adams, Mass. As she did not improve she was advised to come to NoT- wTch and appeared to gain so rapidly i that her husband and other relatives who had visited her were encouraged at the good effects of her stay under the super vision of Dr. F. S. Wilcox and his staff. | A few months treatment did so much l for her that, with others, she was given l the freedom of the grounds, and not tln- l til near the supper hour Thursday was 1 she missed. Then some of the other wo- men on parole stated that she had men tioned going to dress and go to the sta- 1 tien to meet her husband-a stste- ment evidencing dementia, as the latter was at their New Haven home.
 l Search for her was continued by the hospital authorities and her family I Thursday night and Friday. Friday
 night, the relatives notified The Bulle- 1 tin to advertise her disappaArance. also
 to offer a reward for notification of her
 whereabouts.
Norwich bulletin., 1920-08-10
HELPFUL WORDS
From a Norwich Citizen.

Is your back lame and painful?
 Does it ache especially after exer- ton?
 Is there a soreness in the kidney region?
 These symptoms suggest weak kid neys.
 If so there is danger in delay.
 Weak kidneys get weaker fast.
 Give your trouble prompt attention.
 Doan's Kidney Pills are for weak kidneys.
 Your neighbors use and recommend them.
 Read this Norwich testimony.
 Mrs. Sarah Hewitt, R. F. D. No, 1. says: My back had been troubling me a great deal. I saw Deans Kid hey Pills advertised for such trouble and I got some at Sevin & Sons Drug Store. Two boxes gave me great re- lief I gladly recommend Deans Kid ney Pills publicly as know they de- serve all the praise can give them.'
 Price soc, at all dealers. Don't simply ask for a kidney remedy-get Doan's Kidney Pills the same that Mrs. Hewitt had. Foster Milburn Co. Nfgrs., Buffalo, N. Y.
Norwich bulletin., 1920-08-10
--s-- TAKE PHOSPHATE WITH MEALS IN SUMMERTIME
Your Nerves Demand It, Your Bleed
 Needs It, Say Physicians.

Needs It, Say Physicians.
 There's not enough phosphorus in mod ern foods to benefit nearly one-half f-the men and women of America, scientists declare.
 To overcome this lack of an element of your body that is necessary to your success in life, weak. anaen,ic, nervous, rundown people are advised to take BitFo-P Phosphate as dispensed by Lee X Osgoed and all leading drug stores in the original package.
 Speaking of people who are easily fa- tigued, who lack ambition, nerve and are ofttimes thin, weak and sadly lacking in firm, healthy flesh, Joseph D. Harrigan, formerly visiting specialist, North Eastern Dispensary, N. Y, says:
 Patients who were apparently physical wrecks, who foolishly thought they need- cd only blood tonic to enrich the blood, have come for treatment trembling. and shaking, their nerve force almost exhaust ed, and in many such cases the adn1fniE- tering of Phosphate has produced seemingly magical results"
 People who feel the heat of summer tire easily, and often become irritable and depressed will find Bitro- Pflosphate5 an inexpensive and helpful friend Druggists report a wonderful increase in the demand from men and Women-wl4o are anxious to renew olA-tiT1e ambition and who are making an honest effort to become vigorous and keen-minded with a power of endurance that denotes almost perfect health. .l'r4 They ask for Bitro- Phosphate because they know they need an inexpensive or ganic phosphate. '"'&
Norwich bulletin., 1920-08-10
MoroRIsr PAYS COSTS
 IN PUTNAM CITY COURT (SnAcial tn The RnIIetinl

Putnam. Aug. 9.-At the session of the city court Monday morning two au- tonobile operators were charged with driving their machines without proper lenses in the headlights. The first to face Judge M. H. Geissler was Frank Quinn, of Norwich, who was arrested on Saturday night by Officer Ernest Chan dler. He was driving with an unap- proved commercial lens. He told the court that he realized this. and had al- ready ordered proper lenses. Until they arrive he thought it would be all right to use the lenses that came in the car, He further told the court he had painted his lenses with white frost, and had sup posed that was sufficient. Judge Geis- sler pointed out Chat when lenses are painted the glass must be plain, and black paint alone can Be used. Because Quinn had made an attempt to comply with the law as ne understood it, Judge GeisslerN suggested that the case be noil- ed upon payment of costs amounting to $10.14. This was done.
 The other case was that of Charles Uskeyecz of Northampton, Mass. He pleaded guilty to driving with improper lenses. His excuse was that he didn't know the law, and that the lenses he was using were within the law of his home state. His case was nolted upon payment of costs of $1014 When he had paid, Uskevecz addressed the court and said that in Massachusetts the po- lice usually warned people before they made arrests.
 T suppose that is slap at us?" re- marked the judge.
 "Yes, sir" replied the somewhat peev- ed Bay Slater.
 Well" copcluded Judge Geissler. eve have been warning people for a year, and we take it for granted that when drivers come into our state they will look up tht law. And in the future I advise you te speak more civilly, or you may hnt yourself in trouble!' !''
Norwich bulletin., 1920-08-10
WEDDINGS.
Litchford . HiIderbrand.

A quiet wedding took place Saturday evening at the home of MT. and Mrs. George L. Hilderbrand of No. 227 Palm CT street, when their only daughter, Hazel Dorothea, was united in marriage with Walter Lee Litchford, of Lebanon, Tenn.,. the ceremony being performed by Rev. George H. Welch, pastor of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Uni versalist.
 The house was prettily decorated in laurel, ferns and flowers. The bride was charmingly gowned in white georgette, bead embroidered and car- ried white sweet peas. The brides maid, Miss Olive May LaPierre of Hartford, cousin of the bride, wore blue organdie with coral trimmings and carried pink sweet peas. Henry L. Plante of this city was the best man. The bride received many gifts, in- cluding money, cut glass, china, silver ware, linen and a sum of gold from the employees of The Bulletin Company where she had been employed for the past two and a half years. Guests were present from Hartford, New York and best wishes were re- ceived from New York, Hartford, Ten nessee, Texas, California and the state of Washington.
 The bridal couple will spend their honeymoon in New York, Washington D. 0. and Lebanon, Tenn, where they will be guests of the groom's parents They will make their home in Detroit Mich, where the groom is employed.
 Mir Litchford was born in Lebanon Tenn, and is the son of MT. and Mrs. David Litehford He served four years in the U. S. Marines, being stationed at the submarine base during the greater part of his enlistment. He was discharged from the service last Janu ary.
 The bride is the daughter of Mir. and Mrs. George Hilderhrand and was born in Norwich. For the past two and a half years she was employed in The Bulletin business office.
Norwich bulletin., 1920-08-10
DYSPEPTIC DIET NO @~ LONGER NECESSARY
 4ta1

The old plan of prescribing strict diet for dyspeptics and stomach sufferers is no longer popular among progressive medical men. partly beeau A of its Mssls- ening effect, but mostly because Of the discovery that nearly all stomach trouble
 is due to excessive aeidity. The organs of digestion are themselves all right but acids in the stomach irritate and inflare the delicate stomach lining and cause souFness and premature food fernnefta- tien, The logical treatment, therefore, is to get rid of the acid. when natural pain
 less digestion will follow. -f.s
 For this purpose a teaspoonfui or four tablets of Bisurated Magnesia in little water neutraiizes the acid. stops the, fer mentation of the food, dispels the. gas. and thus permits the stomach to proceed with it's work without hindrance. Owing to it's prompt and certain action Bisu- rated Magnesia, which is obtanable from any druggist, in either tablet or powder form, should always be used in preference to the other forms of magnesia, such as the milks, citrates earbonates or oxides. Stomach sufferers are advised to try this plan fer three weeks and note results.
Norwich bulletin., 1920-08-10
PERSONALS

Miss Elsie Brumley visited friends in Plainfield one day last week. H. M. Van Dyke of Chestnut street was visitor in Hartford Sunday Harry Millea of this city has accepted a position as operator at New Britain theatre.
 Mrs. John T. Cook. of Hartford was \ the guest of Mrs. E. w. Loomis over 1 the weekend
 | T. J. Carroll, telegraph operator at the New Haven station, spent Sunday
 at Ocean Beach with his mother. | Ernest Watson of Norwich was a guest for a few days recently of his father and brother at Clark's Falls. Mrs. Chas. West of Moosup, spent a
 day recently with her sister. Mrs. F. A. Brumley, who continues i'll at her home. l Hrs. Charles Sands returned to Fish CTS Island Saturday, after a few days | days stay at her home on Warrington avenue.
 Mrs Edward Balthazar and son of
 Waterbury, are passing a few weeks
 with Mrs. Joseph Callahan, of Slater 1 avenue.
 | The Misses Frankie and Jane Reid and l John Cook of Hartford spent Sunday as l the guests of Mrs. E. W. Loomis of l this city.
 Mr. and Mrs. Howard Clarke of Jewett City, were visitors Saturday at the home
 of Mr~and Mrs. J. A. Mcdonald, of Tal-
 man street.
 l Mrs. Harrison L. Crooks and son ana l Mrs Harry McGlone and son were week
 end visitors at Mrs. J. A. Mellor's at | Lords Point.
 | MT. and Mrs. Jos. A. Potwin and three l 1d 1f
 to Beach Pond. MT. and Mrs. Valmor
 nor Potwin accompanied them. | Mrs. Joseph H. Buteau and soon Free
 man of Baltic have returned home after 1 spending two weeks at Whitman, Ja-
 maAca Plain and Wareham, Mass
 Mrs. Susan Mitchell and daughter,
 Miss Jennie Mitchell of Penobscot street,
 spent last week at Stony Creek, guests
 of Mrs. Herbert Hanna, at f,er cottage. Mrs. M A. LaPierre of Hartford and | daughter, Olive, were in Norwich for
 over the weekend to attend the wedding 1 of her niece, Miss Hazel D. Hildebrand, MT. and Mrs. Edwin T. Leach of New York city are spending two weeks in Norwich. A While here they attended the wedding of their cousin, Miss Hazel D. Hildebrand.
 Miss Lois Manning has returned from
 a two weeks trip to Niagara Falls, Get l tysburg and New York, with MT. and
 Mrs. ". H. Cadmen and MT. and Mrs. 1 w. L. Spencer of New London.
 MT. and Mrs. Herman Stelzner, Miss Lizzie Kalowski and Frederick Kalowski. of Washington street. and Miss Lizzie Stelzner of Norwich Town spent Sum- day among the ThimbIe Islands of Stony creek
 Marvin Hanna of Main street, who is passing the summer at Sedahkamp cot
 tage, Stony Creek, spent Monday with Joseph Peckham of Elm street. MT Peckham returned with him for a few days visit at the creek
 MT. and Mrs. Charles A. Charmber lain who left Norwich Wednesday on .
 motor trip to Canada, left Montreal Mon day for Quebec. They were accompanied
 for part of the trip from Norwich by
 Charles S. Peckham, who is on busi
 business errand to Buffalo.
Norwich bulletin., 1920-08-10
Careless Shampooing
 Spells the Hair

Soap should be used very carefully f you want to keep your hair looking it's best Most soaps and prepared shampoos contain too much alkali. This dries the scalp, makes the hair brittle, and ruins it.
 The best thing for steady use is Nuisifed cocoanut oil shampoo (which is pure and greaseless), and is better than anything else you can use.
 One or two teaspoonfuls will cleanse the hair and scalp thoroughly. Simply moisten the hair with water and rub it in. l. makes an abundance of rich, creamy father, which rinses out cas- fly. removing every particle of dust dirt. dandruf and excessive oil. The hair dries quickly and evenly, and it leaves the scalp soft, and the hair fine and silky, bright, lustrous, fluffy and easy to manage.
 Yeu can get Mulsifed cocoanut oil shampoo at any pharmacy, it's very cheap. and a few ounces will supply every member of the family for months.