Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-07
80 ~ -
ROSSISRE[EASED
IN HAMON MYSTERY
Police Doubt His Story OF
Miss. Smiths Alleged !
Confession.
PURSUED SHE EVADES
SHE EvADES
Four Men Seize Papers in Widows
Room in Chi
cago.

p. NJ. Ross, a local newspaper man,
who last night sent out dispatches
from here saying that he had con-
versed near San Antonio with Miss
Clara Smith, sought in connection
with the fatal shooting Of Jake l.
Hamon of SArdmore, Okla, and de-
clared she had given him a statement
admitting she shot Hamon, was taken
Into custody. by police early today,
Ross was detained at the request Of
Russell r Brown. county attorney
of Ardmore, who asked that his story
be Investigated. and that he be held
as material witness, If necessary.
The story told by Ross Of his inter-
view with Miss Smith. according to
police, followed somewhat her state
ments to E. w. Sails of Dallas, the
chauffeur who drove Miss Smith from
Dallas to Cisco. -
Ross. who is an employe of the San,
Antonio News. said he had heard in
the hotel lobby last Saturday that
Miss Smith was In San Antonio, and,
through an acquaintance during his pre-
vious employment in Oklahoma, rec
ognized her. e.
While a companion fixed two nat
tires on Miss Smiths automobile. Ross
said he took her to nearby farm
house and there, he said. she told him
she had killed Hamon for the sake
Ross, she declared she was willing
to face any just judge or any jury of
women.
The newspaper man, was quizzed
closely as to his alleged statements
that he had met the woman after her
motor car had broken down near San
Antonio, that he had repaired the
break and that she had given him the
statement Ross claimed he had known
Miss Smith for years.
Police Doubt Story.
At the conclusion of the conference
Capt James Duncan Of the police de-
partment stated that he was inclined
Chief of Police Mussey directed tel
egram to Attorney, Brown advising
him of the interview with Ross and
requesting Information as to whether
the Ardmore authorities wished FUR
Their action in the case.
Ross, according to the police. re-
fused to tell the whereabouts Of the
young woman. asserting that ne would
go to jail first, Officials said that
when questioned by them. he declared
Smith while working on a newspaper
in Oklahoma Later. they said. he
denied knowing her..
Tried to Evade.
He told his questioners. it was stat
ed, that he drst encountered Miss
Smith on the streets OF San Antonio
and that she tried to evade him by
He said that he pursued her in
smaller car, but, being unable to
overtake her, hired large service car
and resumed the chase, catching her
just outside the city limits.
Following. the questioning of Ross.
police ohhcials said they were in
clined to abandon the search for Miss
Smith here, especially after detec-
tives had made an Investigation at
oAe Of the leading hotels and failed to
Oklahoma City had limited that she
could be found at the hotel.
1t was emphasized at police head
quarters that furtbE investiGstion OF
the wishes 81 ths Ardmore authori-
ties.
suaAsn shirt IN Interest. 4
ARDMORE. okla. December IL
The sudden shift OF interest in the
case to San Antonio followed an
nouncement Of two DEVELOPMENTS
characterized as important by County
Attorney Brown: The first was the de- /
livery to Mr.. Brown Of q suit of
clothes taken from the private onices
Of Mr.. Ramon. The suit was sent by
Frank l. Ketch. business manager
for the slain oil magnate. in response
to request by Mr.. Brown that he be
SiNCH NuC CIOtuIuB mi. ramon wore
at the time he was shot.
The other development was the an.
nouncement by Mr.. Brown that DR..
walter Hardy. director Of the private
sanitarfum where Mr.. Hamon died,
and who treated him for the wound.
had informed him Miss Smith visited
MT. Hamon at the hospital the day
after the shooting. DR.. Hardy was
quoted as saying that he knew very
little about the interview adding that
the nurse who was on duty left the
room while the visitor was there.
Accompanying the . foregoing was
another announcement by Mr. Brown
that he had been consulted in regard
to the callinG~of a grand Jury to in
vestisate the shooting and that a pc
tition for calling the grand jury was
being circulated. State laws provide
that when such petition signed. by. fif-
TEEN g'Sahfied voters Is filed with him
the district Judge may call the grand
jury. Mr.. Brown said he would be
very glad to assist should the petit
tion be filed"
Woman's Papers seised.
CHICAGO. December -Four. un-
identfned men forced an entrance last
night into an apartment building here
where the widow of the late Jake l.
Hamon lives The men seized 4 guam
tity OF personal papers and seventy
i've letters received for Mrs Hamon
during her absence at Ardmore Oils
where her husband was mysteriousIv
shot to death. The intruders took
nothing else
Charles Willis. landlord Of tn. build
Ing. had the letters and papers IN his
apartment. which is across the hall
Actions Of the men indicated the seiz-
ure had been carefully planned, po-
lice said.