Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-07
new CONFESSION
BY CLARA SMITH
Declares She Shot Hamon TOR
Sake Of Their Son. Says
Texas Reporter
HE IS GRILLED BY POLICE
by the Associated Press

NV InP ASsOCIhtth
San Antonio, Tex, Dec. 7.--P. NJ.
Ross, a local newspaper man who last
night sent out dispatches from here say
ing that he had conversed near San
Antonio with Miss Clara Smith, sought
in connection with the fatal shooting OF
Jake T.. Hamon, OF Ardmore, Okla,
and declared she had given him state
mcnt admitting she shot Harmon, was
taken into custody by police early to-
day, questioned for an hour and re-
leased.
Ross was detained nt, the request OF
Russell r. Brown, county attorney ot
hrdmore, who asked that his story be
investigated and that Ross be held as
material witness IL necessary.
The story told by Ross of his inter-
view with Miss Smith. according to po-
lice, followed somewhat her statements
to T.. W, Sails, Of Dallas. the chaut-
feur who drove Miss Smith from Dal-
las 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
acquaintance during his previous en-
ploymcnt in Oklahoma, recognized her:
While companion fixed two nat
tires on Miss Smiths automobile ROSS
said he took her to q nearby farm house.
and there, he said, she told him she
had killed Hamou. According to Ross.
she declared she was willing to face any
lust Judge or any jury Of women.
At the conclusion of the conference,
CAPTAIN James Duncan, of the police
department, stated that he was inclined
to doubt the newspaper mans story.
Chief of Police Mussy directed a
telegram to Attorney Brown advising
him Of the interview with Ross and
requesting information as whether the
Ardmore authorities wished further ac-
tion in the case.
Ardmore. Okla, Dec. 7.-(By A. p
While the search for Clara Smith 4.
wanted in connection with the fatal
shooting of Jake L. Hamon. centered 10
San Antonio today where she Is alleged
TO have confessed to reporter. two de-
velopments in the case characterized as
important by County Attorney Brown
we're made known here. The first was
the delivery to Mr.. Brown OF suit OF
clothes taken from the private offices OF
Mr.. Hamon. The suit was sent by
Frank l.. Ketch. business manager for
the slain oil magnate, in response to a
request by Mr.. Brown that he be given
the clothing Mr.. Hamon 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
sanitarium where Mr.. Hamon died. and
who treated him for the wound. had in
formed him Miss Smith visited Mr..
Hamon at the hospital the day after the
shooting. Doctor 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.
Another announcement by Mr.. Brown
said that he had been consulted in re-
gard to the calling Of grand jury to
investigate the shooting and that n petit
tion for calling the grand jury was
being circulated. State laws provide
that when such petition signed by If
teen qualified 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 petition
he filed -