The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-26
Oklahoma National Committee
mans Heart Failed Him.
Staggered to Hospital Sunday
After Being Shot.
immortality CHARGES MADE
Woman In Case Disappears
When Warrant Issued.
Dead Man Was G.. o. p. Chief
Graduated From II. u.

| Ardmore, Okla, Nov. 25.-Ifystery
surrounding the sensational shooting
| of Jake Hamon, Republican national
committeeman. was deepened today
by the millionaire oil mans death.
| Hamon staggered into a local hos
| pital Sunday with n bullet wound in
| the right side and told physicians that
he had accidentally shot himself
while cleaning a revolver.
| A few hours later, County Attorney
! Brown issued a warrant charging Mrs.
/ Clara Smith Hamon, cousin of Ham
ons by marriage, with the shooting.
And in addition issued a warrant
Jointly charging the couple with a
statutory offense. The woman fled
supposedly to California.
| Recalled Sen. Gore Charges.
lannon's friends rushed TO his de-
fense. They repeated the story that
| Hamon shot himself accidentally.
They intimated the woman story" was
sprung because Of political animosity
They recalled the famous woman
case" of which the blind Senator Gore
of Oklahoma was acquitted.
Others told of an alleged quarrel
between Hamon and Clara Smith
Hamon, who had at various times been
his stenographer. The fact that
Hamon and the woman charged with
the murder. occupied adjoining rooms
at a local motel was developed.
Death Seals Lips.
Meanwhile, Attorney Brown, whose
official action set loose the hounds of
scandal. has absolutely refused TO re-
veal any evidence sustaining his
charges. He says he does not intend
to reveal his hand until the case goes
to trial.
Death seals the lips of Hamon after
repeated assertion that he shot him
self, and with the woman charged with
the shooting unapprehended. the real
facts concerning the affair seemed
unlikely to ever be known
Hold Funeral Mondny.
Funeral services for Hamon will be
held at the First Presbyterian church
here at o'clock Monday afternoon, It
| was announced today. Rev. T. j.
Irwin, of Lawton, the Hamon's former
| pastor, assisted by DIR. c. c. Weith,
pastor of the First Presbyterian church
OF this city, will conduct the services,
1t was said. Burial will be in Rose
cemetery. two miles south of Ardmore,
according to present arrangements
Mr.. Hamon was born at Sedan,
Pittsburg county, Kansas, in 1873.
In 1898, he was graduated from the
law department of the Kansas state
university, and Immediately after his
graduation, he came down into the
territory to seek his fortune, with
very little else in his pocket besides his
; diploma.
Started as Clerk.
His first job was as O. clerk in a
store at Newkirk. When open to set
Element Hamon went with the crowd
OF new settlers to Lawton and there
became Lawton's first city attorney,
taking a prominent part in the organi-
zation of Lawton's government.
He was chairman of the Republican
territorial committee and continued
for many years in the active lead of
the party in Oklahoma.
Built Two Railways.
One of the first big ventures OF Mr.
fIamon was the building of two rail-
roads, one from Lawton to Ardrnore,
the other from Wichita Falls. Tex, to
Oklahoma City. After futile years of
, trying to get his paper roads bonded.
he concluded to start the job himself
Backed by John Ringing of New
York, circus man. he built thirty-one
miles of road from Ardmore to Ring
ling. Okla. Later he became owner
of the Hamon-Kell railroad in Texas.
Mr.. Hamon made his first venture in
the oil game when the Healdton field
came into prominence. He bought
production at very low figure.
Then. by selling it high, he anlassed
a fortune of five million dollars with
in period of three years.
4 Harris Succeeds Him.
Oklahoma City, Nov. 2s.--James
/
state central committee, may be the
next Republican national committee
man from Oklahoma to succeed Jake
L. EHamon, deceased, IL was learned in
political circles here today.
1 According to reports here, Frank
Ketch. Hamon's manager. will take
care of his property for the present
lannon's fortune Is conservatively es-
timated at $4,000. 900.
Had Much Insurance.
fcA
life insurance which was delivered 10
Jake L. Hamon. millionaire Okla
/. homan. a few hours before he was
shot last Sunday, is payable TO the es-
tate. IL was learned here today.
Well Known In Kansas.
/. Hamon was well known by prom
inent Kansas Republicans. 1t was
largely due to his organization ability
and tireiess work that Oklahoma took
a place in the Republican column in
the recent election.
When Senator Harding visited Ok
lahoma in October. Hamon was with
the train and had laid plans for 6he
big meetings which were held at sai1
stopping points. He gave his time.
energy and money TO put the state in
the Republican ranks and was one Of
the happiest men in the country when
he won. He made many staunch
friends and bitter enemies in the