Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-12-07
NEWSPAPER MAN IN
!. HAM0N SPOTLIGHT
San Antonio Reporter Tells of
Seeing Clara Smith, for Whom
Police Are Searching.
Py Associated Press TO Every Evening.

Py Associated Press 10 Every Evening.
San Antonio, Tex, Dec. 7.-P. M.
Ross, n local newspaper man who last
night sent ont dispatches from here say
ing that he had couversed near San An
tonic with Miss Clara Smith, sought IN
connection with the fatal shooting of
Jake l.. Hamon, of Ardmore, Okla, was
taken into custody by police early today,
questioned for an hour and released.
Ross was detained at the req6est of
Russell h. Brown, county attorney OF
Ardmore, who asked that his story be in
vestgated and that Ross be held As o
material witness If necessary.
The newspaper man was questioned
closely rs 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 hun a statement.
At the conclusion of the conference
Captain James Duncan of the police de
psrimcnt stated that he was inclined TO
doubt the newspaper mans story.
Chief of Police Mussey directed tele-
gram 70 Attorney Brown advising him Of
the interview with Ross and requesting
information as to whether the Ardmore
authorities wished further action in the
case.
Ross, according to the police, refused to
tell the whereabouts of the young won-
an asserting that he would 80 To Jail first
Officials said that, when questioned by
them, he declared he became acquainted
with Miss Smith while working on n news
paper in Oklahoma. Later they said he
denied knowing her
He told his Questlopers. II WAS stated,
that he FIRST encountered Miss Smith on
tie streets Of san Antonio and that she
1 J
large motor car He said that he pursued
her in a 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 officials said they were inclined to
abandon the search for Miss Smith here,
especially after detectives had made an
investigation alone OF the leading hotels
and failed 10 find any trace Of her. A re-
port from Oklahoma City had hinted that
she could be found at the hotel
IL was emphasized az police headquar-
'ers that further investigation Of the case
locally would depend upon the wishes Of
the Ardmore authorities
The story told BY Ross Of his inter
view with Miss Smith. according to police,
followed somewhat her statements 10 Z.
" Sails. Of Dallas the chauffeur who
drive Miss Smith from Dallas to Cisco.
Ross. who is an employee Of the San
Antonio News, said he had heard in a
hotel lobby last Saturday that Miss Smith
was in San Antonio and through acquaint-
ance during his previous employment IN
Oklahoma, recognized her
While q companion fixed two fiat tires
on Miss Smiths automobile Ross said he
e. I
there, he said, she told him she had killed
Hamon ''for the sake Of their son. Jack.
According to Ross, she declared she was
willing TO face any Just Judge or any jury
CT women.
Arrimore. Okla. Dec. The search
for Clara Smith, wanted in connection
with the fatal shooting here of Jake L.
Hamon, Republican national committee
man from Oklahoma, early today centered
AT San Antonio, Texas. after Russell
Brown, county attorney. had received
information that Penny NJ. Ross. 2 San
Antonio newspaper man, had stated he
had conversed with Miss Smith near
san Antonio last night.
The information received by Mr.. Brown
was that Ross. who claimed TO be an old
acquaintance OF Miss Smith declared that
he had repaired broken motor car for her
and that she had given him q statement
concerning the shooting Of Hamon-
Mr. Brown sent telegram 70 the CHIEF
Of police at San Antonio asking him 70
make an immediate investigation and #
necessary hold Ross as 8 material witness
IN the case
In the meantime reports here said the
police OF San Antonio acting upon inior-
nation from Oklahoma City began an
of Ho f1aI
Antonio hotels in an effort TO locate Miss
smith
The text Of the telegram sent by Mr.
Brown To the chief Of police at San An
tonic follows
Il understand one P. NJ. Ross, sending
out story he knows whereabouts Clara
smith VIII YOU investigate this? Ap-
prehend Clara Smith. Ii necessary hold
Ross as witness Advise at once.
The sudden shift OF interest in the case
To San Antonio followed announcement Of
two developments, characterized rs i'm
Iortant by county attorney Brown.
The first was the delivery to Mr.. Brown
of suit Of clothes taken from the private
offices Of Mr.. Hamon. The suit was sent /
nv Frank L. Ketch, business manager for !
the slam 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 bv Mr. Brown that DR. +
Walter Hardy, director Of the private san !
larium where Mr. Hamon died and who /
treated him for the wound had informed /
aIm Miss Smith visited Mr. Hamon at
the hospital the day after the shooting.
The nurse who was on duty left the I
room while the visitor was there
Chicago, Dec. Pour unidentified (
rnen forced an entrance last night into /
An apartment building here where the +
widow of Jake J. Hamon lives The men /
Seized quantity Of personal papers and /
75 letter. received for Miss Hainon dur I
ing her absence at Ardmore, Okla. |
where her husband was mysterioIsly shot /
30 death. The intruders took nothing else /
Charles Willis, landlord Of the building, /
had the letters and papers in his apartment !
Actions Of the men indicated the seizure
had been carefully planned, police said.
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