The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-20
Clara Smith Only Wants to
Surrender Now.
Parents Issue Signed Statement
Defending Daughter.
WILL GIVE UP VERY SOON
Wants To Be Sure She'll Be
Given Bond on Return.
Prosecutor Holds Mysterious
Long Distance Conversation.

Ell Paso, Dec. 2o.-Mr. and Mrs. J.
L. Smith, father and mother of Clara
Smith, wanted in Ardmore, Okla, in
connection with the death of Jake
Hamon, at their home today said they
had heard from their daughter and
that she had decided to give herself
up and face charges.
The parents refused to say where
their daughter was. but admitted her
attorneys had arranged for her to face
trial. They denied that she had BEEN
found in Chihuahua, but said they ex-
pected her soon to be in Ell Paso.
Parents Hear From Her.
Mr.. and Mrs. Smith both said they
had heard from their daughter and
that they believed she would soon be
1 in Ell Paso, but refused to say where
! she was when they heard from her.
! Mrs. Smith, weeping, called for re-
porter this morning and said the Smith
family had a statement to make on
behalf of their daughter. The state
ment. signed by Mr.. and Mrs. ]. L.
Smith, follows:
They Sign Statement.
| THE papers have been SO full of
| lies we hardly know how to begin to
deny all of them. so will just let the
4
1 few of the papers, printed the lies
maliciously, the others were just mis-
| informed, so we do not mean to CEN
sure the press in general, please un-
derstand.
THE papers have tried so hard
to make this affair sensational but in
my opinion if they had the facts in the
| case it would have been far more sem
| sational than the lies that have been
| printed but it would have had quite
q nj
come back now and tell the truth OF
the story. the heated interest would
have diminished, and she would not
get justice in public opinion. This is
just another one of those uncompre-
hensible realities Clara has SO often
Preferred 20.
1 sIf we knew. where she was we
would insist on her rstucasnz toes
tablish her innocence for we Know she
is innocent and We know her well
enough to know that she does not
return because she hates the notoriety
and not because she fears conviction.
She breads scandal but in a short time
she will return to answer all charges.
I (Signed.)
MIR. AND MRS. ]. L. SMITH"
Will Get Freedom.
Ardmore. Okla, Dec. 20. = County
Attorney Russell Brown today ad-
rnitted that attorneys for Clara Smith
Hamon had approached him on the
proposition of having the woman re-
leased on bond in the event she sur
rendered on the charge of killing Jake
! l.. Hamon, multi millionaire oil king
and politician.
! Bro&n said he agreed that IL the
! evidence entitled Clara Smith Hamon
to bail, that he would ask for a bond
not greater than $4,000 or $4,000.
He asserted her attorneys told him
they did not know her whereabouts.
Brown believed she will surrender
within the next "a to S6 hours.
En- Route to Ardmore?
Brown conversed over the telephone
with "mysterious person" in Mus
kogee and is said to have been in
formed that the pretty young woman
had left her hiding place. presumably
in the vicinity of Ell Paso. for Ard
more.
With these new developments in the
lie interest was revived For several
days, the case has been cold"
Not in chihuahua.
! Fort Worth, Dec. 2O.-W. P. Nc
Lean. Jr.. member of a Fort Worth
law firm, which announced recently it
had acted in an advisory capacity to
members of the family of Clara Smith.
said today that the girl was not in Chi
huahua as reported.
He added, however. that she is in
Mexico and would surrender within
week. or ten days to face charges In
ing of Jake /. Hamon at Ardmore.
Okla. The place of surrender has not
been arranged. Mr.. Mclean said
| $-------