Bisbee daily review., 1920-12-09
S|N| HI
 STILL SOUGHT
 AL0NCI BORDER
Charge of Murder Is Made Against Woman Wanted in
 Hamon Death Inquiry
OFFICERS ARE SILENT
Fl Paso Sheriff Requested to Verify Reports Regarding
 Fugitive's Hiding Place


 ARDMORE, Okla. Dec S.-What was characterized as the next move in the pursuit of Clara Barton Smith alleged slayer Of Jake l.. Hamon. Re publican national committeeman, was made late today when Russel Brown county attorney, wired Sheriff Seth B. Crndorff of Fl Paso, asking him to advise immediately whether he knew of her whereabouts.
 k We will take any and all steps to apprehend her when advised by you that you know of her whereabouts" the message said. Please do not let any one give you the impression that we do not want her here.
 The telegram followed published reports from Fl Paso quoting the sher- iff as stating that he had located Miss Smith just across the line in Mexico but had received information virtually declaring that the Ardmore authorities did not want her and that consequently he had not pressed the pursuit.
 Files Murder Charge
 Before he sent the telegram Brown placed a charge Of murder against Miss Smith explaining that he was doing so because he was hopeful she had been definitely located and that il would be easier for officials to handle the case in the event of cap ture if she was charged with murder instead of assault with intent to kill. the charge made after Hamon was shot.
 The murder charge was placed against Clara Smith Hamon," the name the young woman took when she married Frank L. Hamon, nephew I of Jake L. Hamon, and who obtained divorce from her at Weatherford, Texas, May 23 1917.
 Officials tonight discussed press re- ports from Fort Worth and Fl Paso concerning a reported conference at Fort Worth yesterday between a man described as Miss Smiths father and ' firm of prominent Fort Worth at torneys, The purpose of the confer ence. according to the dispatches was to arrange for the surrender of Miss Smith at Fl Paso.
 Reports Conflicting On the other hand. Fl Paso dis patches quoted Miss Smiths father as saying that he had not seen his daush- ter for some time and uenyTng tnar he had been in Fort Worth The Fl Paso dispatches quoted the brother of Miss Smith as also denying the re- port However when asked wne,ne~ the Fort Worth man might not have been representative of the family, ! %l.. IL, h.,xr . | Well. he might be a representative of the family but he is not my father 1 Ardmore officials withheld comment on that angle of the case as they did upon press reports that a search of Juarez Mexico, where Miss Smith is said to have been located, had failed to reveal any trace of her.
 S5oo,oOO Bond Pledged
 C. A. COakley of the law firm of Coakley and Mathers retained by four unnamed citizens of Ardmore to de feud Miss Smith. tonight asserted that If the plans for surrendering Miss Smith are as reported, now IS the proper time for her tC do so, as the public opinion in Ardmore has lcrystallized i'll Ter favor" I Coakley sl:d that he did n't nave information about the steps toward having Miss Smith surrender. report ed taken by the law firm of Fort ! Worth, but that he did not doubt that such plans had been made.
 He said that Miss Smiths father was in Ardmore Saturday from his home at Wilson, Okla, and left Sun day for Fort Worth. Coakley said Smith did not know of the connection of his. firm with the case.
 We have absolute pledges of $500 coo bond for Miss Smith the moment she returns to Ardmore." said Coax