The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-26
Fatal Bullet Brought Her Free
dom, Says Affinity Who
Slew Oil King.
SOUL ESCAPES BONDAGE
Tragedy Had to Happen" She
BeIieveS-ReIieved That
Stigma Is Gone.
BY SAM BLAIR.
Universal Service.


Copyright. 1870. by Universal servies.l
| (Copyright. 1920, by Chicago Herald and
| Examiner.)
FORT WORTH, Tex, Dec. 26.--
When Clara Smith Hamon wrote the
last lines in her diary-the publica-
ton Of which through Universal
Service has done much, she believes,
to help her case-her soul was
clouded with despair.
| For ten years, except during those
rarer periods when Jake Hamon was
sweet and kind" conscience had
stalked at her side, reminding her
that she was "only an affinity" that
she was putting up futile struggle
against the dominance of a man to
whom she was not married.
NIGHT OF SHAME ENDS.
And then, the night of November
21, in the dark Of the hotel room in
Ardmore, Okla, came the nAsh Of
4 1ro from a revolver. -.-ar
That streak OF blue fame from the
gun barrel the girl nows believes.
was destined to be the line across
her life, dividing the long night OF
heart agony and shame from the day
! OF contentment and respectability
that is TO be.
How does it feel to be "oniy en- at-
fnity?" What are the sensations
that gush suddenly from within when
realization comes that the damnIg
stigma no longer can apply?
The woman who returned to Ardmore
yesterday and furnished bond on the
| murder charge against her tried e.
answer these questions in her talks
with me and in the letter she wrote
to me.
/ She has tried TO answer them, she
explained, during the hours OF our
association, because she wishes the
world to be the judge of hcr--as well
as the jury which will decide wheth-
er Jake Hamons killing was accj-
dental or premeditated.
QUOTEs FROM LETTER.
! | have three written statements
from Clara Smith Hamon, all done IN
her own hand and given to me to use
as ! wished
| 1t is from one of these letters that
I shall quote-a lsttor written with
the purpose of allowing the world to
decide whether the bullet wAich
brought death TO Jake Hamon d,d
not at the same time bring into Clara
Hsmon's life the right to peace ard
happiness.
eff were convicted and sent ,o
prtson-nnd know I shall mot he.
for ] am innocent--I would suIi
achieve . freedom that have not
known for yrnr~. 4 freedom from
the bondage of my soul.
"Oh! such n beautiful, wonderful
freedom! .hat something wIthla
me which cries outi You are free
{" live tho hest that Is In you and
mot the worst. You are free to
grow and expand In the light Of the
Divine Spirit
HAS FAITH IN GOD.
"My faith in God is the supreme
thing In my life, and now 7 can
sing his praises without appearing
to he pretending TO q rtgkteous-
ness In contrast to my way Of
living.
While I lived with Mr.. Hamon. al
ways 1 felt conspicuous when I went
to church.
II would seek a back bench and
one In corner. I felt that people
must otherwise be looking at me
and whispering. to each other: II
wonder why she comes to church?
This is no place for women who
live her sort OF life. She Is
hypocrite She seeks to create
false impression OF goodness.
"But ] swear there never sat In
church one who got more good out
or was mcr~ inspired by the need
for faith In God.
"It was Just the other sunday
that wns sitting In one Of the.
.Ard~,orc churches. SudaenIy J wss
swept by terrible longing for
different life thfw mine. ! struGsIed
desperately to withhold the tears,