Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-17
Death Struggle
In Hdn10n Case
Related by Girl

ARDMORE, Okla, March 16.-
Presentation of testimony in the
trial Of Clara Smith Hanon, charg-
ed with murder in connection with
the death of Jake L. Hamon was
completed at 1888 o'clock this morn
ing when the state rested and the
defense announced it, too, had com.
pleted it's case.
COURT HOUSE, ARDMORE, Okla,
March 15.-Clara Smith Hamop took
the stand today to protect her
mothers name and save her life. -
The pretty girl, CARRIED in blue
tailored suit, and tailored hat, tip.
toed to the stand.
She seemed to have full control
Of herself.
The girl, charged with Staying
Jake l.. Hamon, said:
II have known Mr.. Hamon many
years. He paid my tuition at bust.
ness college at Forth Worth and
New9Lexington.
II ~became his stenographer and
later his private secretary.
Eyes, he and have occupied
roms at the Randol hotel.
"I knew he was married man,
yes sir, I did"
November 81, when hamon was
shot, was described as follows by
Mrs. Clara Hamon:
I'VE had breakfast at II o'clock.
He went to his office. went back
to my room,
HE came back to the room in the
afternoon. We had a very p1easant
conversation.
HE rested for while.
81 got in my car and started for
a ride about s, and rode for an hour.
when 1 got back Mr.. Hamon was
seated in front of the hotel.
81 went up to him. He yelled,
Where in the - hell have you been?
Il replied, please don't make q
| scene; We'll go to the ROOM
Again he grabbed me by the arm
and shouted, You -, where have you
been?'
Afraid Of Him
81 got UP from the chair. I was
afraid of Hamon.
II saw a look in his face l never
saw before.
HE was crazier and drunken than
he had ever been before.
II rushed up to my room.
IT rang for Bill, the porter.
"Mr. Hamon slipped in with Bill.
II was afraid of Hamon. I wantet
to hide from him for twenty-foul
| hours. -
"Then we could go to California
| as the sweethears we had always
| been before.
"Mr Hamon again called me,
'You-r
HE choked me-he kissed me--he
threw me on the bed-then he jerked
me to the floor.
HE kicked and kicked me again
on the back.
"He pulled me up and threw me
against the window.
He, twisted my arms, bent my fin
gers back
HE shouted, TIL slit your throat
But he couldn't find It, and he
been riding with some one.'
He saw knife on my dresser
and reached for it, and said, I
would just as soon slit your throat
II kne wthe time was comink.
I reached to the window sill and
got my little gun.
He backed up behind chair.
Il passed him to get out of the
room.
Il reached the door with the gun
pointed.
light over. the transom saw him
raise q chair,
He hit me, with the chair-the
gun went off"
Re-Enacts Tragedy
Mrs. Clara Hamon picked I'D the
gun and stepped before the jury to
re-enact the tragedy.
-"I married Mr.. lannon's nephew
but 1t was marriage of convent
II never lived with him." she
said, in answer to McLean's ques-
ton.
II used the name Of Hamon VIXEN
with Mr.. Hamon. l sometimes went
ythe name of Clara B. Smith
"Mr. Hamon gave me the money
and told me where in Oklahoma City
to buy a pistol after another I had
was stolen.
1--WE carried pistols in the oil
fields.
1T was too dangerous to go with
after Hamon was shot, 1 said,
Lie down on the bed and I'LL call
a DOCTOR
'He said he brought it on HIM
self, that he would walk to the hos
pital."
Tears streamed down Mrs. Clara
lannon's cheeks.
"He said: I'll say it was an acci-
dent I'll make the explanation"
Mrs. Jake Hamon kept her eyes
rfveted on Clara all during her tesu-
mony. So did Jake Hamon, Jr.
my waist was torn during the
fight.
II changed clothes and went down
to my car. I took my automobile to
the garage.
81 returned to the room and re-
tired.
early the next morning I was
called to the phone by nurse at the
hospital. She asked me to go to
the hospital.
II went and was there a. few min
utes.
"I went directly to Mr.. Ketch's
office, Mr.. Nichols and Frank Adams
were there. but left when T entered"
She corroborated Ketch's testi.
mony of yesterday in which he said
he ordered her out Of town.
Judge Champion recessed the court
until 1870 p. m.
Court resumed at 2:1O with Clara
CONTINUED on Page 8. Column 81
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