The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-15
CLARA SMITH
SHOWS JURY
HOW She SHOT
Accused Woman Dramatically
Defends Her Life in Court.
Did Not Really Intend to XIII
G. o. P. Leader.
USED GUN AS PROTECTION
Held Weapon on Hamon to
Stop His Attack.
Claims Gun Went OF When
Chair Hit Her.
COURT WAS IN UPROAR
Prosecuting Lawyer Charged
Parents Lived on Her Shame.
Guns Are Taken From Several
in the Crowd.
Held Weapon on HamOn tC
Stop HIS Attack.
Claims Gun Went OF When
Chair Hit Her.
COURT WAS IN UPROAR
Prosecuting Lawyer Charged
Parents Lived on Her Shame.
Guns Are Taken From Several
in the Crowd.

Dy the Associated Press.)
Courtroom, Ardmore, March Is
Clara Smith Hamon, charged with
the murder of Col. Jake L. Hamon,
took the witness stand in her trial
here today and told her story of the
incidents of the day and night of
Nov. 21, when Colonel Hamon was
shot.
The defendants voice broke as she
told that Colonel Hamon cursed her
on the evening he was shot. and tears
came into her eyes. Her voice dropped
low and she said, He was drunker
and crazier than he ever had been in
all the years had known him
She spoke dramatically in cool,
low pitched voice, hesitating only
when she told that the colonel had
cursed her. She answered a few pre-
liminary questions and then launched
into her story of their last day to-
gether.
When she reached the point in her
story of the actual shooting she left
the witness stand. and, taking the pis-
tol with which he was shot. in her
hand she illustrated how the shot was
fired.
Did Not Mean to Shoot.
IT did not go to do it," she said.
''The pistol went off when he struck
It, or l pulled the trigger or some
thing; 1 know not what
When the defendant tried to tell
how Col. Hamon, after he was shot
had said II am hit" and had showed
her the blood spot forming on his
shirt, she broke down and sobbed into
her handkerchief
After a few preliminaries in which
she said she was 29 years old, knew
Col. Hamon was married and that he
had educated her so she might work
for him, she was asked to tell the jury
how it happened the day of the shoot
ing.
I'VE had breakfast about IL
o'clock" she said, after breakfast
Mr.. Hamon left me. l presume he
went to his office, he usually did on
Sunday morning. 1 went back to my
room and in the afternoon about 2:30
or o'clock, don't just remember, he
came back to the room and we had
very pleasant conversation. -r
HE lay down on his bed TO rest and
while he only stayed a short time. per-
haps less than an hour. three-quarters
of an hour 1 would say then he went
back to the office or he told me he
was going back; said the had some
friends waiting or some politicians,
y l
I was very busy cleaning up my room
reading newspapers and getting my
clothes ready to go away to California
for my trip, and 1 decided that I would
like to have a little ride. so 1 got my
car and went for a ride about 6 o'clock
and 1 think l rode for about an hour.
perhaps a little more than an hour
ut was about Z, dark enough for
the street lights to be on when 1 came
back. When 1 drove up in front of
~ Il, r-{k
in front of the hotel in chair. Be-
tween Mr.. Hamon and the. door of the
hotel there was another chair.
He Immediately grabbed me as 1
passed and showed me down in the
chair and said he anted to talk to me
and used profane language.
IT told kim, please don't curse here.
don't make a scene. If you want to
curse and be mean to me and abuse
me. let's go to the room He con-
tinued to curse me and noticed that
the lights in the car were on and l
said. wait a minute. l want to, turn
the lights of my car Off
He turned me loose and 1 walked
to the car and switched off the lights.
and when 1 passed by him, and turned
to get thru the door, he again grabbed
me by the arm and jerked me down
on a chair and again cursed. 1 said,
Go to the room, Mr.. Hamon. if you
want to abuse me; there are some men
standing there. You must not talk
that way here in public So he got UP
and I went up stairs to my room.
Says .amon Was Drunk.
'I was afraid of Mr.. Hamon. very
afraid of him. 1 saw look on his
face that had never seen before. He
was drunker than had ever seen him
in all the years I had known him. He
was drunk and crazy. L don't think
the whisky was good red whisky, as
Mr.. Nichols said. He usually drank
good and he We not usually crazy like
that. He was crazier and drunker
than he had ever been in all the years
1 had known him. When 1 got to my
room the doors were locked between
our rooms and the bath room door was
locked. 1 rang for Bill, the porter.
"I thought 1 had better eat some
thing 1 had not had anything to sat
all day. / seldom ever eat any. break
fast, and when Bill came and Knocked
on the door, he came in with ice
water ami Mr.. Hdmon slipped in with
him. 1 had to unlock the door for
Bill. 1 was afraid of Mr.. Hamon.s. !
wanted to keep him away from me for
twenty-four hours so L could go TO
California and wait for him to sober