The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-12
TELLS HOW
CLARA SHOT
.JAKEAA|V|)|l
Witness Says Girl Fired
Pistol While CSressing
Lovers Hair.

Ardmore, Okla. March IA
dying statement by Jake l. Ha-
mon, reputed millionaire oil and
railroad man, and Republican ma
tional committeeman from Okla
homa, in which he said Clara Smith
Hamon shot him as he lay on the
bed In his own room OF the suite
they occupied at hotel here. was
given the jury today in the trial Of
the woman ON 2 murder charge.
Courthouse, Ardmore, Okla.
March 12.-(United Press. THE
dead Jake Hamen's political power
was revealed today in the trial Of
Clara Smith Hamon, bis secretary
protege. charged with his muir
der.
Jake lannon's pal, w. D. Nichols,
former police chief Of Ardmore and
now in the oil game, In testifying
for the state said:
Il was with Jake just before he
died.
He said to me, Bill, I want you
to 60 straight to Warren Harding
and see that some Of py friends
are taken care Of
Jake, believe, was the Repub-
lican leader of the United States
he was powerful"
Nichols testimony came IS the
result of cross-examination by
wild Bill" Mclean, Fort Worth.
counsel for the accused girl. 1t
was brought about by this leading
question: Didn't you and Hamon
discuss the great Republican Vic
tory at the polls?"
Nichols testimony was chiefly
concerned with corroborating the
testimony Of DR.. Hardy. yesterday.
who stated that Hamon. before he
died, said that Clara shot him Nhile
| she caressed his hair.
Nichols stood up we'll under
cross-examination.
Harry Foster, witness for the
state, was brought forward to dis
prove charges Of the defense that
Hamon was shot by Clara in self
defense while he was in q violent
rage.
Foster testified that he saw the
defendant the day after Hamon
|, was shot and that she had nc
bruises or scars on her hands and
throat.
(The defense makes the point
that Clara was bleeding and bruis-
ed as the result OF lannon's At
ttack on her shortly. before he was
shot in their love hovel at the Ran
dol hotel.)
Nichols followed with q corrob-
grafton Of Fosters testimony.
Preachers TAe.
Rev. T. J. Irwin, First Presby.
teTian church of Lawton, Hamon's
minister, was called to the stand
He said Jake Hamon told him
the following before he died:
Il have been living in adultery
with Clara Smith. l am sorry. W.
were both equally guilty"
Mclean fought hard to keep Rev
Irwin's testimony out. Objection,
were continually made by defens,
counsel. -
The audience accepted Rev. !r
wins position on the stand as th'
comedy relief Of the .sordid ant
tragic trial.
They. remembered that Irwil
preached the fiOwery eulogisti'
sermon over Jake lannon's body II
which he said if Jake Hamon didn'
60 to heaven he didn't want to go
| At the time of the sermon it wa
believed lannon's death was acci
dental.
Mclean read an excerpt from tn
sermon:
why God permitted this acci
dent I do not know.
! IF Jake Hamop Is not safe in tn,
hands Of his Master. then l an
lost"
| Rev. Irwin said he knew Hamol
had accepted Christ before he died
that his sins had been washes
away.
"Hamon told me he prayed to b
relieved of his SINS" said Rev. Ir
win. He said he repented for hi
life with Clara Smith.
IT know his sins were forgiv
en-"