The New York herald., 1921-03-16
HAM0N BEAT HER
BEFORE SHE FIRED,
SAYS CLARA SMITH
Slayer Of oklahoma Poll
tician SWears He Attacked
Her With Chair.
DIDN'T MEAN TO KILL
He Was Drunk and Crazy
When He Choked Me-
Woman TestifieS.
WAS KIND WHEN SOBER
Stuff He Drank That Day Was
Not Good Red Liquor
Her Opinion.
WAS KIND WHEN SOBER


Smith HaInon, on trial for the murder
Of her employer, Jake l.. Hamon, on
the witness stand to-day reenacted
the scene when she shot Hamon. who
she swore, had beaten her and cursed
her, and at the moment OF the shoot
ing was threatening to strike her with
a chair.
She maintained, too, under cross
examination that she had not intended
| to kill Hamon. Her testimony was
the last of the day. and the defence
announced that except for the matter
of the admissibility as evidence Of
letters from Clara to Hamon it rested
its case.
Both In her direct testimony and on
cross-examination the young woman
maintained she could not tell just how
the pistol was discharged, but that it
was discharged as she was attempt
ing to unlock the door TO her room to
escape Hamon, who, she said was
threatening to strike her with chair
At one point in her direct testimony
she illustrated to the jury the arrange
ment of her room. and how her view
of Hamon was cut off for a moment
as she reached the door
At the request OF Attorney General
Freezing, who is directing the prosecu-
ton. the defendant pointed the pistol at
him as she said she did at Hamon.
Hand Might Have Relaxed"
Il might have pulled the trigger"
shc testified. but ! don't remember.
did not intend To shoot him, but my
hand might have relaxed"
TO many questions BY Attorney
General Freezing, Clara said. with a
shrug Of her shoulders. Il am sure.
General. / can't remember"
She reiterated she could not tell just
when the pistol was discharged; that
she did not know whether the pistol was
hred as II left her hand. or when the
chair hit her.
Clara said she had pawned her die-
monds presented by Hamon to pay the
expenses OF her trial.
She said that at the hospital Hamon
said he was going to die. that he was
Z
II don't just remember what else he
said" she replied to a question.
Attorney-General Freezing questioned
her regarding alleged statements by her
to reporters. Frequently she denied the
! accuracy of details OF printed stories.
| saying. Il just can't remember" or that
the reporter had misunderstood or mis-
| quoted her. She said the story OF the
| killing reported by Sam Blair. Chi
| cago newspaper man. was accurate.
! Clara said that ON the train from El
| Paso to Ardmore she had signed
statement saying Blairs interview was
| overdrawn.
Knew Him since Girlhood.
! The defendant was composed AS she
began to testify. She gave her age as
| 2s and said she had known Hamon
for many years. / don't know just how
/ many ever since was school girl in
Iawton."
l II was after a few preliminary an
swers, in which she said she knew
| educated her so that she might work
for him, that she was asked 10 tell the
jury her story.
I'm the mornng?" the witness asked,
and was told to begin that morning"
J I'VE had breakfast about II O'clock"
said Clara. After breakfast Mr..
Hamon left me. | presume lie went to
his office; he usually did on Sunday
morning. l went back to my room. and
in the afternoon about $50 or o'clock.
don't just remember. he came back 10
the room. and we had "A very pleasant
conversation.
He lay down on his bed to rest. but
he only stayed a short time, perhaps
less than an hour. Then he went back
to the office; said he had some friends
waiting, or some politicians, don't just
remember who.
II waa busy cleaning up my room
and getting my clothes ready to 20 away
70 California. and decided that I would
like 70 have a little ride, 50 got IN
my car. That was about o'clock.
1T was about T. dark enough for the
street lights to be on, when came back.
When drove up to tho hotel. Mr..
Hamon was sitting In front III a chair
Between Mr. Hanon and the door Of
the hotel there was another chair.
"He Was Drunk and Crayv."
He Immediately grabbed me as I
assed and showed me down In the
hair and said he wanted to talk to
me and used profane language
II told him please don't curse here
don't make scene II you want t.
curse and be mean TO me and abuse
rle, let's 20 to the room Tte continued
tc curse me and 7 noticed that the
lights IN tho car vere ON and 7 said
wait a minute; ! want TO turn the csr
lights off. He turned me loose and I
walked TO the car and switched OF the
ights
when / passed by him and turned
TO get through the door he again
grabbed me by the arm. jerked me down
on a chair and again cursed said go
70 the room. Mr.. Hamon, II YOU want TO
abuse me there are some men standing