Arizona republican., 1921-03-16
Defendant Says Ha71on Was Drunk On Day
 Of Shooting
IRepuhIican A. ?. Leased Wirel

ARDMORE. Okla, March 15.-Clara Smith Hamon, charged with the mur- der of Colonel Jake L. Hamon, took the witness stand in her trial here to- day and told her story of the incidents of the day and night of November 21, when Colonel Hamon was shot.
 She spoke dramatically in a cool, low pitched voice, hesitating only when she told that Colonel Hamon had cursed her. She answered a few pre- liminary questions and then launched into her story of their last day to- gether-
 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 I had known him."
 She said she had known MT. Hamon for many years
 T don't know just how many-ever since I was a school girl in Lawton."
 After few preliminary questions. in which she said she was 29 years old. knew Colonel Hamon was married and that he had educated her so she might work for him, she was asked to tell the jury how the shooting happened.
 We had breakfast about II o'clock" |" she said. After breakfast MT. Hamon left me; I presume he went to his of flee. He usually did on Sunday morn ing. I went back to my room and in the afternoon about 80 or 3 o'clock, I don't just remember, he came back to the room and we had very pleasant conversation. He lay down on his bed to rest. He only stayed a short time, perhaps less than an hour. three quarters of an hour, I would say, then he went back to the office or he told me he was going back: said he had fr-in 1e- tf,a~r x<rIt clans somebody, I don't just remem- Der who. I was very busy cleaning up my room, reading newspapers and getting my clothes ready to go away to California for my trip. and I decided that I would like to have a little ride, so I got in my car and went for a ride; that was about six o'clock and I think rode about an hour, perhaps a little more than an hour. It was about ', dark enough for the street lights to be on, when I came back. When I drove up in front of the hotel. MT. Hamon was sitting in front of the hotel in a chair; between MT. Hamon and the door of the hotel there was another chair. He immediately grabbed me as passed and showed me down in the chair and said he wanted to talk to me and used profane language.
 Pleaded With Hamon
 I told him Please don't curse here; II curse and be mean to me and abuse me, let's go to the room. He con tinued to curse me and 1 noticed that the lights in the car were on and said: Wait a minute. I want to turr the lights of my car off. He turned me loose and I walked to the car and switched off the lights.
 When 1 passed by him and turned i to get through the door he agair grabbed me by the arm and jerked ms down on a chair and again cursed. said, Go to the room, Mir Hamon, il you want to abuse me. There are some men standing there. You must not tall that way here in public So he goi up and I went upstairs to my room.
 Afraid Of Hamon
 T was afraid of MT Hamon, very afraid of him. l saw a look on hi: face that I had never before seen H, was drunker than I had ever seen hin | in all the years l had known him. H. ! was drunk and crazy. I don't thinl the whiskey was good red whiskey a: MT. Nichols said. He usually dranl 1 good whiskey, and he wasn't usual! crazy, like that. He was crazier anC drunker than he had ever been in al the years I had known him. When I go to my room the doors were locked be l tween our rooms, that is the bath room door was locked. l rang for Bill, th- porter. l thought I had better ca something. I hadn't had anything |, eat all day. At breakfast 1 could no
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