The Cordova daily times., 1921-03-10

fAkebuolSEA- Ohkd., MHECn lU (Dy Associated Press). The trial of Clara Smith Hamon, who is charged with the murder of Jake Hamon, the Oklahoma Republican national con- lnitteeman, last fall, began this morning. The case is generally re. sarded as Oklahoma's most celebrat- ed murder trial.
 Mir. Hamon died November 25, five days after he was shot. The shot chat caused MT. Hamons death was consistently declared by Frank L.. ketch, his business manager, to have been "self-inflicted" through the "ac- cidental discharge" of a 22 calibre automatic pistol which MT. Hamon was cleaning
 Mrs. HamOn was charged with as- sault with intent to kill in informa- ton filed by County Attorney Rus sell 5. Brown the day following the shooting, which later was changed to a. charge of murder. A separate information was filed jointly charging Clara Smith Hamon and Jake Hamon with a statutory offense. Warrant on this charge was never served.
 Clara Smith Hamon was graduated from the common schools of Lawton, Okla, afterwards attended business college at Fort Worth, Tex, and Okla homa City, Okla, and later assumed position as chashier and bookkeep- or in several stores at Lawton. Mrs. Hamon entered the employ of Jake Hamon in the summer of 1912 ID the capacity of a private secre- tary. which position was maintained until a short time before MT. Hamon met his death. It had not been estab- llshed at the time of her trial wheth- ar Mrs. Hamon was in MT. Hamon's employ at the time of his death.
 Mrs. Hamon disappeared the day following the Wounding of Jake Ha- mon and despite a search which gained nationwide scope, was not discovered until she voluntarily gave herself up at Jaurez, Mexico, shortly before Christmas. Ardmore county officials and attorneys from Fort Worth, Tex, who had been retained sy Mrs Hamon's uncle, Beniamin Harrison of Iowa, as counsel short sy before she surrendered, accompan- led her back to Ardmore.
 Ars. Hamon arrived in Ardmore on Christmas day and was granted her freedom under bond of $12OOO only a few moments after entering the sheriff's office, which served as ! court room for her preliminary nearing and serving of bail. She pleaded not guilty. Following her release Mrs. Hamon spent the greater part of her time with her relatives at Wilson and Ringliug, Okla. west ot Ardmore, and in consultation with her attorneys at Fort Worth.
 
 It was many days after the search for Mrs. Hamon began before it was learned that Clara Smith at one time bore the name of Hamon, which she later asserted was the name to which she responded. This informa- tion was brought out through the al legations of Ruth Walker Hamon of San Francisco, who declared she was the wife of Frank Louis Hamon, former husband of Clara Smith and nephew of Jake Hamou.
 Ruth Hamon in her statements, declared that Clara Smith and Frank Hamon were divorced at Weaher- ford, Tex, May 23, 1917. This state ment was later corroborated by records on file in the court clerks office at Weatherford.
 Ruth HamOn further stated that Frank Hamon was paid $100 a month by Jake Hamon as compensation for marrying Clara Smith. Raymond Ha- mon, Franks brother and also nephew of Jake Hamon, declared hls