The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-03-18
VERDICT IS
REACHED
/. One BALLOT
Jury Reached Decision After 40
Minutes of Delib-
Grafton.
DEFENDANT HAS NO
PLANS FOR FUTURE
Will Likely Go to Bedside of
Father, Who is Serious
ly Ill.
csy The Associated press,.

ARDMORE, OKLA, March 17.-Clara
smith -Hamon today was acquitted on
a charge of having murdered Jake L,
Hamon, republican national commit
teeman from Oklahoma and millionaire
railroad and oil promoter.
The jury was given the case at A.: 80
y. m. and returned to the courtroom
40 minutes later. b. +. G. Laughridge,
73-year-old foreman, said only one
ballot was taken, a secret one, con-
firmed by a rising vote.
Clara Hamon obtained the informa-
tion fully seven minutes before the
verdict was rendered in open court
and sat, surrounded by members of
her family, half smiling, half afraid to
believe the mods of assurance that
were bent toward her.
When Judge Thomas w. Champion
mounted the bench and received an
affirmative response to his question:
Gentlemen, have you reached a YER
dict2" her eyes followed the motions
of the bailiff as he received the verdict
from Mr.. Laughridge and handed 1t
TO the clerk to read.
Clara Hamon gasped audibly in the
tensely silent courtroom, dropped for
ward in her seat, only to be seized
from behind by her younger brother
Jimmie" squeezed violently and
kyssed. Tears came to her eyes and
DO other members of her family cried
with her as she crossed to the stand
ing Jurors and halttfgly thanked them
for their verdict.
Il am the happiest woman in the,
world" she said.
ct. l,a
courtroom to escape the crowds which
threatened to overwhelm her with
congratulations.
Tonight her plans for the future
were incomplete. she and members Of
her counsel OF six attorneys said. She
is considering a number of business
propositions, according to Walter Scott
of Fort Worth. Tex, one OF her coun-
sci, but what she shall do in the i'm
mediate future Is undetermined. Her
father, j. L. Smith. is seriously i'll at
El Paso, Tex, and 1t was said she
might return there to be with him in
the last days of what is termed an
illness which may be fatal.
None of the members OF the family
of Jake l.. Hamon was in the court
room when the jury returned its ver-
hAAAs WAS AAetAAioiAs tAAt NANCNt anu AAtA
19-year -old son, Jake L.. Jr., left when
the case was placed in the jury's
hands. Mrs. Hamon at that time was
In tears.
Mrs. Hamon attended all sessions
OF the trial, except two, clad in deep
mourning and sitting directly opposite
Clara Hamon, 80 inches away. Not
once during the entire trial. which be-
gan a week ago today, did the two
women appear to become conscious of
each other except on the days they
testified when each regarded the other |
closely.
Tonight at the home here OF Mrs !
Jake l.. Hamon, II was said that she !
had not been told of the verdict and |
would not be until tomorrow because |
of her physical and mental condition. !
Jake L., Jr., said that IL his mother |
was given the Information OF the ac-
quittal after such brief consideration |
~ the jury II would tend to throw |
her into collapse. on the verge of !
which she Is right now"
Mr.. Hamon was shot on the night |
OF Nov. Fl last as the elimination of |
what was brought out in evidence in
tryduced at the trial as being a vicious
fight with the young defendant. He /
was shot once through the upper right |
Continued On Page Two.)