Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1921-03-16
CLARA SMITH HAMoN REENAcTs
SCENE OF SHOOTING JAKE HAMoN

1
Ardmore, Okla, March 15.-Clara
Smith Hamon. on trial for the murder
of her employer, Jake L. Hamon, Okla
homa millionaire oil man, today on the
witness stand reenacted the scene when
She shot Hamon, who she swore had
beaten her and cursed her. and at the
moment Of the. shooting was threatening
to strike her with a chair. She main
tanned, too. under cross-examination that
she had not intended to kill Hamon. Her
testimony was tine last of. the day, and
the defense announced that except for the /
matter of the admissibilitv as evidence OF
letters from Clara to Hamon it rested its
case
Both in her direct testimony and on
cross-examination she maintained she !
could not tell just how the pistol was /
discharged. but that it was discharged as
she was attempting to unlock the door OF |
her room TO escape Hamon, who she said |
was threatening to strike her with a |
chair.
At one point in her direct testimony she |
illustrated to the jury the arrangement Of
her room, and how her view OF Hamon
was cut off for moment as she reached
the door,
At. the request Of Attorney General
Freeing, who is directing the prosecution.
the defendant pointed the pistol at him
as she said she did at Hamon.
Il might have pulled the trigger" she
testified. but don't remember. 1 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, I can't re-
member"
She reiterated she could not tell Just
when the pistol was discharged; that she
did not know whether the pistol fired as
it fell to the floor or when the chair hit
her.
Clara said she had pawned her dia-
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 worse than the doctors
said.
81 don't just remember what else he
said she replied to the question.
Attorney-General Freezing questioned
Clara Hamon regarding alleged state
ments by her to the reporters Frequent
ly she denied the accuracy of details Of
the printed story, saying. II just can't re-
member" or that the reporter had misun-
derstood or misquoted her. She said the
story of the killing reported by Sam
Blair. Chicago newspaper man, was sc-
curate
: Clara said that on the train from Ell
Paso to Ardmore she had signed state
, ment saying Blair's interview was over
drawn.
She told OF purchasing the pistol With
which Mr.. Hamon was killed.
Mr.. Hamon gave the money to ME and
told me to buy it." she said.
; Upon the day Mr.. Hamon was shot
; what took place; what did you say to Mr..
, Hamon. if anything. relative 20 the fight
in the room?' queried her counsel. Clara
= replied:
. HE said Clara, you hit me- or It hit
me- something like that. don't Tcmem-
: Der positively. 1 said Mr.. Halnon l am
| sure I didn't hit you I said lie on the
| bed and 1 will call DIR. Hardy He said
1 No. don't: 1 can walk to the hospital ]
said But I must call the doctor IL you
are hurt He said Yes am hit. Clara
I / will go to the hospital myself He
. raised his vest to show me where he wa.
hit. There was SPOT of blood about that
big around and she curved her fingers
{ TO illustrate, breaking down at this poln
e and crying. He left the room" she said
'T will say 1t. was an accident. II any
: one asks you about this tell them It Is al
s right. I will make the explanations" sh,
e quoted Hamon as having said.
e Resuming the stand after the noon re
o cess Clara spoke of incidents following
the shooting.
o "Mr. Hamon held out his arms and
0 pulled me down and kissed me and asked
e me to forgive him and said 4
never would have happened II he haS
not been drunk" she said Mr.. Hamol
told her at the hospital the morning afle
the shooting
- She said Hamon told her she coul
\ leave town to save scandal. but to com
: back that afternoon. The defendant the
= detailed her flight from Ardmore. sayin
she was acting on instructions from Nj
4 Ketch.
+ Clara said when she left Oklahoma sh
was not fleeing from a crime she ha
q committed but left because Mr. Ketch toll
n her to.
He certainly was not" Clara reptile
when asked if Hamon was SHOT while ly
- ing on a bed.
II certainly did not" she replied sgai
when asked if she had placed her han
on lannon's head and fired the shot whic
Killed him.
On cross examination she id she wa
90 years old and had been Living wit
Mr. Hamon eight or nine years"
Clara said she was not Jealous Of Mrs
Jake Hamon after admitting she lne1
Hamon was married and the father o
two children.
Attorney General Freezing read a let
ter introduced yesterday and Clara sal
the phrase "I will stop it one way or an
other" in the letter meant she was read
to quit Hamen at any time and permi
him to return to his family.
When Attorney General Freezing aske
If Hamon had promised to marry hel
Clara replied: HE did always"
Eyes, hated him for that scene on tn
porch" she said in reply to question a
to whether she had said to a reporte
How 1 hated him for that scene"
"I hated him and loved him at tn
same time" she said. replying also tina
love was decidedly he dominant passion