Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-03-16
JURY EXPECTED
TO GET HAMON
CASE TONIGHT
Arguments and Instructions
Given at Afternoon Ses-
/ sion of Court.
&OVE LETTERS BARRED

COURTROOM, ARDMORE, Okla,
March 16.-The actual trial of Clara
Smith Hamon On a charge of murder
ing Jake L. Hamon, political autocrat
and oil king of the Southwest, ended
shortly after 10 o'clock today. Both
prosecution and defense rested their
cases at that time and adjournment
was taken until O'Clock for Trial
Judge Thomas W. Champion to pre-
pare his instructions to the jury.
When Judge Champion has pointed out
the law to the twelve good men and
true who hold C1aras fate in their
hands. attorneys for the prosecution and
defense will give final arguments.
Late this afternoon the case viii go TO
the jury.
There will be a verdict two minutes
after the jury retires to deliberate At
tOrney General J. Prince Freezing said
as court adjourned.
Persons close to the prosecution pre-
dicted an acquittal.
1--WE expect acquittal after a brief de-
liberation by the jury" said c. A. Coax
ley of defense counsel.
DEFENDANT LOOKS
MUCH RELIEVED.
Clara looked much relieved when she
entered the courtroom today, after her
trying ordeal on the witness stand yes
terday. She was accompanied by Mrs
Jennie Sharpless, an evangelist, who
prayed with her during the morning be-
fore court opened.
Clara's expression was more compla-
cent and she laughed and was cheerful
as she chatted with wild BiI' Nc
Lean, her attorney.
Sam Blair. a newspaper reporter, was
the first witness to testify. He told of
an interview with Clara in Mexico.
Clara, on the stand yesterday, denied
parts Of the interview with her obtained
by Blair.
Ainterview and asked il Clara had made
the statements.
In substance" and "in general" was
Blair's reply.
Blair explained he had the interview
three months ago and the conversation
was bit hazy.
Freeling tried to introduce the inter
view as evidence, but 1t was thrown out
by the court.
Erwin c. Daniels, Denison, Texas, chauf-
feur, took the stand.
Daniels testified he drove the defendant
from Denison to Dallas last November
after HamOn was shot.
Daniels testified Clara had g pistol in
her possession at the time.
NURSE RECALLED
BY PROSECUTION.
Miss Rosa Cannon, lannon's nurse. who
testified for the defense. was recalled to
the stand by the prosecution. Miss Can
non, when she testified before. said she
was with HamOn at the hospital twelve
hours a day while he was mortally
wounded and said she heard Hamon make
no dying declaration that Clara shot him
deliberately.
Miss Cannon denied making this state
ment to Errett Dunlap, a friend of Ha-
mons. The statement follows:
Il was surprised to see Clara come
TO the hospital; she was nervous; she
sPlooked like she had been out the night
before"
Dunlap. who followed. testified Miss
Cannon had made the statement.
DR.. Walter Hardy. in whose hospital
HamOn died, was recalled to the stand
He testified that Hamon said:
She would have given her life to hear
what he was saying to visitors"
Mrs. Jake HamOn wept when her hus-
Dand suit was ldentlneQ Dy Hardy as
one HamOn wore when shot.
Prosecutor Freeling said he would not
ask the death penalty in his closing
statement He feels he has a better
chance of getting a conviction If he asks
a lighter penalty.
Attorneys for Clara declared she had
saved herself by the story she told the
jury-that she was her own best wit
ness.
Efforts by the State to break down her
testimony in rebuttal today failed.