The Washington herald., 1921-03-13
DEATHBED WORDS
OF HAMON HURLED
ATCLARANCOU
Three Witnesses Say Oil
King Accused Girl in
Final Utterances.

ARDMoRE, Okla. March IL. =
When. court adjourned at noon to-
day until Monday morning. Clara
Smith Hamon had been accused by
three State witnesses. Of firing the
shot that ended the life Of Jake
La Hamon. former Republican Ma
tional Committeeman. millionaire oil
man and railroad builder. .@5r
All Of this accusations were made
through friends Of Hamon, who
visited him while he was on hfs
death bed. Until this trial opened
none admitted officially that the
shooting of Hsmon was anything
but an accident Each stated thae
they had been pledged by Hamon
not to reveal what Hamen told them
of the occurrence until 1t was neces-
sary in open court. Hamon wanted
to protect his wife and children
from the stain of the life he had
been living, his friends testified.
The big question tonight Is what
Clara Smith will answer to the
States evidence. It Is an admitted
fact that the young woman will
plead self defense. She unquestion-
ably will relate a struggle with Ha-
mon and say that the shot was fred
In the course of 1t. z'
widow on stand Monday.
At least a day yet will be neces-
sary for the State to complete its
direct evidence against Clara Smith,
attorneys for the prosecution said
tonight Mrs. Jake L. Hamon, the
widow who until today has been in
constant attendance at the trial of
the young woman, who Is said
caused the separation of her and
her husband and children and final
ly charged with ending his life, will
be one of the principal witnesses
Monday. Frank L. Ketch. business
manager for Hamon, and Sam Blair,
Chicago newspaperman. are among
other witnesses yet to be heard on
the part of the prosecution. Blair.
IL Is said, may prove one of the
hardest witnesses the defense has to
face He interviewed the young
woman while she still was in Mex
leo after her flight from Ardmore.
While important evidence has been
and yet will be given indirect by
the State. 1t was reported tonight
that vital testimony win be pro-
duced by the prosecution on rebuff
tai, in event certain subjects touch
ing on Clara Smiths reputation and
her past are made an issue in her
defense. In event the young
woman's attorneys see At to open
up those avenues. the life of Hamon
and Clara Smith may be thrown
into the breach before the trial is
ended, f
Intimate Details Not Bared.
So far the intimate details Of those
years have been touched on only
lightly. In fact, many, both men
and women, who have remained In
the court room, much to their dis
comfort, plainly have been disap-
pointed in that regard. -
Clara Smith Is surrounded on all
sides by, her attorneys. Few defend
ants have been better cared for by
lawyers, in numbers and In legal
ability. Her leading counsel Is
William Mclean, of the firm Of Nc
Lean. Scott q Mclean. 'of Fort
Worth.
Five other lawyers. are associated
with Mclean in the defense. Some-
times. all six are ON their feet seek
ing to protect the ysung woman's
legal rights Throughout the tire
some and suitry. close days in the
court room Clara Smith has sas
notionless. although thor
oughly awake to every move for and
against her. =
Once she wept That was ye..
terday at the sight Of the deac
mans clothing. Her mother and
sister sat in protecting manner
on either side of her. At today'sI
session the young woman appeared
more At ease than at any time. After
the morning session had been un-
der way an hour she removed her
straw sailor hat. :.
AT each recess the young woman
walks through . lane Of starfne
people who line the way down the
stairs and out to her waiting motor
car Seldom does she. recognize
znyone and few times has she been
noticed to smile- ~. q
The general heller Is that the
trial cannot, be finished before
THURSDAY or Friday Of the coming
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