New-York tribune., 1921-03-18
s'Happiest Person in the
World!'' She Cries as
She Is Freed of Charge
of Numbering Politician
Called Victim
OF Man She Shot
Dead Millionaire Excori-
ated Before Jury for
S'Luring Innocent Girl"

ARDMORE, Okla, March 17.-Clara
Smith Hamon was found not guilty to.
Cay of the murder of Jake L. Hamon.
millionaire oil man and Republican Ma
tional Committeeman. whom she shot
here November 21, 1920.
Clara obtained the information fully
seven minutes before the verdict was
rendered in open court and sat, sur
rounded by members Of her family.
half smiling, half afraid to believe tho
mods of assurance that were bent TO-
ward her.
She gasped as the verdict was an
nounced and dropped forward in her
chair. Her brother Jimmie reached
ground from the left side and kissed
her. He was in tears.
There was some applause, but the
court had demanded silence and it
quickly was stilled. Clara went to til {.
jury box and shook hands with the
Jurors.
II am the happiest person in the
world" Clara said to those who be-
sieged her as she gave them both
hands.
b. +. c. Loughridge, seventy-three
the Oldest man in the box and the fore
man, delivered the verdict. The Jurors
! said only one ballot was taken, a secret
one. confirmed by rising vote.
1T was the only thing we could do"
one said as he left the courtroom.
None of the family of Jake L Hamon
| was In the courtroom when the verdict
was rendered. Neither was S. P. Free
r,g' a,ng' Attorney General, who made a
plea for conviction forty minutes be-
iore the jury arrived at its decision.
Widow Is Not Told
Tonight at the home here of Mrs
Jake. Hamon it was said that she had
not been told of the verdict and that
she would not be until tomorrow be-
cause of her physical and mental con-
dltlon. Jake l.. jr. said that il his
the acquittal after such brief consid,
Grafton by the jury it would tend to
| throw her into a collapse, on the verge
Of which she is right now
Clara Smith Hamon used secret
passage from the courtroom to escape
the crowds which threatened to over
whelm her with congratulations. To-
night her plans for the future were
Incomplete. she and members Of hey
counsel said. She is considering a
number of business offers, according
to Walter Scott, of Fort Worth, Tex
one of her counsel.
In the course Of the trial it was
brought out that Clara had made q
statement that she believed Mr.. Hamon
left will in which provision was
made for her and that it was being
kept secret until after the trial.
Tonight her attorneys were uncom-
munlcative as regard reports that in
view OF the young woman's acquittal
they intended Immediately to bring
suit against the Hamon estate for an
Interest for her.
After an effort of the defense to
waive its right of argument and have
the case go Immediately to the jurv
had been ruled out by Judge Thomas
W. Champion this morning, defense
counsel began its plea for acquittal.
Joe Ben Champion, twin brother of
the judge, opened for the defense. He
referred to the participation in the
case Of Attorney General Freezing as
"a high state official sent down here to
prosecute a poor, innocent country girl
for shooting a millionaire"
Clara Smith lannon's eyes filled with
tears at this reference and she sat with
downcast face.
"Lured by Master Mind"
"When Jake Hamon met her." Cham.
pion said, "she was brown-eyed girl:
when he lured, coaxed, wooed and won
he was q powerful lawyer of forty
years, master mind.
HE took her, an innocent country
girl, educated her, sent her to college
not that she might serve him as ste
nographer, but that finally in the end
she might yield to his brutal passions u
"If the grave could open up and the
| dead man have a reproach Of con-
| science, he would tell you that he is the
one most to blame," Champion shouted
"Girls like this have ever been ac-
quilted; girls like this ever will be
acquitted so long as the spirit of God
lasts" Champion said. He asked
whether "breathed there a man who
would say this little girl should pay
with her life"
Mr.. Mathers followed Champion. In
pleading for Clara's acquittal he de-
clared that she had helped accumulate
lannon's millions, but that the jury
could not weigh gold against her tears
There was never Bible in Jake
lannon's ROOM" Mathers charged, "be-
CONTINUED on pave sIx)