New-York tribune., 1921-03-15
Hamon Widow
Took Pistol Out
OfOara's 'sRoon1
Mrs. Jake Hamon, on Stand.
Tells of Meeting Rival
and Husband in Hoael:
Girl Fled, She Testifies
Prosecution Rests Case
Partner Says Oil Man Paid
for Paramour's Escape:
Nurses Help the Defense

ARDMORE, Okla, March 14.-Mrs
Jake L. Hamon day testified briefly
as the concluding witness for the state
in the case of Clara Smith Hamon,
charged with the murder of Jake l.
Hsmon. former Republican National
Committeeman for Oklahoma. Nearlv
score of witnesses for the defense
were examined and it was announced
the defendant herself would take the
stand tom orrow.
Mrs. Jake L. Hamon had been under
PHYSICIANS care since Friday. when
she was unnerved by the presenta ton
in evidence of the bloodstained under
garments her husband had worn on the
night he was shot, and the court took
an unusually long recess at noon to-
day TO enable her to regain her com
pcsure. Her testimony was brief and
related to one or two occasions on
which she visited Oklahoma, and of
her meetings with her husband and
Clara Smith Hamon there
Clara Smith Hamoh watched the wit
ness closely as she testified but ap-
peared unaffected.
Took Pistol From Clara's Room
Mrs. Jake Hamon said on one occa-
sion when she brought her daughter,
Olive Belle, eleven years old, mere from
Chicago to take part in IN entertain
ment, she talked with her husband and
later went TO the rooms Hamon and
Clara occupied She said Clara came
in and threw her hat and gloves on
the bed and ran out Mrs. Hamon said
she took pistol from Clara's room
on that occasion.
Following Mrs. lannon's testimony
the state rested its case
Frank L. Ketch, business manager
for Hamon, Gad now administrator of
the estate testified at length at the
morning session Of the court, relating
conversations he had had with Hamon
after the shooting, and of steps taken
to induce Clara Smith Hamon to leave
Oklahoma.
Ketch went on the stand over the
objection of an assistant county at
tornev, who announced that develop
ments Saturday indicated that Ketch
would be charged a 5 an accessory after
the fact.
Judge Thomas ". Champion ruled
Letch should testify. however, and az
ter he LETT the stand Attorney Cen
eral Freeling said that the witness
under the law had been rendered i'm
mune oy the fact he had testified
Ketch testified that under Jake
lannon's instructions he had drawn
5000 from his personal account. given
Il - Clara Hamon on the day follow
ing Hamon's shooting, and had told
nor to leave Ardmore and remain away.
Hamon Told Tv Stories
Ketch said that Mr. Hamon at first
told him that he had shot himself ac-
cidentally. and in a moment changed
that statement to one that Clara Hamop
had fred the bullet. and that the mat
ter should be hustled up and Clara
gotten away.
Ketch testified that Clara Hamon
still is interested in several business
projects both with the Hamon estate
and with him personally. She has
drawn 1925 as a dividend on some oil
property jointly owned with the Hamon
estate since the shooting, Ketch testi-
fed
kc-ch outlined Claras property in
.erest in two oil leases, piece of
property from which her income had
been as high as 500 to $500 a month;
$4,000 worth OF stock In another oil
company. and stock in motion picture
show. Ketch also said Hamon had
given Clara a ten-carat diamond.
CLARA, you've got to GO Ketch said
he told Clara. They decided, he said,
she would take the next train to Du-
rant. From Durant Clara talked with
nlm, ketch said. and he told her to go
South and keep going"
Clara snot Hamon while he was lying
on the bed IN his room. Erret Dunlap
testified Hamon had told him two days
after the shooting. Dunlap was a for
mer business associate of Hamon.
"Of course have heen looking for
this Dunlap quoted Hamon as having
said. he reply was objected to and
sustained
Clara Belle Homer, of Warren, Pa,
trained nurse. who attended Hamon
said she had not heard Hamon tell any
one how he was shot. nor had he told
her and that she was with him at
night except when she Went out to pre-
pare medicine.
The nurse said no conversation had
gone on without her hearing it, and
she remained ohdurate under state
efforts to change her testimony
Rosa Cannon, also nurse who at
tended Hamon, testified that uamon
did not tell her the defendant shot him.
she said Clara s face and hands showed
no bruises.