Arizona republican., 1921-03-16
Shooting. Followed jealous Quarrel SPECTATORS CHEER DEFENSE
Court Room In Furore When Attorneys
 CIosI,
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel


 ARDMORE, Okla, March 15.-Clara Smith Hamon. festifying today in her trial on charge of the murder of Jake L. Hamon, Republican national committeeman, gave her version of the firing of the fatal bullet and under went strenuous four-hour cross examination.
 Speaking in low pitched tones. she brool1ed no interference from her coun- sel until she had told her story of the occurrences of November 21, culminat- ing in the firing into lannon's body of the bullet from a tiny automatic pistol she said she held in her right hand
 Tt went off as it fell, or I pulled the trigger, or something, as he hit me- she said in explaining the firing of the pistol as the climax to fight she said she had waged with Hamon. She said that he smashed down on her with a. chair after he had cholSed, beaten. kicked and mistreated her, but she said she did not know how the actual shoot ing occurred.
 T don't know" she said. The gun went off"
 Three times during her testimony she wept.
 The tears first came as she spoke of the inception of the fight, Hamon she said. having snatched her into a chair beside him in front of their hotel, cursed her and accused her of having been automobile riding with someone.
 With the words. "Clara, you hit me. y which she said the colonel exclaimed when she shot him, the witness came nearest to a breakdown She said Hamon threw back his vest and showed her a widening spot of blood on his right chest.
 Visits Hamon at Hospital
 before she could continue her story.
 Again she faltered and cried when she said that on the morning after Hamon was shot he sent for her to go to the hospital, pulled her down to him, kissed her and said he hoped fight and that it would not have hap pened had he not been drinking.
 Mrs. Jake l.. Hafnon sat few feet away as Clara testified, intently watch ing the witness. Her face for the most part was expressionless. although at one point in Clara's story she bit her lips and closed her eyes tightly.
 Clara Hamon had just testified in reply to a question by Attorney Gen eral Freeling, that she supposed Ha- mons reason for telling her and friends to say to those who might in quire regarding the shooting that it was accidental, that it was to protect
 
 Twice the witness stepped down and, with the pistol with which Hamon was shot in her hand, walked before the jury to show how he had been wounded. On cross-examination At torney General Freeling had her point the weapon at him while he assumed a position similar to that in which she said Hamon had occupied
 On direct examination she. dropped the pistol to indicate how it had fallen from her hand when the chair hit it. Promised Marriage
 She gave a low-voiced no in reply to a question on cross examination if there had been a child born to her and in another answer said she did not know that Colonel Hamon had left a will. but that he always had said he intended for her to be provided for any money after Colonel Hamon's death she wanted 10 educate her younger brother and provide for her l parents.
 l She said Hamon repeatedly had told l her that he intended to obtain a di- | vorce and to marry her, and that she had waited six years for that to be done
 A second contract bearing the sigma | lures of Clara Hamon and Jake L. 1 Hamon was read. It set forth that the i two had entered an agreement whereby Clara Hamon was to receive S35 2 week as an employe of the colonel 1 subject to termination on two weeks notice, and that should child be born l S35 a week should be set aside for tho tContinued on Page Two)