The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1921-03-17

ABOUT FATAL TRAGEDY
Court House, Ardmore OKLA, March 15-Clara Smith
Harmon took the stand today to protect her mothers
name and save her life. y
The pretty girl CARRIED in blue tailored suit and TAIL
ored hat tip oed to the snd e he to
had been adjourned in pandemonium. ~ ~~~.
The excitement brought about by a conflict be-
tween Prosecutor Brown and Wild Bill Mclean of the
defense Prosecutor Brown said 1--WE can show that the
whole Smith family lived the Harmon estate Mclean
jumped to his feet and yelled:
"Ths girls mother is good as any who every gave
birth to any lawyer in this case"
1t seemed though everyone clapped and shouted ap
prova of his answer The judge ordered the court room
cleared Mrs Jake Harmon at the mention OF the word
mother broke down and led out by her Jake
Hammon Jr Clara burst into tears ana was led out by
Jimmy her brother and pal. Women sobbed:
Judge Champion adjourned court until H. Loud con-
versaton again broke loose Mrs. Harmon returned to-
the Clara with her mother and sister were
in the anti-room
The Judge finally rescinded his decision and allowed
the curious to stay if they kept quiet:
Bud Bailey deputy sherft ana other als fa
six Shooters Bud Baew took gun from the son of an
attorney Buck Garrett sheriff. stood next to the Judge
with his hands his hip Buck was one OF the few calm
persons there.
When Clara took the stand she said
Thave known Mr.: Harmon many years. he paid my
tuition at business college at Fort Worth and New Lex
Il became his stenographer and later his private Sec
retary !, $50, ,n o.a,n;oa .aio;n;nn ,oonos o. Tho
Il knew he was married man. Yes, sir, did," !
November 21, when Harmon was shot, was described
as follows by Clara:
1--WE had breakfast at II. He went to his office. I
went back to my He back to the room in the
afternoon. We had very pleasant conversation He
rested for awhile got in my car ABOUT six ana started
mon was seated in front Of the hotel went up to him.
= "He Yelled Where in hell have you been ,
1914 II replied please don't make scene We'll go to the
"Again he grasped me by the arm and shouted YOU
you-, where have you BEEN
ri got up from the chair. was afraid of Hamon l
saw look in his face had before He was
crazier and drunken than he had ever been before.
~ rushed to my
II rang for Bil the porter. Mr.. Hamon slipped in
him for "a hours Then could have gone to California
as the sweet lovers we had always been.
"Mr Hamon again called me YOU.
HE choked me- he kissed me, he threw on the bed
then he jerked me off onto the floor He kicked and
kicked me again from the back.
"Then he pulled me up and threw me- against the
He Hi' Shouted d. ri iT slit your S throat i ~
with someone
HE saw knife on my dresser and reached for it and
said 4 would just as soon slit your throat
II knew the time was coming: reached to the win
dow sill and got my little gun. He backed up behind a
chair passed him to get out of the room. reached
the door with the gun pointed towards him. He dashed
off the light From the light over the transom saw him
swing chair
"He hit me with chair. The gun went off"
Clara, undaunted, picked up the gun and stepped be-
fore the jury to enact the tragedy:
Court House, Ardmore, Okla, March 16.-Love let
ters written by Jake Hamon to his protege Clara Smith
Hamon ruled nadmissabe evidence in Claras trial
for murder here today. ~-
Judge Tom Champion said the letters introduced by
the defense not competent The ruling is blow to
the defense's case. '' @- -