Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-03-10
QARASMlTH LANNON'S TRlAI
BEGINS TODAY; SELECTION OF
JURY MAY TAKE UP MUCH TINE
Woman l. Charged With The
Murder OF Jake L. Hanon.
Millionaire Oil Maspate,
Railroad Man And Repub-
lican National Committee
man From Oklahoma.

courthouse, Ardmore. Okla.
| March 1O.-When twelve men
VINO did not disquAltfy them
selves On examination were seat
| ca In the jury box. the defense in
the tr1al Of Clara Smith HanOn
| 1or the alleged murder Of Jake
| u: Ha'non. waived peremplory
challenges. The rapidtty WITH
which yentremen were passed By
both sides. was described as sur-
prising.
| Both sides said jury would ~
| ne selected by the middle Of the
afternoon and expressed pleasure
with the progress of the trial. III.
Ardmore. Okla, March 1o.-All the
principal figures in the trial of Clara
smith Harnon, charged with the 1nur
der OF Jake J.. Hamon. oil and raj,
ROAD millionaire and Republican na-
llonal committeeman from Oklahon,.
were IN readiness for the opening of
! the trial at o'clock this morning.
| Counsel for the defense and prose
cutlon announced they were ready to
oeSln. ls2 vcniremen had been sum
moned. and Judge Thomas W. Cham
plon said the Carter county distr;c;
] court docket was cleared for this
The defendant held a final confer
ence with her counsel late last nir;,,
and 5. ?. Freezing, attorney gencl.,l
Oh Oklahoma, worked far into til,
hient completing his plans for tns
states case.
| Both sides agreed that the lene,,,
OF the trial depended upon the tactics
aoopteo IN examining penirement for
Jury service and the rulings OF Judge
champion as to the length Of time
winch might be consumed in exami-
nations.
To Handle Case on Merits.
Both defense and state counsel s.id
tney would be content with handling
tne case on its merits as a murder
case and no 'resorting to grand lar
ceny' would be done, despite the fact
That the case is regarded as attracting
more attention than any other in
OKlahoma's fourteen years history as
a state.
IN pre-trial statements each sid e
noted that the judge may rule to
throw presentation Of testimony omen
to all facts which either side. mieht
W1sh to bring out, covering a period
OF several years, and inclu Ting
Claras>Smith~4Iamon
! speaking for the state General
u freezing said. however. that an ef
tort would be made to have the court
rule that no evidence regarding the
alleged relations between Hamon and
tne defendant further back than
occurred. might be introduced and
), IN another statement William P. Nc
Lean and Walter Scott OF eounsea for
the defense. expressed similar views
To Select Jury.
J. Immediately after calling court to
>order this morning selection Of the
Jury is expected to begin. Including
a special venire Of lat. there are Isl.
ven1remen. The states plans are to
choose twelve who do not disqualify
themselves in their examination for
examinations by the defense, until
both sides agree on twelve Each sid o
tnen is permitted to exercise nine per
emptory challenges. Under this MA,
some observers said the jury could
not be selected today, while others
pointed out that in other cases of
; importance the jury was chosen
| quickly.
General freezing said the stale
would not insist in it's examination OF
venlremen this morning that they
. know nothing about the case. but If
!. man Of standing and reputation for
veracity were called and said he had
. dence could not change, he would be
acceptable to the state
, Defense counsel indicated their ex-
animation would be somewhat more
involved. although they would moi
, say Just what mode of examination
would be adopted. The examination
of veniremen will be left to Ardmore
ing to leading counsel for the state
, and defense
, To Appear As Witness.
magnate. has announced her intention
OF appearing as a witness for the state
and attending all sessions Of the trial.
General freezing said he would re-
quest that Mrs. Hamon be not placed
under the ruling requiring witnesses
to be excluded from the court room
J Exemption also will be asked for
Frank L. Ketch, administrator for the
: Hamon estate. and Sam Blair. Chicago
| newspaper man. the first because Of
his interest in the estate and the sec
ond because OF journalistic duties.
In final statement before the trial
today Mrs. Ha.mon said she regretted
she had not taken action years ago
; while Clara Smith Hamon was still
Clara Smith. to end her association
with Hamon. Clara Smith obtained
the name Hamon by marriage to
Frank Hamon. nephew Of the man
she is accused of killing.
IN statement made In the pres
l ence Of her father, her 1s-year
t son. Jake. Jr.. and former law
' partner of her husband, and Mrs.
: Katherine S. Reid. Ardmore news
2 paper woman, Mrs. Hamon said that
l she had debated with herself many
times whether to throw acid in Clara
Smiths face to disf1gure her SO she
would not be beautiful and attract
lannon's attention. With tears in her
: eyes, Mrs. Hamon said she never
could bring herself to that point.
2 "Oh, IL I only had" she repeated.
Despite the apparent lack Of inter-
est locally in the trial, county build
ing attaches said the court room, as
t by SO feet, would be crowded to its
capacity OF $50 long before O'Clock
this morning. Sheriff Buck Garret
has enlisted O number of special depu-
ties to preserve order, AS he said he
expected much difficulty with crowds
thronging the building and attemnt
l ing to crowd into the tiny court
; room.
: The final lineup OF attorneys 4
: General Freezing and II. H. Brown,
s brother Of County Attorney Ruanelj
{ B.. Brown, who fled the tufOrmatton
: charging Clara Smith HamOn VIZ
murder. for the prosecution. ana Nc
e Lean and Scott Of Forth Hog4h
{ Charles A. Cokley, Jamae II, lfnfh.
n ers and Jee Ben ChAmpion for ~
Continued 90 Fass Ia