The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-10-30
Man Recently Freed
OF Murder Charge
Is Shot to Death
Both Wife and Daughter
Claim to Have Fired
the Fatal Shots In the
Killing Friday.

Sh'i S'o iidu pecH lieu Dy tne county
attorney against Mrs. Ira Hammer
and daughter. Mona. and II. II. Ward.
all Of whom are now confined in the
county jail where they are being
held pending investigation Of tho
shooting which occurred at. Wilson
Friday night and which resulted in
Hammers death.
In a statement made to an Ard
moreite reporter at the jail Saturday
Mrs. Hammer and her daughter both
admitted having fired al Hammer
when he refused to depart after having
been warned to leave their home FRI
day evening. Hammer, according to
his widow, had visited the home dur.
ing her absence earlier in the day,
and after failing in an attempt to car.
ry away their eight year old son, who
was aided in his struggle by his two
older sisters, had departed with the
threat that he would take you chill
dren with me. or else kill your moth
er before sunset"
Hammer was released from the
county Jail last week when he was
acquitted in a second trial of a charge
of numbering Charles Spears. His first
| trial resulted In n verdict of guilty
and Il sentence OF life Imprisonment.
Mrs Hammer stated that she had
, filed sIit for divorce against her hus-
band, alleging cruelty and abuse.
Ward denied at the jail Saturday
afternoon that he was implicated in
any manner with the shooting. He said
he had had an alteration with Ham
mer AT the roundup during the after
noon. and drew his gun on Hammer.
! but Immediately surrendered the fire.
arm TO Sheriff Garrett who inter
vVned.
! Mrs. Hammer Tells Of Killing
With three OF her children huddlod
! about her. and behind the tears which
rolled down their cheeks sincere ex-
pressions Of affection for their mother
Mrs. Ira Hammer. In n cell at the
county jail. related the details which
led up 10 the shooting of her husband.
She stated hat Hammer had come
to her home at Wilson on Friday
morning at a time when she was
not there, and that he had made an
attempt to take with him their
youngest child. Bonney. a boy aged
eight years. Hammer was on horse
back at the time. and he tried to lift
the lad to the horses back. However
the youth managed 10 break away
and ran into the yard Of his home.
closing the gate between the father
and himself. They boys two sisters
Mona. aged 10. and Oneida. aged 10.
then came TO his aid. and with a
threat "I'll either take you children
with me. or else kill your mother
before sunset" Hammer left, while
the oldest girl covered him with n
revolver.
Hammer Warned to Leave
The children then ran 10 town where
they found their mother on Friday
night. while the mother and family
were at their home. Hammer again
arrived. Mrs. Hammer warned him
not to come into the house. However.
he refused TO leave, she states. Fear
ful OF the threats which Hammer is
alleged TO have made prior TO his
last arrival, Mrs Hammer opened the
screen door and after he failed TO
heed the final warning TO depart
both she and her oldest daughter Mona
fired revolvcrs and Hammer started
to run. He was later found by tho
l.. officers lying among some branches
near the house. Mrs. Hammer said
/ she was armed with 80 Colt double
, letion revolver. while the girl had
25 automatic.
Roth Claim 10 Have Fired
At the time the couple were ar
rested by deputy sheriffs Bin Ward
and Bud Ballew. one OF the officers
/. asked who had done the shooting
4. Mona stepped forward and exclaimed
: IL did II with this" and handed the
=. pistol over. Tho mother stated tlia,
| both OF them Ind shot.
- Mrs. Hammer -tates that she had
{ filed suit for divorce against he,
e husband some time ago, alleging cx
,rcmo cruelty and abuse. Al tn,
time. she says, Hammer had threaten
1 ed to kin II. IL. Brown. ono al hci
attorneys. II the divorce was grs:,
, Ell her. The suit IL still pending.
|. Ward Denies lmpllcatie<
p Ward who was also arrested II
connection with the shooting. deniet
r at the Jail Saturday afternoon thai
y he was In any manner implicated viii
the affair. lie stated that during Fri
day afternoon. he had had an nj
tcrcation with Ira Hammer at th'
roundup. during which he drew
his gun on Hammer and immet
u lately surrendered the fircarm 4
, Sheriff Buck Garrett who had Inter
voncd Immediately after he becain'
aware OF the affair. Ward stated the
@ he had approached Hammer for ~
a purpose Of aeauaintine the latter witI
= the fact that he. ward. had not report
/. ed Hamme-'s son. Younger. 20 the ~
o lice authorities for beating his motno
!, some time ago. Ward further explAic
|. cd that he had been informed tho
e Ira Hammer was OF the belief tho
~. -. ok