The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-03-12
MAKING PROGRESS
IN MURDER TRIAL
HAMON ALLEGED TO HAVE SAID
CLARA SHOT HIM WHILE
CARESSING HIS HEAD.

Ardmore, Oklahoma-(By A. P.)-
w. B. Nichols, business associate of
Jake L. Hamon, told the jury in the
trial of Clara Smith Hamon today
that Hamon had told him that Clara
| shot him as she stood by his bedside
stroking his head with her left hand.
In his opening statement the prose
cutor said the women had maintained
illicit relations with Hamon for years ;
that she had quarreled frequently
with him, and five years ago had
| threatened to shoot him. Two weeks
before the shooting, the prosecutor
asserted, she had purchased a pistol
when Hamon announced his intention
of leaving her, becoming church
member and devoting himself to his
family.
The defendant was simply gowned
today and she and the widow, Mrs.
Jake L. Hamon, gave no sign of
recognition.
The evidence would show, Mr.. Free
ling said, that Jake L. Hamon came
to Ardmore in June, 1913, from Law
ton. Hamon, lawyer, came here to
build railroad and then branched
into the oil business. He was follow
ed soon afterward, the prosecutor
said, by Clara Smith, then mature
woman of g."
sShe is now 32," he added. "For a
time she acted as stenographer and
they Immediately began living to-
gether, Mrs. Jake Hamon and Jake,
Jr., remaining at Lawton. Their life
then became one of open and notori-
Gus adultery"
On the day of the shooting, Mr..
Freezing said, Hamon was with
friends when summoned by telephone
to his rooms about p. m. Two hours
later, he said, Hamon left the hotel
and walked quickly to hospital and
there told DIR. Walter Hardy that
Clara had shot him and advised the
doctor don't tell until you have to;
spare the wife and children"
At the conclusion of his statement, |
the attorney general asked the jury
to return what verdict in it's con- i
science and Judgment it saw fit
The defense reserved it's statement |
until later.
It was testified that few days be-
fore Mr.. Hamon was shot fatally in
The hotel suite he and the defendant
here, Clara Smith Hamon
1ad purchased an automatic pistol
md a magazine of cartridges in Ok
ahoma City, and that on one occa-
,ion in 1915 the defendant had been
een standing near Hamon in his of
ice here with what apparently was a
mall pistol.
w. E. Meyers, an Oklahoma City 4
hardware salesman, testified he had
old Clara B. Smith an automatic
'istol and defense counsel submitted
hat their cliant was the person who
ad made the purchase.
Testimony of Physician
DR.. Walter Hardy, proprietor of !
he sanitarium to which Hamon went
yhen shot, was called. He said Mr.. $
[amon came to his sanitarium, pale
aced, threw his arms around the
octor and kissed him on the fore
cad. !
sTm shot," Mr. Hamon replied to $
uestion, DR.. Hardy said, 'by Clara 5
mith. / told you she would do it. = :
am going to die. / am weak and I :
ant to go to bed"
Dr. Hardy said he imm mediately took |.
[amon to the elevator, upstairs and
, bed.
Doctor, take my right hand. II
ant you to promise me you never
ill reveal how / was shot, except in
pen court" DR.. Hardy quoted the
cad man as saying. =
DR.. Hardy said he undressed Mr..
anon AS Attorney General Free
ng displayed the bloody undercloth- y
g Hamon wore and a gown he was 3
aced in at the hospital, both Mrs.
AXE Hamon and Clara wept into :,
leir handkerchiefs, the widow aloud. !,
Interest was intense when Dr. u
ardy under cross-examination said Il
at Hamon was suffering from cirr-
isis of the liver when he was opera
d on for the bullet wound and could !,
IT have lived two years longer; that =
lara Smith herself is suffering
ON serious malady from which
le probably cannot recover, and in tt
oduction through DIR. Hardy of +
amnn,s ALLEGED DYING statement in 10