Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-03-15
Reference To Mother
of Clara as "Old
Woman" Cause of
Wild Disorder

trial of Clara Smith Hamon charged
with the murder of Jake l.. Hamon,
was thrown into an uproar this
morning when spectators started
wild handclapping and the defend
ant broke into tears and was led
from the courtroom with tears
streaming from her eyes.
The outbreak of applause and
Clara's breakdown came after w.
p. Mclean, of defense, replied
heatedly to H. H. Brown, special
prosecutor, who told the court:
well, we are willing for the Jury
to know how they took it, the old
woman and all.'
Clash Is Heated.
BY 1.-The old woman" Mr.. Brown
referred to Clara lannon's mother.
Mr. Mclean prior to Mr.. Browns
had said that he wanted
the jury to know how the entire
Smith family took" the association
of Clara with Colonel Hamon.
THAT old woman, as he calls her,
will be on the witness stand and
can testify, and she is, in my iudg-
ment, as good woman as has CIV
en- birth to any lawyer in this case.
The court ordered the room
cleared after the applause ceased
but the spectators were reluctant to
move. After efforts of deputy sher-
ifs and bailiffs to remove them.
the court reversed itself, but gave
lecture on court poom decorum.
Clara Defends Mother.
Clara Hamon could compose
herself sufficiently to return to the
court rom and a one hour recess
was ordered.
Il don't care what they do with
me-" she said as she kept, but they
must let my poor old mother
alone"
After the outbreak had subsided,
Bud Ballew, a deputy sheriff took
the grown son of one of the attor-
neys connected with the prosecu-
ton from the court room and
reached him for firearms but found
none.
Mrs. V. B. Walling, sister of the
defendant, had just left the witness
stand when the remarks of the
counsel precipitated the outbreak
Of applause.
Mrs. Walling testified that Clara
Hamon was born in 1893 and is 81
years old, but few moments later
said that she was about 29.
Did you know Jake Hamon dur /
ing his lifetime?" she was asked.
"Well | knew him, yes sir, but / |
wasn't very well acquainted with !
MIN. l only saw him very few
.imes," she replied.
Sister Knew Relations.
Ibid you know Of the improper
citations existing between him and
,our sister," Mclean asked.
Not for several years after they
)egan." she said.
"Clara's throat was bruised very
much and finger prints were deep
v impressed" the witness testified
n relating that Clara went to herI
home in Wilson, Okla, on the morn
ng after the shooting.
"A bruise was on her chest ana
read and she complained of pains
n her hands and arms"
Your husband worked for him,
Iidn't he?" shew as asked.
HE did, but he doesn't now"
drs. Walling replied.
knowing all OF these facts, all
f the relations which existed be-
ween your sister and Mr.. Hanoi,
ou let your husband work for him
nd lived in his house ?" Mr.. Brown
sked.
1T wasn't his house." she said.
1t was on the lease"
We'll, he controlled Il, managed
/, is that right?" counsel asked.
yes, SIR" Mrs. Walling replied
Father Threatened Hamon.
And, knowing those facts, you
ontinued TO live there and work
or him?" the Attorney asked.
Yes, sir, we did. We were
and ne treated us nicely"
he witness replied.
do you remember your father
oming up here to kill Jake Hamon
nd about the sheriff disarming
im?"
Eyes sir" Mrs. WaIling replied.
The state objected and was sus-
aimed.
I'VE want to take an exception
n the last ruling Of the court" Mr..
lcLean said. "The prosecuting at
lrney brought out from this young ,
-oman that they all knew about !
he association Of Jake Hamon and
he defendant Now that applies 70
be father. We think the action Of
he father isadmissible by reason Of
be fact that they brought out the
tct that they all knew IT,"
Audience Cheers.
Mr.. Brown rose and injeced the /,
mark. We'll. we are willing for ,,
ie jury 70 know how they took il.
he old woman and all, which led
the outbreak.
The court record at this point
lows cheers by the audience"
At 1885, five minutes before the
cess period was over. Clara Ham
D returned to the court room. ap-
arently composed and whispered
her niece and the young son OF
n. Mclean. who we're seated on
ther side Of her. IL