The New York herald., 1921-03-18
WOMAN WHO SLEW
HAMON ACQUITTED
in FORTY MINUTES
Jurors Take Only One Bal
lot, Secret. in oklahoma
Murder Trial.
DEFENDANT IN TEARS
Widow of G.. @. p. Commit
teeman and Oil Promoter
Near Collapse.
VERDICT KEPT FROM HER
Talk of Actions to Give Ac-
quilted Defendant Part of
Dead Mans Millions.
VERDICT KEPT FROM HER

ARDatoRE. Okla. March 17.--Clara
Smith Hamon was acquitted to-day Of
a charge of having murdered Jake L.
Hamon, Republican National Commit
teeman from Oklahoma and railroad
and oil promoter.
The jury took the case at 4:30 p NJ,
| and returned to the courtroom forty
minutes later. 8. i. G. Loughridge.
aged rs, foreman. said only one ballot
was taken, a secret one, confirmed by
. rising vote
Clara Hamon obtained the inforna-
ton fully seven minutes before the
verdict was rendered in open court and
sat, surrounded by members Of her
family, half smiling half afraid to be-
lieve the mods OF assurance that were
bent toward her.
When Judge Thomas ". Champion
mounted the bench and received an at
irmative response to his question. Cen
tlemen. have you reached a verdict" her
eyes followed the motions Of the baillff
as he received the verdict from Mr.
l-oughridge and handed ii TO the clerk
to read.
Clara Hamon gasped audibly in the
.ensely silent courtroom, dropped for
ward In her seat, only to be seized from
behind by her younger brother, Jim
mie.' squeezed and violently kissed.
Tears came to her eyes, and the other
members OF her family cried with her
MS she crossed 70 the standing jurors.
and, halting, thanked them for their
verdict.
Hnppiest Woman in World.
Il am the happiest woman In the
world" she said.
She used secret passage from the
courtroom 20 escape the crowds which
II reatened to overwlelm her with con-
gratulations. Tonight her plans for the
future were Incomplete. She and mem
oers or her counsel Of six attorneys said
the was considering number or busi-
TESS proposals. According to Walter
Scott OF Fort Worth, one OF her counsel.
what she shall do IN the immediate fu-
ture Is undetermined.
Clara lannon's father, J. L. Smith, Is
seriously Ill at FL Paso. and II was said
she might return there to be with him
IN the last days OF what Is termed an
Illness which may be fatal.
None of the members of the family OF
Jake l.. Hamon was in the court room
when the Jury returned its vedict. Mrs.
Hamon. the widow. and her nineteen
year-od son. Jake L., Jr.. left when the
case was placed in the jury's hands.
Mrs Hamon NJ that time was in tears.
Mrs. Hamon attended all sessions OF
tY.fo pf 4u-n oil I'm dG..T, mn
ing and sitting directly opposite Clara
Hamon. Not once during the entire
trial, which began a week ago to-day.
did the two women appear to be con-
scious Of each other except on the days
they testified. when each regarded the
other closely.
Tonight at the home here OF Mrs.
Jake Hamon IL was said she had not
been told OF the verdict. and that she
could not be until tomorrow, because
OF her PHYSICAL and mental condition
Jake L., Jr., said that II his mother re-
celvcd the information Of the acquittal
after such brief consideration by the
Jury II would tend to throw her into
collapse. on the verge OF which she
H. right now"
November 81 last as the elimination OF
what was brought out IN evidence In
troduced at the trial as being vicious
fight with the young defendant. He
was shot once through the upper riRh'
body with a .25 callbre bullet and died
ave days later.
Clara Hamon Immediately left Ard
more. departing OH November 20. II
was established during the trial that
she left upon instructions of Mr.. Hanon
ss he lay upon a hospital cot. Frank
L. Ketch. former business manager for
Mr.. Hamon and now administrators for
the Hamon estate, furnished her $4,000
under direction OF Mr.. Hamon.
She went to Chihuahua city, travel
ling part way across Oklahoma and
Texas by automobile, and trying In
cffcctually once TO obtain an airplane
for her flight. She surrendered TO the
Carter county sheriff at Fl Paso and
returned to Ardmore on Christmas Day.
Dying Mans Tale Used I'm Trial.
Tho States case was based upon al
legged dying statements OF Mr.. Hamon.
IN which he was quoted as having said
that he had been shot by Clara Hamon
as he lay upon the bed In his own room
NJ tho two they had together occupied
for a number OF years IN an Ardmore
hotel. Mr. Hamon was declared In tes-
;imony 20 have said that Clara Hanon
came TO his bedside, placed her left hand
upon his forehead and ared the bullet
Continued on Eighth Page.