Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-03-11
HAMON'S RISE
WITH HARDING
BACK OF KILLING
Unusual Story In Ard
more's S National Com
mitteenian s Killing

ARDMORE, Okla, March H.
Why Jake Hamop broke with Clara
Hamon is a stoly OF national inter-
est that will be fully revealed at the
Young woman's triai, which started
here yesterday. on the charge OF
numbering the Repuhiican national
committeeman and oil .nulti-milhon-
aire. The jury vas drawn yesterday
and the case y,ot hinder way today.
The story wiH be dl&wn piece
meal from witnesses for the prose
cution in order 10 prove Clara Ha.
mon guilty of premcditated killing.
In word it is this: Hamon sought
to renew his pettability in keeping
with the new political state in which
he found himself as result of his
successes in the last political cam
raign.
To rehabilitate himself, he had de-
term.ned to forsake Clara Hamon,
with whom he had associated openly
for 10 years, and to re-instate himself
with the wife whom he had deserted
and his two children.
1t was with this in view that Ha.
mon had negotiated the separation
agreement with the girl who was to
kill him in the hour of their parting
Helps Harding
That Hamon had won the favor of
President Harding to a degree gener-
ally unknown has been learned since
his tragic death. He swung his in.
fiuence from Wood to Harding at the
Chicago convention. He contributed
literally to Harding's expenses III
Chicago. And after inducing Hard
ing to quit the front porch to make 81
campaign speech in Oklahoma he
spent $4,000 to insure Harding
glorious ception.
To top all this off, Hamon, as ma.
tional committeeman, delivered ok.
lahoma to the Republican party, the
first time in its history
1t was believed in Oklahoma after
the Harding victory that Hamon
could have anything he asked; it was
even regarded as highly probable that
he would be made secretary OF the
interior.
But Hamon perceived that his pr
vate life would become a national
scandal unless he got rid of Clara
Hamon. Even the fact that she bore
the Hamon name-which she acquir-
ed by marriage to a nephew of jake
Hamon, whom she shortly afterward
divorced-would not save his face.
So he decided to bring his wife,
son of 19 and daughter of II, back
from Chicago to Ardmore.
All arrangements were completed;
Mrs. Hamon and the children were
preparing to move; Clara Hamon was
going to live in California on settle.
ment-even had her railroad ticket.
Then came the shooting in the ho-
tel suite in Ardmore where they had
lived ever since Hamon dominated
her as girl of II.
Henlon's Message
Did Clara Hamon shoot him in
self-defense on what was to be their
last day together, or did she shoot
him deliberately rather than give
him up to his wife and children? This
is the ,qaest.on the trial is to an.
swer.
Il was accidentally sh IT," is the
message Hamon sent to tn, worlc
while he lay dying in Ardmore.
1t was the last gallant act of a
contradictory character.
Hamon was poverty-stricken when
he met Clara Smith, clerk in dry
goods store. He often said his luck
changed the day he put his eyes on
her" She became his business ad.
wiser; many knew her as his secre.
tary.
Hamon was known as a politician
IA shabby politician at that-when
he took up with Clara Smith. No one
ever had suspected he had real busi
ness ability:
Angry at Wood.
Hamon was the original Wood
man in Oklahoma. He also was
running against jim McGraw of
Ponca City, Okla, another million
aire, who was seeking reelection as
national committeeman. Suddenly
this was in Chicago-Hamon learn
ed Wood had picked McGraw for a
high place in the organization.
Hamon regarded this as a direct
slap at himself.
In the crucial hours of WOODS
drive for the nomination this word
was brought to Hamon at his hotel
"The general would like to see you.
"Tell the general" Harmon is
said to have replied, that | will be