New-York tribune., 1921-03-16
IL Didn't Mean to Do IT,
She Tells Jury, Describ-
ing Struggle Ending
i'm Politicians Death
Attempted to End
Her Own Life Then
Wounded Man Took Gun
From Her, Says Girl, and
Promised to Shield Her
.S0eeial Dispatch to The Tribune

AhDMORE, Okla, March l5.--Clara
Smith Hamon has completed her story
to the jury. She has explained how
and why she fired the shot that killed
Jake L. Hamon, millionaire oil man and
Republican National Committee
from Oklahoma.
! didn't mean to do it," she pleaded
When she was dismissed from the
witness stand at 4:3O o'clock this aft
ernoon she had been testifying more
than four hours. Three hours of that
time she was subjected to cross-exam
ination by Attorney General Prince
Freezing.
In those hours she showed no indica-
t1on of weakening. And when she left
the witness chair she smiled at her
mother and then took her place beside
her.
1t can be said that Clara Hamon was
her own best witness. If she is freed
many predict. she will in a measure
have played no small part in bringing
that about.
The story she had told in direct
testimony was not materially altered
under the questioning of the prosecut-
ing official. Step by step the Attorney
General led her back over the events
of the Sunday night that Hamon was
shot. He even had her reenact that
scene. The crowd to-day surely was
fully repaid for. the time 1T patiently
had waited.
the whirling fans. Red-faced men and
women were packed together uncom.
fortaby. Orders of the bailffs to make
room here and there were of little avail
They had come to hear and were de-
termined to stay. They saw and heard
Clara Hamon tell her story MANY
other stories had been told and nov
was the chance TO hear the young wom-
an herself tell them what happened.
Defense Practically Done
At the conclusion of the afternoon
session William Mclean, chief counsel
for Clara Hamon, announced that the
defense rested its case except as to
letters that would be offered to-mor-
row. The letters, forty or fifty. were
written by Hamon to Clara. Their ad
instability has not been definitely de-
termined. Judge Thomas w. Champion
has INDEBTED that certain of them may
be admitted.
Indications now are that the fate OF
Clara Hamon may be in the hands of
the jury some time Thursday. Argu-
ments in the case probably will CON
sumo a day.
Clara Hamon detailed to the jury
how Hamon sent for her to come to
him at the hospital after he WAS shot.
On cross-examination she admitted a
second contract OF "separation" with
Hamon. This contract was contingen mt
on the condition that she did not be
come a mother. In the event she did
an allowance was to be made for the
maintenance of the child, and Hamon
was to recognize it as his own.
The young woman told the jury she
had meant to kill herself if it was true
Hamon was shot. She was explaining
in answer to questions as to how Ha-
non got possession Of the pistol with
which she snot him that night
WAS Jake Hamon shot by you rs he
Mclean of the young woman.
"He certainly was not she answered
emphatically.
when you went to the hospital what
transpired between you and Mr. Ha-
mon?" Mclean asked.
81 went there in answer to call
from nurse who said she was phonine
for Mr. Hamon," Clara Hamon an
swered hesitatingly.
"Go right ahead and tell what hap
pened when you entered his room in
the hospital"
"He pulled me down to him ard
kissed me and asked for my forgive
ness. He told me had better leave, to
save scandal. He said his wife and
children were on the way"
Tells of Flight From Town
The young woman earlier in the day
related that she shot Hamon while he
was abusing her in her own room In
answer to questions from her attorney
she told of her flight from Ardmore
which, she said. was at the instance of
Frank Ketch, business manager for
Hamon. On cross ssexamination Clara
denied she was jealous OF Jake Hamon's
wife.
HE promised many times to marry
me-" she said.
At this juncture Attorney General
Freezing handed the witness a piece Of
paper. con January 27, 19l6,' said the
Attorney General, you made a con
tract with Jake Hamon to sever all
CONTINUED on paqe fvc)