Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-03-12
IN
HAM0N CASE IS.
STARTED J | ]. !. ! TODAY :
State Witnesses Are Called
to Stand and Give Their
Side of Case.

r >Ardmore, Okla.,i March IA dying
statement by Jake l.. Hamon, reputed
millionaire oil and railroad man and
Republican committeeman from Okla
hona, in which he said Clara Smith
Hamon shot him as he lay on the bed
in his own room of the suite they
occupied at hotel here was given the
jury today in the trial of the woman
on a murder charge. Another witness
told the story of Clara lannon's fight
after the shooting.
W. b: Nichols, former chief of po-
lice of Oklahoma city and business
associate of Hamon, told the jury that
Jake Hamon, after telling him he
knew he would die from the bullet
the bullet with pistol in her right
,hand-.as she stood at his bedside.
stroking his head with her left hand.
: MIR. Nichols referred to Jake Hamon
as ''one, of the greatest Republicans
in the country and said the dying man
had told him the names of certain
applicants for Office under the new
administration he should take direct
to Warren G. Harding."> the new
president.
Nichols AssAilcd.
Mr.. Nichols assailed by defense
counsel for not having assisted Rus
sell G.. Brown, former county attor-
ney, in his investigation Of the shoot
! ing, said Jake Hamon, in making the
alleged dying statement had exacted
promise it would not be revealed
until absolutely necessary.
Mr.. Nichols reference to having
! been told to interest himself for Ger.
tain friends of Hamon with President
/ Harding, was the first touch on poll.
i tics so far in the trial.
Mr.. Nichols said Hamon discussed
l politics and business affairs ration.
J ally. at the same time saying he knew
fhe would die. and remarked, "Oh
what's the use.''
The former police chief. said hi
tried to buoy. up Hamon, telling hin
they had a trip to Palm Beach plan
ned. and that IIamon replied: -
| ! ). Yes, but where I amSgotng ther.
4 will be plenty Of palms but nd beach.'
Mr.. Nichols said he was also pres
ent in lannon's Office onstl1e day fol
lowing the shooting when Franz
Ketch, former business manager fol
Hamon and now administrator of hi
estate, told Clara Hamon she had t.
leave: that he, Ketch, never had but
to go now, as Mrs. Jake Hamon wa,
coming from Chicago and the Hamol
family had to be spared further dis
;, grace.
You talk as ifI did it," he quoted
Clara as saying.
Ketch replied he did not care to dis
cuss that, and Clara said, according
to Nichols, "he will tele you he die
it himself
Clara then said, Jake Hamon hat
told her she could have $1,000 will
which to go away and Ketch agreed t
get it for her.
Everett W. Sails, Dallas, Texas
chauffeur. detailed the trip from ther
west to Cisco, Texas, with Clar;
Hamon as a passenger, saying tn
young woman had told him she hat
shot man, hoped he would die, ant
wanted to know the best pistol, oil,
or new, with which to kill a man.
He said she, travelled with two pis
tolls ON her..lap and was afraid whe1
she saw officers.
! Sails admitted his first statemen
regarding the affair was made to
newspaper for $50.
Mrs. Jake Hamon. the widow, wa
not in the court room today, and he
son, Jake, Jr., was the only membe
Of the family present.
j Court adjourned at IL noon unit
40 a. m Monday