The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-03-10
Romance of Empire Builder"
and Clara Smith to Be
Unfolded Today
ACCUSED RELATES HER
STORY TO UNITED PRESS
Declares that s'Sorrow Is Sole
Reward of the Philosophy
of the Ungodly"
(By United Press)

(By United Press)
Ardmore, OKLA, March 10.-The
romance of an Empire builder" and
shop girl which ended with the
death of the former and wherein the
latter found little other than sor-
row at the end of her "bluebird
trail" was to be unfolded in the
trial OF Clara Smith Hamon which
began here today.
Former legal information merely
charged that CLARA Smith" murder
ed Jake l.. Hamon by infiicting q
wound with small-calibre pistol
that caused his death. But out from
the case--a drama Of "thA other wo-
man Of the eternal triangle faced
with parting of the ways: OF mighty
politics, railroad building and indus
trial pioneering, vast oil fields and
fortunes, all conceived by one-time
penniless adventurer-stand allega-
lions that have gripped the interest
of a nation.
Judge Thomas Champion, who is
trying the case, is considered stern
but just Judge. He is AZ years old.
Attorney General Prince Freezing
Of Oklahoma and II. H. Brown, Ard
more represent the state.
Clara Smith HamOn, known pub
licly as secretary for Hamon, and d.
vorced wife Of his nephew, Is alleged
to have fatally wounded the multi
millionaire and republican national
committman from Oklahoma, during
a quarrel at an Ardmore hotel after
the two We're reported to have de-
cided to part because Of reconcile
alton between Hamon and his wife.
The alleged shooting occurred the
evening of November 21-Sunday.
Late the next day Russell Brown,
county attorney Of Carter county, Is
sued warrant charging Clara Smith
hamon with assault with intent to
kill Hamon and the woman fled. She
was traced to Calihuanua city, Ola
Mexico.
From there she conducted negotia-
lions with rela tives, who, on advice
of attorneys, arranged for her sur
render. She surrendered to Sher1n
Buck Garrett of Carter county,
Okla, a few days before Christmas.
She was released on bail.
Her attorneys announced soon aft
er she returned that she would plead
self-dcfense.
have always wanted to be a news
reporter and have awaited myself OF
the request of the United Press to
give to its readers a message on the
day my trial starts. (Signed) Clara
Smith Hamon. (By Clara Smith
Hamon, written for the United Press,
Copyrighted 1921 by the United
Press.)
CBy United Prcss)
Ardmore, Okla, March 10.-Sor-
row is the sole reward Of the phil
osophy of the ungodly.
Those who tal,e the cue of "eat,
drink and be merry, for tomorrow. We
may die" for their part in life think
they are happy but it is only the deep
est of sorrow in guise.
This is usually realized and the
tragic crash comes-then it is too
late. This is the lesson I want the
readers of the United Press to draw
from the strange case Of Clara Smith,
clerk in a country store ten years
ago and now with the fervent wish
that she was still back in humble
Lawten. Back in the days of my
early youth a man came into my life
but I'll skip over the story-the
world knows it only too well.
1t is enough for you to know that
am today charged with murder,
that am fighting for freedom.
Why? Because I was unable to
overcome mans indomitable will
because he was stepped in the phil
osophy of the ungodly. This care
free and reckless but poisonous phil
osophy comes disguised in the form
of pretty lyrics.
''Here is one I once believed, but
comes to me as mockery now:
"'You are wise; you take what
the gods have sent; you ask no ques-
tons that raise dispute, so I am with
you to take your kiss and, perhaps.
he values you for this. For this Wis
dom to love, to live, to take what
faith all the gods may give, to have,
to hold, and in time let co. I would
that the various prophets could be
driven from the depths of living to
save the girls who are at the cross