The Washington herald., 1921-03-12
WIDOW OF HAMON
and CLARA SMITH
IN TEARSAT TRIAL
Women Weep Over Elk.
hibit of Clothes Worn
By Slain Man.

ARDMORE, Okla, March 11.-That
portion of Ardmore's population that
gained entrance to the court room
today witnessed two women-Clara
Smith Hamon.. on trial as the slayer
OF Jake l. Hamon, and the slain
mans widow weep over the display
Of the dead mans clothes before the
jury. The two women sat less than
four feet apart. So overcome was the
widow that 1t was necessary for her
son to lead her from the court room
and accompany her home.
While the status of one was that
of wife and the other of a young
woman who illicitly lived with the
man she is charged with killing,
both appeared at this particular time
to have a common grief.
Direct Accusation Made.
The State dealt its first material
blow at Clara Smith Hamon late to-
day. when DIR. Walter Hardy. attend
ing physician to Hamon, was called.
Through DR.. Hardy's testimony
Clara Smith directly was accused of
firing the shot that brought death
to the former Republican national
committeeman and millionaire oil
man and railroad builder. DR.. Hardy
testified Jake Hamon told him Clara
Smith shot him and pledged the ply
sician not to reveal his admission
except in open court.
The afternoon session found de-
fense attorneys getting contentious
and fighting almost every foot of
legal ground gained by the State.
Through william Mclean. of defense
counsel, objections repeatedly were
made to questions put by States at
torneys and testimony given IN an
swer. On cross-examination of Har-
dy the defense scored a number of
times and in a degree weakened the
testimony given by the witness. The
physicians statement that Hamon
told him Clara Smith shot him, how
ever. was not altered by cross-exam-
nation.
seff-Defense Chief Plea.
In the course of the cross-exami-
nation the defense through Ques-
tions bore out the generally accept
ed belief that Clara Smith will rely
almost totally on a self-defense plea.
The clothing worn by Hamon
when he was undressed and placed
in a room at a haspital was iden-
titled by DR.. Hardy. The defense
charged that the States only pur-
pose in introducing the wearing ap-
parel was to prejudice the jury, but
Judge Thomas Champion ruled the
exhibit was not improper. Attor-
ney General Freezing called the
jury's attention to the bullet holes
and powder burns.
1t was while the twelve men were
examining the clothing that the
women exhibited their first outward
emotion. Clara Smith lowered her
head into her hands and covered
her eyes with, a handkerchief. The
widow dropped her head on the
shoulder of her son. Jake Hamon,
jr.. and her sobs could plainly be
heard. A recess was ordered and
1t was then the widow was assist
ed from the court room
Saw weunded Man.
In the course of his testimony
Dr. Hardy related that Clara Smith
called and was permitted to see
Hamon following the shooting. She
stayed two or three minutes. The
physician denied on cross-examina-
tion that he had seen Hamon. when
the young woman entered. put his
arms around her and kiss her. He
oid admit, however, that nurse
told him Clara Smith kissed Hamon.
On cross-examination the physi-
clan admitted that liquor had some-
thing TO do with lannon's death
and that II he had been in q nor
NAL physical condition in every re-
spect he might have recovered from
the bullet wound.
According to the witness. Hamon
could not have lived more than two
years In any event, because Of the
condition Of his liver. DR.. Hardy,
In answer to question by the de-
Tense counsel. said he had treated
CARA smith and she was rot phys