Evening star., 1921-03-15
didn't co TO D0|T,'
SCLARA HAMON
Testifies That She Had No
Intention to Kill
Oil Man.

by tile ASSOCIATED Press.
COURTHOUSE. ARDMORE, Okla,
March 15-Clara Hamon, charged
with the murder of Jake L. Hamon,
took the witness stand in her trial
here today.
The defendant was composed and
spoke in a well controlled voice. She
said she was twenty-nine years old.
She said she had known Mr.. Hamon
for many years. I don't know just
how many, ever since l was a school
girl in Lawton."
The defendants voice broke as she
told that Col. Hamon cursed her on
the evening he was shot and tears
dropped low and she said: He was
drunken and crazier than he ever
had been in all the years 1 had
known him.
When the defendant reached the
point in her story of the actual shoot
ing she left the witness stand and.
taking in her hand the pistol with
which Hamon was shot, she illustrat-
ed how the shot was fired.
II didn't go to do it, she said. THE
pistol went off when he struck 1T or
pulled the trigger or something:
know not what"
When Clara tried to tell how Col.
Hamon after he was shot had said. "I
am HIT and had showed her the
blood spot forming on his shirt, she
broke down and sobbed into her
It was after a few preliminary ques-
tious in which she said she knew Col.
Hamon was married and that he had
educated her so she might work for
him, that she was asked, to tell the
Jury her story.
> I'm the morning." she asked. and
was told to begin that morning"
I've had ,s1S b5sakfast about bes. II
Mr.. Hamoh' left me; I presume he
went to his office; he usually did on
Sunday morning. I went back to my
room. and lin the afternoon about 2:30
or O'Clock, I don't just remember. he
came back to the room and we had a
very pleasant conversation.
Judge Clears Courtroom.
A demonstration of approval by
spectators when w. p. Mclean of
counsel for the defense took excep-
ton to renlark made by H. H.
Brown. state counsel. in which Brown
referred to the mother. of the de-
fendant as. IAN old woman" caused
Judge Champion to order court ad-
journed for an hour.
When applause greeted Mr.. Nc
Loans retort. Judge Champion or
dered the courtroom cleared. but only
A few of the spectators moved from
their seats. An effort also was made
to exclude newspaper men, but the
judge ruled they might remain.
The adjournment for an hour was
ordered after the attorneys made ex-
PLANTATION Of their remarks.
Clara Hamon. with her mother and
esIctn vafk
Mrs. v. y. Willing, sister Of Clara
Hamon. told OF = visit of the latter
to her home in Wilson, near Ardmore.
the day after the shooting, of re-
turning with her to Ardmore and of
seeing Frank l.. Ketch, former busi-
sister a package of money. She said
Clara Hamon was in about her twen-
ty-ninth year."
Mrs. V. B. Walling. sister of the de-
fendant. had just left the witness
stand when the remarks of the coun-
sci caused the outbreak Of applause.
Retort Brings Applause.
The outbreak of applause and Clara
Hamon's breakdown came after W. p
to Mr.. Brown. who had told
the court: We'll. we are willing for
the Jury to know how they took it,
the old woman and ALL"
BY the old woman" Mr.. Brown re-
ferred to Clara lannon's mother.
Mr.. Mclean, prior to Mr.. Browns
had said that he wanted the
jury to know how the "entire Smith
family took the association of Clara
with Col. Hamon."
THAT old woman. as he calls her.
will be on the witness stand and can
testify. and she is. in my Judgment. as
good a woman as has given birth to
any lawyer in this case"
The handclapping was stilled in a
but it had been loud and an
parently was from all over the court
room.
The court ordered the room cleared.
but the spectators were reluctant to
move. and. after efforts of deputy
sheriffs and bailiffs to remove the
spectators and news writers, the court
itself, first as segardine the
and women, and, final
ly, the spectators were permitted to
remain. although given a lecture and
a pointed warning.
Resents Reference to Mother.
Clara Hamon could not compose
herself sufficiently to return to the
and the one-hour recess
was ordered.
"I don't care what they do with
me-" she said. as tears streamed, but
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