Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 19, Number 11, DeMotte, Jasper County, 11 February 1949 — Jury Gives Quick Acquittal In Hamod Case [ARTICLE]

Jury Gives Quick Acquittal In Hamod Case

Only One Ballot Taken; Tavern Owner's Slaying of Negro Held Justified By Jury The Jasper circuit court jury consumed only one-half hour in returning a verdict of acquittal in the Sam Hamod murder case sent here on a Lake county venue change. Hamond, Gary tavern owner charged with the murder of Willie Holloway, Gary Negro last March, was freed on the first ballot. Hamod had been at liberty on $20,000 bond for several months after being in custody at the local jail for a few weeks. Most of the court room seats were occupied when the jury reentered the room with their verdict. There was no demonstration. Hamod nodded to the jurors from his seat at the counsel table and later in the corridor talked with some jurors and thanked them for their consideration. The defense was entirely drawn along self-defense lineH. The Verdict caused no surprise. The State had not asked the death penalty and the two key colored witnesses they presented were not convincing in their testimony. The defense sent several witnesses to the box, including Hamod. All said that Hamod killed only in self-defense when Holloway attacked him with a knife. All of the defense witnesses, with the exception of Hamod, were colored people. The case was heard before Judge Moses Leopold. The jury consisted of two women and ten men.