New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-03
Iohn Herman Wharton. of
Syracuse, Is Shot by DIR.
Holmes Beckwith, So
cialist, Thought Insane
even Rat Would
Fight Says Note
Life History Left by Gun
wielder Says He Was
Victim of lnjustices'':
Complains of Students

kAC De. An. l., Apru Z.---
Dismissed from the faculty of SYRIA
cuse University because Of trouble
with the students. DR.. Holmes Beck
with, professor of economics in the
College of Business Administration.
to-day shot and killed Dean John
Herman Wharton, his superior. and
then committed suicide in DR.. Whar-
tons Office.
In an astounding 5,0OO-word let
ter ITO Who 1t May Concern" :"
Beckwith, who was a socialist and an
atheist. declared he was being per
secuted, that justice had been denied
him and that in a position such as
he was placed, ''even a rat would
fight"
Notified a week ago that he would
not be needed on the faculty another
year. Beckwith yesterday sent long
letter to Professor Wharton protest
ing at his dismissal. This letter was
found on the murdered mans desk
after the killing.
The university faculty met yester-
DAY and Beckwith had presented his
l-tter OF protest to Dr. Wharton with
the request it be read at the faculty
meeting. He had evidently planned to
commit suicide at the exact time Of the
faculty meeting yesterday, but changed
sis schedule and decided to kill Dr..
Whertol also.
He LETT his rooming house shortly
g'ter 8 O'Clock this morning and came
70 the university, where he was to hold
class at 10. He went direct 70 the
Lice Of Dean Wharton and started dis
cussing his case. again protesting his
dismissal 4 dispute evidently arose.
WAereupon Becs.with pulled his revolv-
eF and fired at Wharton. Just as he
cd 50 Wharton, who was sitting at his
oesk, started TO rise The first bullet
pierced his chest just below the heart
lie staggered across the room and fell
Near a radiator.
Fires Four Shots Into Body
Beckwith walked over to him and
hred four more bullets into the pros
rate mans body. One entered his
temple and came out through the bacl.
Of the skull. another went through his
enest and two more went through his
egs. This emptied the revolver
Beckwith cooly elected the she's
On the floor. flied il again and fired
q shot into his own chest Before ne
ell he sent another bullet through the
center OF his forehead. He collapsed
about ten feet from where Wharton
was lying.
Professor c. l.. Raper, head OF the
department. Of transportation at the
university, and Miss Lillian Lang, DR.
Nnarton's secretary, heard the shots
and ran into the room. Professor
Eaper called an ambulance and mott
led Chancellor Day. The latter on ar
rival called the police. Both men
were dead when the ambulance arrived,
and the bodies were taken to the
morgue
Under his coat. Beckwith was found
TO have been wearing a hunters belt
WITH holster for a revolver and
knife. This was q long bladed, keen
edged affair. which had been drawn out
OF its case
Beckwith's trouble at the university
s-arted almost : soon as he came
mere last September. He was strict
discipinarian. He always locked the
class room doors at the hour set for
work to start. and all tardy ones were
credited with absences. He never
gave "run' and held his students in
the room regardless of whether their
work had been finished. His lessons,
me students say. were long and re
CURED Ach outside work.
lhe climax came with the lniI-year
examinations, when he reported thirty
Inree out OF fifty students as having
lailed 70 pass his course. Petitions
ASKING the faculty to remove him were
circulated and presented to the
faculty. This action was followed
last week by notice of his dismissal at
Continued on page fourteen)