Evening star., 1921-04-03
PROFESSOR
DECLARED INSANE
Syracuse University Faculty
Claim Dr.. BeckWith UnbaI-
anced Over ReverSeS.,
BY the Associated Press.


SYRACUSE, N. Y. April 2.-Dr.
Holmes Beckwith. educator. former
L. s. Army lieutenant and California
bank examiner, who shot and killed
his superior. Dean John Herman
Wharton. at Syracuse University this
himself. was probably insane as a
result of chagrin over losing his po-
I sition here. according to statements
: made by the authorities and Chan
! celior James r. Day Of the. univer-
slty late tonight.
, That Beckwith had premeditated
suicide has been clearly established.
| the instructor having left several let
ters showing his intention in that
| respect. 1t first was believed that
unsuccessful attempt to prevent
Reckwith's suicide. but that theory
| has now been cast aside.
Tragedy Follows Argument.
Coroner s. Ellis Crane. District At
torney Frank .Malpass and Chancel-
lor Day are all agreed in the belief
an argument when Beckwith pre-
sented letter in answer to Whar-
tons notification that the university
! would have no need of Beckwith' 8
! services after the close of college in
June.
/ A'S puilCtS "ClC toOHu III III
Wharton's body. indicating that
Beckwith had made sure his superior
was dead before he turned the re-
! volver upon himself
Dean Wharton was in his thirty
second year and had been an in
structor at Syracuse University since
his graduation from that institution
eight years ago. He was made dean
of the college Of business administra-
tion two years ago and Beckwith was
one of the instructors under him.
Beckwith had been the brunt of
! body during the last year. He had
| established the practice of locking
| tho doors Of the classroom at the
time the classes were due to begin
and would not admit tardy pupils.
| Strict in Discipline.
He was strict in discipline and in
the matter Of time devoted to his
| which made him more or less a vic
tim for students pranks, and he was
decidedly unpopular with them.
| University authorities had con.
vinced themselves that Beckwith wa.
a liability rather than an asset. an,
last Monday he received his notihca
tion to look elsewhere for a teaching
| assignment next fall.
He protested, but his argument!
were without avail. Friday night, i
has been established, he spent hours
in his room writing letters, one O
which was addressed to Dean Whar
ton. It vas a lengthy document
saying, among other things: "A cor
nered rat will fight"
He asked that his uncle. Georg'
Holmes. OF Montclair, N. j., be noti
fed. and that his action be KEEP
from an aunt. who is i'll.
1 That he had YafhAP fuphu1en
career and regarded at least two per
sons. outside of Syracuse. who hat
figured in his troubles in the educa
tional world. as being worthy sub
jects for murder is shown in thu
story Of his life, written under dat
Of March 30, and turned over, accord
ling to his written wishes. to Prof
John O. Simmons, a faculty membe
here.
Discussing his discharge. at Colo
1rado College, DR.. Beckwith speak,
LOT p MI. Howbert, bank president
Iapparentiy ono of the board Of gov
ernors, and; writes:
CSadem1s Enemies.,
bounds. hAye. never met him.
think q man to take the action he die
is so unjust he should be shot
Turning to his troubles at Grinnel
College in Iowa, which evidentl.
came up while he was serving in the
Army. he wrote:
II would have murdered Mr.. Main
who ysrtstply deserves this end II
having tretcflerously betrayed one IL
his country's, service. Then I woult
have shot myself"
The. story OF Beckwith's life show.
he was born October 8, 1884, in Kaiku
Island OF Maui. then Of the Hawaiian
kingdom. His father and grand
father were Congressional ministers
and his one sister. Ruth Beckwfth. i.
a missionary in Siangtan. China.
| He attended the Pacific theological
school at Berkeley, Calf, but did mo-
] complete the course. In 1911 he was
| graduated from Columbia, to which
| university he transferred in 1908. HI
| married Helen Francis Robinson, II
| California, before entering Columbia
They had separated some time ago.
| After graduation he spent q shor'
| time in Germany and returned Il
! America as a teacher at Dartmouth
! He condemned Dartmouth as "tht
| toughest college in America; all men
| the dominant element Of whom de.
| lights in toughness." He had trouble
4 there. blaming his trouble on Pro
| fessor George r. Wicker, Of whom hi
says: 'This human cur, Wicker. ha.
since died"
His story tells Of engagements II
| California, Colorado and Iowa. finally
reverting to Syracuse.
-,as4 alrl n ran lAINIr1AlN