Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-04-03
KILLS DEAN Of
COLLEGE, THEN
ENDS OWN LIFE
J. Herman Wharton of SYRIA
CuSe, N. Y, Is Shot BY
Former Professor, Who
Turns Gun on Himself.
lRy The Assoclated PressO


Syracuse, n. Y, April 2,-Holmes
BeCllwith. educator, former army
lieutenant and California bank eX-
aminer, who shot and killed his
superior, Dean John Herman
Wharton, at Syracuse university to-
day before committing suicide, was
probably insane as a result of cha
grin over losing his position, ac-
cOrding to statements made by the
authorities and Chancellor James
r. Day, of the university, tonight.
That BeCkwith had premeditated
suicide had been clearly establish
ed the instructor having left let
tiers showing his intention. At first
it was believed DR.. Wharton had
been killed in an attempt to pre-
vent Beckwith's suicide. County
officials arc agreed in the belief
that Dr.. Wharton was shot follow
ing an argument when BeckWith
presented letter in answer to no.
tification that the university would
have no need of BeCkwith S services
after June.
Five Bullets In Body.
rive DullelS were lOullN III ~
WhartOn's body.
Dean Wharton was 80 years
years old and had been an instruc-
tor at Syracuse university since his
graduation from that institution
eight years ago. He was made
dean Of the college of business adj
ministration two years ago and
BeckWith was an instructor under
him.
BcckWith had been the hrunt Of
several jokes by the student body.
He locked the doors of the class
room nj the minute classes were
due to begin and he would not all
NIT tardy pupils. He was strict in
discipline and he had some pecul-
iaritios which made him more or
less a victim for students FRANKS
and he was unpopular with them.
1t is claimed they circulated petit
ton for his discharge last fall.
Received Notice TO Quit.
University authorities had con-
vinced themselves that Beclwith
was a liability rather than an a.
set and last Monday he received
to resign, lie protested
without avail.
Friday night, it has been estah-
lished, he spent hours writing Jet
ters, one of which was addressed to
Dean Wharton. 1t said among
other things:
"A cornered rat will fight"
\ Turbulent Career.
That he had a rather turbulent /
career and regarded ut least two |
persons, outside of Syracuse, who !
had figured in his troubles, as be /
ing worthy subjects for murder is |
shown in the story of his life.
Discussing his discharge at Colo !
RADIO college, DR.. Bcckwith speaks
of a Mr. Howbert, a bank president, t
one of the board tOl
and writes. - |
"Mr, Howberts anger ..aew no /,
bounds. / have never met him. 7
think u man to take the action he
did is so unjust he should be shot"
In his written story of his life he
discusses troubles he had at Grin
nell college in Iowa, which evil
IDENTITY eliminated while he wa
serving in the army. He wrote:
NOulu nave murdered MI, -.
Main, who certainly deserves this
end, in having treacherously be-
-rayed one in his copntry's service.
Then | would have Shot myselfF'i
Born In Hawaii
The story of Beckwith's life
shows he was born October 5, 1884.
N Kakiu. Island of Maui then of
Hawaiian kingdom, His father
and grandfather were Congrega-
-ional ministers and his one sister,
Ruth BeckWith Bullock, is mis-
8ionary in Slang Tan, China.
He attended the Pacific theologi-
cal school at Berkeley Calf, but
did not complete the course. In
1911 he graduated from Columbia.
He married Helen Francis Robin
son in California before entering
Columbia, They separated some
time ago. After graduation he