The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-03
BELIEVE BECKW|TH INSANE WHEN DEAN
 SHOT AND KILLED
Educator Fires Five Bullets Into Body of Wharton and Then Turns the Gun Upon
 Himself
By Associated Press

Syracuse, N. Y, April 2.-Dr. Holmes . Beckwith. educator. former United United States army lietenant and Cali fornia bank examiner. who shot and killed his superior, Dean John Herman Wharton at Syracuse university this morning before committing suicide was probably insane, as a result of chasTtn over losing his position here. according to statements made by the authorities and Chancellor James R. Day of the university late tonight.
 That Beckwith had premeditated sui eide has been clearly established, the instructor having left several letters showing his intention in that respect At first 1t was believed that b.. Whar- ton had been killed in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent Beckwiths suicide. but this theory has been cast aside
 Coroner S. Ellis Crane, District At torney Frank Malpass. ana Chancellor Day are all agreed in the belief that Dr. Wharton was shot following an ar gument when Beckwith presented a let tor in answer to Wharton's notification that the university would have no need O1 beCkWlLn'S SeTVlceS dIter the close of the college in June.
 7~ Five bullets were found In pr. Whar- toms body, indicating that Beckwith ' had made sure his superior was dead before he turned the revolver upon himself.
 DEAN ONLY g
 Dean Wharton was in his thirty-sec- ond year and had been an instructor at Syracuse university since his gradua-
 
 ago, He was made dean of the college of business administration two years ago, and Beckwith was one of the in structors under him.
 Beckwith had been the br1nt of sev- eral jokes by the college student body during the last year. He had estab- lished the practice of locking the doors of the class room at the time the class was due to begin and he would not per init tardy pupils.
 He was strict In discipline and in the matter of time devoted to his classes and he had some peculiarities which made him more or less a victim Cor stu dents' pranks. and he was decidedly unpopular with them. It is claimed they circulated petition for his dis charge last fall.
 University authorities had convinced themselves that Beckwith was a lia- bility rather than an asset and last
 
 look elsewhere for teaching assign ment next fall
 PROTESTS DISCHARGE
 He protested, but his arguments were without avail. Friday night it has been established, he spent hours in his room writing letters. one of which was addressed to Dean wharton. It was a lengthy document. saying among other things: "A cornered rat will fight"
 Ha asked that his uncle, Georg e Holmes of Mont Clair, N. J., be notified, and that his action be kept from an aunt who is ill
 That he had a rather turbulent ca eer and regarded at least two persons outside of Syracuse who had figured in his troubles in the educational world as being worthy subjects for murder, is shown in the story of his lifes written under date of March 30, and turned oyer, according to his written wishes, to Prof. John o. Simmons. a faculty member here. sssHss
 Discussing his discharge at Colorado college. Dr. Beckwith speaks of MT Howbert, bank president, apparently one of the board of governors, and writes.
 MT, Howbert's anger knew no bounds. have never met him. think q man to take the action he did is so unjust he should be shot,
 In his written story of his life, he discussed troubles he had at Grinnell college, in Iowa, which evidently culmi- mated while he was serving in the army, He wrote: T would have mur- dered Mir. Main. who certainly deserves this end in having treacherously be- trayed his own country's service Then l would have shot myself" The story of Beckwith's life shows he i was born October 5, 1884, in Kaiku, ' Island of Maui. then of the Hawaiian Kingdom. His father and grandfather were congregational ministers and his one sister, Ruth Beckwith Bullock. is a missionary, in Slang Tan, China.
 He attended the Pacific theological school at Berkeley, Cal, but did not complete the course. In 1911 he was graduated from Columbia, to which uni- versity he transferred in 1908. He mar. red Helen Frances Robinson in Califor- mia before entering Columbia. They had separated some time ago.
 After graduation he spent short time in Germany and returned to Amer tca as a teacher at Dartmouth He con- demned Dartmouth as sthe toughest college in America; all men. the domi- nant element of whom delights in toughness." He had trouble there, blaming his troubles on Prof. George R. Wicker. of whom he says: eThis human cur, Wicker. has since died.''
 His story tells of engag ements in California, Colorado and Iowa, finally reverting to Syracuse.
 EX-BANK EXAMINER
 San Francisco. April 2.--Dr. Holmes Beckwith was an examiner for the state banking commission from August to December. 1914, and was dismissed upon complaint of the banks that he was not 8 proper person for the position, ac- cording to the commissions records.
 The records show that he obtained the highest marks of those who partici- pated in the test for examiner, but was unable to meet the standards of the position, in the field. Officials of the commission said that the bankers com plained that he slectured them like students" on the theories of their own business instead of confining himself tothe actual examination work. He came to the banking commission from the University of California where he was instructor in economies anl po- litical economy.
 Merchant Improves
 Hunfsvi1le Apri1 2-(Cnacia N-T, h.