Evening star., 1922-04-04
j. S. AIR FIELD CHIEF
KILLED BY OIL MAN
Found Lieut.. Col. Paul W.
Beck Struggling With Wife,
Says SIayer's Friend.

By the Associated Press.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla, April
4.@Jean p. Day, former state su-
preme court justice and prominent
In financial circles Of the state.
today was held under 5000 ap-
pearance bond pending an ilssesti-
cation by coroner's jury into the
death of Lieut.. Col. Paul w. Beck,
assistant comma ndant OF Post
Field aviation station Mt Fort
Sill. Okla. who was killed carly
today mt Days home here.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. April A.
Lieut.. Col. Paul w. Beck, COM
mandant of Post Field, the aviation
section of Fort Sill. was shot to death
here early today in the fashionable
residence of Jean P. Day, widely
known oil operator. Day is held at
his home in custody of deputy
sheriff pending an investigation.
According to a statement issued by
r. ". Dick, Day returned to his house
after escorting home a number of
guests which his wife earlier had en-
tertained at cards and found Mrs.
Day struggling in the arms of the
Army officer. Dick. who is an inti-
mate acquaintance of the family, said
Day authorized the statement.
Made Trip BY Air.
Lieut.. Col. Beck had long been a
close friend of the Days. He came
here yesterday by airplane from Fort
Sill to be one of the guests at the
card party last night
Upon Days return home, Dick said,
the FORMER peered through a porch
window and saw his wife fighting to
break the aviator's hold on her. He
rushed upstairs and obtained his re-
voIver, Dick asserted. and returned
to the room, where the couple were
still struggling.
Beck made a motion as if to strike
Day, continued Dick, and Day struck
him over the head with the revolver,
the gun exploding. Beck fell to the
rived.
The commanding officer at Fort Sill
has been notified.
Mrs. Day Made Ill.
Mrs. Day this morning was in a
state bordering on nervous collapse
and would make no statement con-
cerning the affair.
Day has been prominent in politi-
cal and financial circles in Oklahoma
for many years. He was a member
of the supreme court commission, and
one of the two men who framed Ok
lahoma's first code of statutes. He
is fifty years old and president Of the
Foursome Producing and Refining
Company. and vice president of the
Continental Asphalt and Petroleum
Company.
He was active~in the political cam
paign of former United States Sena-
tor Thomas P. Gore.
Beck One OF First -Four Flyers.
younger than her husband. They have
one child, daughter, studying at
the University of Oklahoma
Lieut.. Col. Beck was one of the
first four aviators in the United
States States Army. afnrs ,sas He has been in the
post adjutant at Fort Sill. Beck
went to Fort Sill from Arcadia. Fla.
in July. 1921. He is said to have
been a widower.
70 1t was impossible to communicate
with headquarters at Post Field.
Justice of the Peace McWiIliams
said an inquest probably would be
held over Beck'S body. Announce
menu as to when it will begin Will
be made by the county attorneys Of
flee.
Father Brigadier General.
Lieut.. Col. Beck's father died at
philadelphia eleven years ago. At
his death he held the rank Of briga-
der general Of cavalry.
Lieut.. Col. Beck entered the mill
tary, service in 1899. according to
aviable records here, and 1911 was
listed in the aviation section, beein-
ming to fly late in that year. He was
transferred to the infantry section
during the world war and served
overseas with that branch Of the
service. He was transferred back to
the aviation section in 1920 and was
stationed for a time at Carlstrom
Field. Arcadia Fla. On July ii, 1921.
he arrived at Post Field
Four days later word reached him
of the serious illness of his wife AT
Atlantic City and he left Post Field
in an airplane for that city. His
airplane was wrecked near Chicaeo
and he was forced to continue to
Atlantic City by train. Mrs. Beck
died soon after his arrival.
Lieut.. Col. Beck. though in charge
of Post Field, was assistant comman-
dant, as the title of commandant Of
both Post Field and Fort Sill is held
by Brig. Gen. Ernest Kinds.