Evening star., 1922-04-09
JURY ACQU|TS DAY
FOR KILLING BECK
Verdict Finds Oklahoma Man
Justified in Protecting
His Wife.
WIFE BACKS UP STORY
Mrs. Day Vividly Tells How
Trusted Friend Betrayed
Her Confidence.
WIFE BACKS UP STORY
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
= OKLAHOMA CITY, April S.--Hoid-
ing that Jean p. Day, prominent iAt-.
torney and OIL man, was Justified In
the killing ofILieut Col. Paul Ward
Beck at the Day homo early Tues
day, a coroner's jury returned YER
dict here tonight recommending that
no charges be preferred against Day.
The crowded courtroom was silent
as 1t heard the verdict read. MIR.
and Mrs. Day displayed no emotion,
and after it had been read they
arose, Mr.. Day shook hands with
Coroner McWilliams and the party
walked slowly from the room with
out a word between them.
On the witness stand. in a packed
courtroom, Day and his wife told,
with emotion, of the staying of Lieut..
Col. Beck. In broken voice, but
with a gleam of determination in
his eye, Day said he killed the Army
aviator accidentally when he sought
to drive Beck from his home after
finding him attempting to attack Mrs.
Day early Tuesday.
II saw Col Beck holding Mrs. Day
on the divan," said Day. "She was
fighting him. He had his right arm
around her. His other hand was
about her knees"
Defends His Wife.
"I got there in time to protect her
and did," Day testified.
Leaning over and pointing his finger
at County Attorney Hughes. Day said
in a pleading voice:
IT want to say to you boys you can
prosecute me to the limit, but don't,
don't make such statements as you
have to the newspapers rejecting on
the purest, sweetest, woman in tho
world"
The county attorney replied that he
had tried to be fair. but that it was
his position as the representative of
the state to bring out every angle of
the case.
Wishes Daughter Dead.
There will be people who don't be-
lieve," she said, brokenly.
After the tragedy, she moaned:
"I pray that my little girl won't
live: that she won't come home"
N-sWhat is there for her to live for"
She asked with a gesture of hope
lessness.
Doris, the wenty-one-year-old
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Day,
student, Was at the University of
Oklahoma the night of the tragedy.
when he was struggling with you
and he asked you to come to his room.
YOU didn't think he was trying to
do anything wrong then?" asked
County Attorney Hughes. explaining
in Beck's mind.
,"I didn't think: didn't know"
Mrs. Day replied. -
what would you think?" she
questioned.
Mrs. Day testified Beck had been
a trusted friend. He was the idol of
her daughter who regarded him as
a big brother. she said.
Z She said Beck was not under the
influence OF liquor the night of the
tragedy. Never before, she said, had
he given any indication that he was
other than perfect gentleman"
On the stand her eyes were moist.
Her testimony was given in a low
voice and it was necessary to caution
the spectators. who climbed on, chairs
to get a better view.
Day sat slumped in his chair during
the hearing, chewing a cigar. :.
Describes Shooting.
Wilmington testified that several
empty bottles were found on the
mantelpiece in the drawing room and
that nearby was q glass which con.
tanned some corn whiskey mixed with
fruit juice.