Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-04-05
Oklahoma Man
Kills U. S. Filler Found
STRUGGLING with Wife

4
oklahoma City, Okla, April IA
midnight party in the fashionable
home here Of Jean P. Day, promi-
nent attorney and oil man. ended
early today in the death of Lieuten-
ant Colonel Paul Word Beck, assist
ant commandant of Post Field at
| Fort Sill, Okla, and widely known
in army circles.
Beck, one of the pioneer flyers of
| the American army, was killed by
Day, who declared he struck the
| army officer over the head with a
| revolver when he returned home and
found his guest struggling with Mrs.
Day. The gun was discharged ac-
! cidentally, Day asserted Beck 8
skull was so badly torn that officials
said they were unable to determine
whether the bullet or the blow
caused the death.
! Day is under $4,000 bond to ap-
pear at a coroner's inquest Satur-
! day.
! A committee of officers from Post
Field will conduct an inquiry. it was
| announced late today by Forest
! Hughes, county attorney. He said
he would not onsider filing charges
| until after. the coroner's inquest.
NJ. L. Meadows, federal prohibit
ton director for Oklahoma. also an
| nounced he would investigate to de-
tcrmine, he said, what part. il any
liquor may have played in the
| tragedy.
The shooting followed a party at
the Day home. at which Lieut.. Col.
Beck was guest of honor. Beck flew
here yesterday from Fort Sill. Day
had taken the other guests home in
his motor car and when he returned
to his home about $50 A. NJ. he de-
clared in a statement to newspaper
men, noticed through window that
his wife and Beck were seated on a
divan. "Col. Beck reached for her."
Day declared. There was a strug-
GLE"
Thereupon, Day said. he rushed
into the house and into an upstairs
room where he got his revolver.
Returning to the dining room"
he related. Il commanded: You get
out of here the army officer drew
back his hand as if to strike. / hit
him over the head; the gun went off.
l never dreamed of it's discharge"
Day said Col. Beck had spent the
evening with him and Mrs. Day. They
dined at hotel. Day said he had In
vited Beck to stay at his home last
night.
N pnTI- hve-
Day attended a theatre together, ac-
cording to other guests at the party.
Day did not accompany them.
Beck had long been a friend of the
Day family. He was As years old Day
Is so and his wife several years young
er. They have daughter who is a stu
dent at the state university.
Mrs. Day was unable to make any
connected statement during the day.
However, she corroboratcd the story
told by her husband. Mrs. Day is
leading society woman of Oklahoma
City. She spent last winter in Wash
ington. D. c.. and entertained at many
social functions.
Lieut.. Col. Beck lived at Fort Sill
with his mother. u years old. His
wife died last year In Atlantic City.
He is survived also by a son. who is a
first lieutenant in the army ordnance
department stationed at Watertown,
Mass.
Watertown, Mass, April 4.-Leut.
Paul w. Beck. Jr., student officer
at the Watertown Arsenal and a son
of Lieutenant Colonel Paul w. Beck,
slain in the home of Jean =. Day
early today, left tonight for Fort Sill,
Oklahoma. where army officials are
holding the body of his father. Lieut..
Beck received telegram from the
commanding officer At Fort Sill read
ing:
"Your father has been shot. Details
unknown. Will look after your grand
mother"
Lieut.. Beck is in the Ordnance
branch of the army service and is TAX
ing course prescribed by the war
department at the Massachusetts In