The evening world., 1922-04-04
LIEUT.. COL. BECK SHOT DEAD
IN HOME Of RICH EX-JUDGE:
AFFRONT TO WIFE ALLEGED
Author of Oklahoma Statutes
Is Said by Friend to Have
Surprised Army Officer at
NiSl., After Card Party.
Pistol Exploded, Statement
Alleges, When Host Struck
Aviator on Return From See
ing Other Guests Home.

OKLAHOMA CITY. Okla, April Z.
Lieut.. Col. Paul Ward Beck, Com
mandant of Post Field, the aviation
section of Fort Sill, was shot to death
hero early to-day In the fashionable
residence of Judge Jean p. Day, okla
homa financier, former member Of the
Oklahoma Supreme Court Commission
and widely known oil operator.
Judge Day was held by the Coro-
ner pending Investigation" but no
charge was filed against him. He
was required to furnish $4,000 bond
for his appearance at the inquest
Saturday afternoon.
Mrs. Day, who is said to have wit
messed tho shooting, is hysterical and
under a physicians care.
According to a statement issued by
r. w. Dick, Judge Day found Mrs.
Day struggling in the arms Of the
army officer. Dick, who is an init
mate acquaintance OF the family. said
Day authorized the statement.
Lieut.. Col. Beck came here yester-
day by airplane from Fort Sill to be
one of the guests at the card party
last night, according to Dick, and
was left alone with Mrs. Day when
her husband saw their friends home
in his automobile.
Upon Days return home, Dick said
the former peered through a porch
window and saw his wife fighting t.
break the aviator's hold on her. IIu
rushed upstairs and obtained his re-
volver. Dick asserted. and returned
to the room where the couple were
still struggling.
Beck made a motion as II to strike
Day, continued Dick. and Day struck
him over the head with the revolver,
the gun exploding. Beck fell to the
floor and was dead before police ar.
rived.
Mrs. Day this morning was in IA
state bordering on nervous collapse
and would make no statement con-
corning the affair.
Day has been prominent in political
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
Oklahoma's first code of statutes. lie
IS nifty years old and President of the
Foursome Producing and Rcfnlrr
Company and Vice President of tho
Continental Asphalt and Petroleum
Company.
He was active in the political cam
oaign Of former United States Sena-
or Thomas +. Gore.
Mrs. Day is said to be q few years
younger than her husband. They have
me child, daughter studying al
he University of Oklahoma.
LAWTON, Okla. April At was
impossible to communicate with head
quarters at Post Field, Fort Sill, near
here, this morning in regard TO the
shooting at Oklahoma City early to-
lay Of Lieut.. Col, Paul W. Beck,
Jrders having been issued prohibiting
elephone service into and out OF the
lost
The name OF Beck has been asso
dated with Fort Sill ever since The
'rignal post was constructed in 1869
lieut.. William II. Beck and Mrs.
Seek, parents OF Lieut. Col. Beck,
anne to Fort Sill on Jan. or that
ear from Fort Lyon. Colorado. HIS
ather was at various times Quar-.
ermaster OF the Fifth Cavalry, the
amous Clusters Seventh and the
'enth Cavalry. II was the Tenth
hat built the original post at Fort
Ill.
Mrs. Beck. mother OF the Lieuten-
nt-Colonel, left the fort in 1874 and
Id not return until last August when
he came TO Fort sill 10 make her