The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-04-05
NOR sSsaS GOVERNMENT TO OPERATE MUSCLE SHOALS
CHARTER GRANIEDS STEELE AND ASSOCIATES FOR RAIWA
ATTORNEY KILLS ARMY OFFICER
CLAIMING HIS HOME VIOLATED
Shooting Followed Party in Ok
lahOma City at Home of Man
Charged With the killing.
tex The Assoclated Pressl

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla, April A.
A midnight party in the fashionable
home here Of Jean p. Day, prominent
attorney and oil man ended early to-
day in the death Of Lieutenant Colonel
Paul Word Beck, assistant comman-.
dant of Post Field at Fort Sill, Okla
and widely known in army circles.
Beck, one of the pioneer fliers Of
the American army, was killed by Day,
who declared he struck the army Off
Ger over the head with revolver
when he reteurned home and found
his guest struggling with Mrs Day
The gun was discharged accidentally,
Day asserted. Becks skull was so
badly torn that officials said they
were unable to determine whether the
bullet or the blow caused death Day
is under $1,000 bond to appear at a
coroners inquest Saturday.
A committee of officers from Post
Field will conduct an inquiry, it was
announced late today by County At
| torney Hughes. He said he would not
consider filing charges until after the
Icoroner's inquest.
! NJ. F. Meadows, federal prohibition
director for Oklahoma, also announced
he would investigate to determine he
said, what part, If any, liquor may
have played in the tragedy.
The shooting followed party at the
DAY home at which Lieutenant Col
onel Beck was guest of honor Beck
lflew here yesterday from Fort Sill.
DAY had taken the other guests home
in his motor car and when he returned
to his home about 2:30 a. m, he de-
clared in a statement to newspaper
men, noticed through a window that
his wife and Beck were seated on a
divan.
Colonel Beck reached for her." Day
declared. There was struggle"
Thereupon, Day said, he rushed into
the house and to an upstairs room
where he got his revolver.
Returning to the dining room" he
related. Il commanded, you get out. q
here" the army officer drew back lrss
hand as if to strike. hit him over tSSs
of its discharging."
1 Day said Lieutenant Colonel Beck
had spent the evening with him and
Mrs. Day, they dined at hotel Day
said he had invited Beck to stay at
Earlier in the evening Beck and
Mrs. Day attended a theatre together,
according to other guests at the party.
Day did not accompany them Beck
had long been a friend of the Day
family. He was 40 years old. Day is
so and his wife several years younger.
They have a daughter who is a student
at the state university.
Mrs. Day was unable to make any
connected statement during the day.
However, she corroborated the story
told by her husband.
! Mrs. Day is a leading society woman
of Oklahoma City. She spent last
winter in Washington, D. c., and en-
tertaineG at many social functions.
Lieutenant Colonel Beck lived at Fort
sill with his mother, II years old, his
wife died last year IN Atlantic City.
He is survived by a son, who is a first
lieutenant in the army ordnance de-
partment, stationed at Watertown,
Conn. ,
Tonight Day amplified his earlier
statement and recounted details of the
tragedy.
Gould any red blooded American
do any thing else when his confidence
is violated, his home invaded and his
faithful wife insulted and violently at
tackled" he demanded.
Clad in house coat and slippers, with
burned -out cigar between his fingers,
Day sat on the front porch of his
home and calmly related the details.
$50 help me God, / never meant to
kill Beck" he declared. II loved Beck
like a brother.
HE had my complete confidence.
He had the run Of my home. He was
at liberty to come in unannounced
for dinner or as an overnight guest.
He had entertained us often at Post
Field. No man could have trusted
brother more. He came up last night
unannounced He was sitting on the.
porch when I drove up at $50 p. ma
said he was coming to stay all night"
After attending the theatre, Mrs.
Day and Beck. Day said, agreed to
pick him up later at the hotel where
they had dined. Beck and Mrs. Day
returned to the hotel and met Mr.. and
Mrs. L. H. Prichard Mr.. and Mrs. r.
Continued on Page Two)