New-York tribune., 1922-04-08
WnetoTellHow
Husband Killed
Col.Beck To-day
Prosecutor Insists Truth of
Tragedy in Days Home
Must Be Told in Full
at the Coroner's Inquest
Crills 4 Party Witnesses
Mystery Hinges ON Whether
Men We're Face TO Face
at Shooting, He Declares
Special Dispatch to The yrib,u.

D'"POtoH 10 I ne tribune
OKLAHOMA CITY. April 7.--At the
coroner's inquest here tomorrow, in
the killing, last Tuesday. of Lieutenant
Colonel Paul Wark Beck by Jean P.
Day, former State Supreme Court ius-
tice and millionaire oil man, after an
alleged attempted assault by Beck on
MRS. Day, the county authorities will
seek TO bring out the full story of
what happened at the Day home the
night of the tragedy Forrest Hughes.
county Attorney, said to-day he did not
believe that Day had yet told the whole
truth about the shooting, and that if
the millionaire should tell the whole
truth. no jury of red blooded citizens
would ever render verdict against
him."
At Hughes's office to-day behind
closed doors four persons who attended
the midnight party prior to the shoot
ing were examined to find out whether
there was any truth in the rumor that
Day had quarreled violently with his
wife during the party because of cher
attentions to Beck" All the witnesses
insisted that this report was untrue
and that everything had been pleasant
and agreeable during the evening.
Defense of Home, Not Life
The County Attorney issued long
statement in which he expressed the
bellef that Beck was not looking at
Day when the bullet that killed him
was fired. He said he was convinced
that Day had fired in defense of his
home and not of his life, for there were
circumstances indicating that Day had
seen something which suddenly changed
his long friendship for Beck into violent
anger Just what that was is to be de-
vclopcd at the inquest. Hughes re-
called that after the shooting Mrs. Day
kept saying: ooh, my honor!"
Mr.. Hughes said that although he
was convinced liquor had been served
at the midnight party. he did not be-
lleve that Day was under the influence
Of whisky when he killed Beck. He said
the principal thing to determine now
was whether Beck had been shot while
facing Day or while turned the other
way.
A group of military men from Fort
Sill where Colonel Beck was stationed
said he believed that full inquiry
would clear Beck's name of dishonor.
Day and his wife will be the prin-
cipal witnesses for the defense. Mrs.
Day said this afternoon that she was
ready to tell her full story of the
shooting, for she wanted to make plain
the facts regarding Becks attack.
Days Denies He Feared Soldier
Day violated the instructions of his
attorney not to talk far enough to-day
to deny flood Of rumors that have
been circulated about the shooting He
said it was not true that he was afraid
of Beck and that, instead of going to
his wife's rescue when he had first
seen her fighting with the army Off
Ger, he had rushed upstairs for a re-
volver to protect himself. He reitcr-
ated that he had struck Beck with the
revolver as Beck faced him in a
crouching position.
Colonel Beck's only son, who is in
the army at Watertown, Mass, arrived
here to attend the inquest. He will
accompany his fathers body to Airing
ton, where burial will take place IN
the National Cemetery.