The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-07
A Fight for Truth Lies Between
Wife and Dead Man.
Military Says Beck VIII Be
Cleared at Trial.
BEST FRIEND mo REGRETS
Day Says He Welcomes Trial
for Officers Staying.
''Didn't Mean to Kill Him, But
Don't Care"

Oklahoma City, April County
Attorney Forrest Hughes, in a signed
statement today, concerning his in
vestigation of the staying of Lieut..
Col. Paul Ward Beck by Jean P. Day,
prominent local lawyer and oil man.
in the latter's home here last Tues
day, said he believed Day fired in de-
tense of his home and not of his life,
and that the X-ray photograph of the
dead mans head indicated the army
officer was not looking at Day when
the fatal shot was fired.
Day previously had stated that
when he found Beck in the act of at
tempting to assault Mrs Day he
struck the officer on the head with a
pistol after the latter had made a
motion as if to strike him with his
fist.
Day said also that the revolver was
accidentally discharged from the inn
pact of the blow.
The county attorneys statement
said that before any gun was fired or
blow was struck, DAY saw something
that swept him off his feet" He add
ed that in his opinion Judge Day had
not told the whole truth concerning
the tragedy.
81 am frank to say" Hughes CON
tinued, that if Judge Day should tell
the whole truth, no jury of red blood
ed citizens would ever render a ver-
dict against him. I am equally can
Judge Day has not told the whole
TRUTH
The handkerchief which Lieuten-
ant Colonel Beck clutched in his hand
has a significance in the
case which has been overlooked so
far, the county attorney said.
Previous to the shooting Day and
Beck had been the best of friends,
CsI a he f21
dition of the one toward the other?
What caused Mrs. bay, after the
shooting, to, moan, on, my honor?'
These two are the vital questions in
the tragedy
This is the tale of two cities
One-Oklahoma City, its Stetsoned
united almost to the man
armed with the ''unwritten code" is
for the honor of a woman's
name-Mrs. Jean P. Day.
The other-Lawton, gay army post
is beating back to keep dishonor
from uniform of its first son-Lieuten- !
ant Colonel Paul Ward Beck.
Meanwhile the triple investigation !
army. state and prohibition forces !
continued along trails which lead |
to the killing of Col. Beck by Jean P |
Day, former supreme court justice I
and millionaire oil man in Days home /
IN the small hours of Tuesday morn !
ng. /
State authorities sought to keep /
heir findings secret until the coroner's /
inquest set for Saturday afternoon.
The army was less secretive about |
is course. /
Headed by Maj. T. G. Lanphier.
senior officer of the military court,
eight airplanes carrying Capts. Yer
ION L. Burge and Roger Mccullough,
Mai. R. B. Paddock relative of Gen.
John J. Pershing and Beck's COM
0anion on the morning of the trag-
ady, Lieut.. John w. Beck, nephew of
he slain airman, Lieut.. Kenneth Wal
1er and others will proceed from
4awton to Oklahoma City Saturday
morning.
The military men will attend the
inquest as witnesses.
And when the whole truth comes
,ut Beck's name will be cleared of the
iishOnor now placed upon him" Ma
or Paddock said today.
1t was expected several hundred
,itizens of Lawton would come to
Oklahoma City by train for the hear
ng.
Judge Day and his wife are to be
he witnesses for the defense.
'fI want to tell my story-I want
hem to know 1 am not to blame"
1rs. Day said today. It have told the
ruth and nothing but the truth in my
tory of my relations with Colonel
Seek and his attack upon me. There
S nothing more to tell
Judge Day said:
Inc world now knows my story.
t can condemn if it will. I killed my
est friend-the man L loved as tho
e were my brother-when he violated
ny home. I did not mean to kill, but
he revolver with which 1 sought to ,
rive him from my home, discharged.
let the law take any course it will /
o not want political or personal
to aid me-"
Forrest Hughes, prosecutor. re-
NAMED behind locked doors today, i
eeking to unite the tangled threads of J
vidence contradicting Days story of
he tragedy. F,
Hughes, I understand, is working I
n the absurd rumor that Attorney \
feneral Short of Oklahoma was a i
lember of the party at my home pre- z
eding the shooting" Judge Day said.
General Short was not present. $