The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-08
Inquest of Airman's Death
Scheduled for Today.
Post Field Companions of Beck
Arrive to Testify.
JUDGE REITERATES HIS STORY
Mrs. Day Also To Take Stand
in Defense of Honor.
81 Did as 1 Had a Right To Do"
Says Day.

Oklahoma City. April s.-The moral
law-OkIahoma's own code-was
pleaded as the cause for the killing Of
Lieut.. Col. Paul Ward Beck of Post
Field by former Judge Jean P. Day
at the inquest held here this after
noon.
In a court room crowded with the
coloners lady and Judy O'Grady," and
with the most brilliant of Okiahoma's
social set rubbing shoulders with men
who still wear the four quart hat. Mrs.
Day began to tell the story of the at
tack which resulted in Beck's Staying.
Joe Campbell. police officer, was
the first witness to the stand. The
trial was halted, however, when call
for police was heard. The second
woman to faint in the afternoon had
to be removed from the court room.
The trial then proceeded.
Beck was shot and killed by Jean
p. Day. former justice of the supreme
court and millionaire oil man. in the
latter's home here, in the small hours
of Tuesday morning, after Day says
he found the airmtn in an attack upon
his wife-the mother of his 19-year-
old daughter, and. according to her
closest girl friends, the promised wife
of Beck's 24-year-old son, Lieut.. Paul
Ward Beck, Jr.
Since that hour, all Oklahoma has
taken sides in the case.
Days story is an age-old tale-a
story Of misplaced trust.
Il loved Beck as tho he were nay
brother" Day will testify at the in
quest before Coroner A. L. McWil-
liams, scheduled for O'Clock this
afternoon.
4 brought him to my home. There
he was treated as one of my family.
During the months of our friendship
IA friendship which grew to love
Beck was always the gentleman. Tues
day morning l found him otherwise.
As 1 peered thru a window of my
home l saw him, his arms around my
wife, who lay struggling to free her.
self from his embrace. He was cry
ing out his passion. I did what any
red blooded American would do
should do. I killed him, altho / did
not mean to go that far. I secured n
revolver to drive him from my home.
and while I had the moral right to
shoot him. the actual discharge OF
the revolver was accidental"
1t is to refute this story, the airmen
who served under Beck's command at
Fort Silrs aviation field have come
to the inquest.
They are headed by Beck's son and
by his nephew, Lieut.. John w. Beck.
whose father--Colonel Beck's brother
was slain under mysterious circum-
stances several years ago.
One of the largest crowds ever at
tending a court inquiry here is ex-
pected to seek admittance to the in
quest room.
The hearing has been changed from
the coroners office to the court house
so that the personal friends of Judge
Day and Colonel Beck may be present.
Twelve witnesses have been called.
Day himself will testify.
His wife will also tell of the events
preceding the tragedy. She will say.
however, that from the moment she
saw her husband, revolver in hand,
her mind is a blank as to the actual
shooting of the airman.
Mrs. Rachael Beck. 77-year-old
mother of the slain man, arrived here
for a last view of her sons body this
morning. She was accompanied by
the wives of army officers from Fort
Sill.
1T is not true-it cannot be truei''
Mrs. Beck said. crying softly. MY
boy could not do the things they say
1t was expected, even by. Prosecutor
Forrest L. Hughes, that the jury would
return verdict urging that prosecu-
ton against Judge Day be dropped
Washington, April 8.-The body OF
Lieut.. Col. Paul Ward Beck. army Of
ficer shot to death In another mans
home in Oklahoma City under tragic
will be laid to rest in
cemetery, where thousands
of other soldiers are buried. so far as
the war department is concerned.