The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-04-04
FORT SILL.
COMMANDER
SHOT DEAD
Shooting Follows a Party
Held at Judges Okla
homa Home
INTERNATIONAL MEMS sEsmcEl


OKLAHOMA CITL. Okla, April 4.
Lieut.. Colonel Paul Ward Beck.
eommandant of Post Field. Fort
sui was shot and almost instantly
killed here today at the home Of
J. r. Day. a prominent oklahoma
hnancier. and until recently 4 judge
Of the state supreme court.
Judge Day was being held follow
ing the shooting and j. was said
that a charge OF murder would be
formally fled against him.
AFTERMATH OF PARTY
The shooting. according to police.
came IS the aftermath OF a party
held at Judge Days hcme.
The judge, leaving Beck IN the
house. took some of his guests home
in his automobile When the re-
turned. the shooting is alleged 70
have taken place.
Beck was close friend OF rne
Day family. it was stated, and had
prominent n Washington. D. C. So
ciety circles. About year ago his
wife died at Washington, it was
reported here.
Il didn't mean TO shoot him He
was attacking my wife. and | struck
him over the head with my gun.
The shot was accidental"
This was the claim Of Judge Day,
according 10 officers here.
The body was found by police in
the living room Beck had seen
shot in the temple. The scalp was
badly mutilated and torn from the
skull. One deep wound was also
found on the back part of the head
on the right side and a small
bruised spot was on tho left cheek.
ONE OF FIRST 4. =. AAIATORs
Day refused to comment upon the
shooting. lie was being questioned
by police. Mrs Day. It was said.
was nearly prostrated over the af-
fair and no statement was obtained
from her.
Lieut. Colonel Back was ono of
the first four aviator5 in the United
States army service. He had been
in the air service since 1913. Judge
Day was president of the Foursome
Producing and Refining Co. and is
also interested III other Oklahoma
concerns.
A coroner's inquest viii probably
be held today, it was stated at the
sheriff's office.
SHOT IN TEMPLE
Lieut.. Col. Beck was kiFed by a
bullet in the temple. The scalp had
been torn lose from the skull and
powder burns showed that the wea-
pom had been discharged close to
the head. There was also a wound
near the back of the head and a
mark on the left cheek
The body was found in the living
room. A great pool % blood was II
the floor. where the army officer
fell and where he daed almost in
stantly.
TAKEN IN CUSTODY J
Judge Day was taken into e-s-
tody after police had been called to
the house following the shooting.
40 charge had been filed against
him Bur he was allowed to remain
in his home under guard of deputy
sheriffs. His case VII come under
federal jurisdiction, il was stated.
The statement of just what occur
red came from r. o. Dick. former
warden OF the state penitentiary
and close friend OF the Day FAM
nv. II was authorized by Judge
Day.
WIFE IN OFFICERS ARMS
According to Dick, Judge Day
found his wife struggling in the
arms of the army officer. Flo did
not attempt to shoot him but struck
at him with revolver which ex
ploded.
The tragedy came as the after
n1ath of card party held last night
at the Day home. There we're sew
eral guests. all close friends OF the
family Lieut.. Col. Beck was among
the party and was guest OF the
Day home, having come here from
the flying field at Fort Sill.
The party broke up at about 3
O'Clock and Judge Day offered to
take the guests to their homes in
his motor car.
lie left Beck and Mrs. Day alone
in the house, according to the state
ment
SAW WIFE STRUGGLING
When he returned, Judge Day
stepped upon the porch and looking
through the curtains saw his wife
struggling in the embrace Of Beck.
He at once burst into the house.
rushed upstairs and secured his re
volver.
lie then confronted Beck in the
living room, where he was still
struggling with Mrs. ray and. strik
inE at Beck with the revolver held
in his hand. according 70 Dicks
statement. saw Beck fall as the re-
volver exploded.
II didn't mean to shoot him" was
Days statement. "TIe was attack
ing my wife and struck him over
the head with the gun. The shot
was accidental.
wELL-KNOwS FLYER
Lieut. Col Beck was one Of the
first four commissioned army Off
Gers in She United States flying
corps. He had been In the flying
service since 1918 He was promi-
nentIy known in washington circles.
and according to reports, his wife
died ct washington about a year