The New York herald., 1922-04-08
Declares Ex-Judge Has Not
Told Whole Truth Of
Tragedy.
HOLDS SOMETHING BACK
Official Sees Significance in
Handkerchief Held by Victim
When Struck Down.

OKLAHOMA City, April County
Attorney Forest Hughes in state
ment to-day giving the result of his
investigation, declared that II Jean F.
Day. wealthy oil operator and attor-
ney, shot and killed Lieut.-Col. Paul
Ward Beck, army flyer, in defense
of home. and If he tells the true story
of fthe tragedy. any red blooded jury
will acauit him.
Day saw something that swept him
off his feet" when he returned to his
home early Tuesday and found his
wife in the arms OF Beck, the attorney
said he was convinced.
Beck was not looking at Judge
Day at the time of the firing he
added.
1T was not in self-defense tie at
torney shot Beck down." Hughes said.
"It is my opinion that Day has not
told the whole truth"
Attorneys for Day. however, declared
ne has told the whole truth" and added
that Day and Mrs. Day would tell at
the Coroner's inquest Saturday the
same story they have made public, be
cause 1t is the truth"
AN important matter think has
been entirely overlooked" Hughes's
statement said. "It is the proposition
OF a handkerchief being found in the
clenched hand Of Paul Beck. What was
Beck doing with his handkerchief i'm
mediately before the gun was dis
charged?'
"In Defense OF Home, Not Life"
Day has declared that he returned
home to ind Mrs. Day fighting Beck.
Day said ne went upstairs, obtained
revolver, came down, and on confront
ing Back struck are army officer over
the head with the revolver when Beck
drew back orc hand. The discharge OF
the revolver was accidental, he as
serted
"Ono thing is absolutely certain in
my mind. and that is that the gun was
discharged while Immediately adjacent
to the head of Paul Beck" Hughes de-
ciared. whether, Beck was shot from
the front or back is one of the greatest
questions involved in the case. x-ray
photographs indicate Beck was not In
position to see his slayer.
Judge Day asserts that he fired In
self-defense. In my Judgment. If the
shot was fired i'm defense II was in
defense of home and not of life"
Declaring Day and Beck had been
close friends before the tragedy. Hughes
asked:
What extraordinary occurrence
changed the mental condition OF the
one toward the other, what caused
Mrs. Day after the shooting to moan.
oh, my honor?'
Hughes asserted I'm his opinion there
was no doubt that '1iquor had been
served at the Day home the night Of
the killing" but he said he believed
Day was not under the influence of
liquor when the shot was fired
Mrs. Day was melancholy to-day, re-
naming in her boudoir and having
little to say to friends.
Day Again Tells OF Staying.
1T is not true that saw my wife
i'm distress as | drove up the driveway
and that / deliberately took my car to
the garage and then came back to her
rescue" said Judge Day this evening
II did not see into the house through
the window until after the car was
put away and stepped upon the porch
The sight that met my eyes led me
through the front door of my living
room as a mad man. When entered
Beck was gone. hesitated but half
second Ny wife no longer was In
danger. could comfort her later NY
duty was to settle with her attempted
assaulter.
~ sensed that he had gone to the
dining room. ] hastened upstairs for
my revolver. Beck was a powerful
man, as perfect physical specimen
as any one ever saw. 7 came down a
rear stairway leading into the dining
room. revolver in hand. BY that time
] resolved to drive him from my home
did not mean to kill him. As
crossed the dining room in the semi
darkness | saw his figure behind a
portiere that had been drawn aside
until enough was left at the side of
the dining room entrance 10 hide the
form of a man.
You get out Of my house you dam
nable curv commanded. Beck stepped
into the light that shone from the ilv-
ing room. boldly. and with clinched
fists. ] don't think he made a step
toward me but he put himself IN the
attitude TO strike me. for was steadily
approaching him. My revolver was in
my right hand at my side. I raised II
and struck with all my might. Al the
same instant Beck bent toward me In
crouching posture.
my recollection is that 7 hit him on
the side and rear OF the head. He
staggered backward. reEained himself,
staggered again, again stood up and
then fell upon the floor
Judge Day reenscted all the scenes 10
this point, even TO the staggering move
mcnts OF his victim. He then lay upon
the floor on his back, his arms beside
him, his eyes closed. Then he arose.
"rhat was the way Beck fell and the
way he lay before the fireplace upon the
floor"
Judge Day then removed the rug and
pointed TO stains upon the floor the
maid could not remove when she washed
the blood away.
There was the stain" said the for
ncr Judge. at -fn n deliberate lie that
blood was scattered over the room and
particles Of skull found on the piano
fifteen feet away There was the blood.
where the man lay. II is lie also that
the portieres have been moved to hide
mystery. Tho porticres are just as
they were. N is n dsmnable lie. the lie
Of sensation mongers, OF character assas-
sins. that | passed my wife and Beck
truggling on n couch 10 deliberately walk
up stairs 10 protect myself So help me
Gos. have told the truth about this"