The New York herald., 1922-04-05
KILLED ARMY Filler
IN WFE'S DEFENSE
Oil Man Says Lieut. Paul
Beck Attacked Her in
Their Home.
PISTOL ENDED STRUGGLE
Pioneer Aviator Was Party
Guest of Judge Day in Ok
lahoma City.
PISTOL ENDED STRUGGLE

Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
OKLAHOMA CITY, April 4.-Returning
home at an early morning hour to
find his wife struggling In the arms
of Lieut.-Col. Paul w. Beck, Judge
Jean P. Day, formerly Supreme Court
Commissioner and prominent oil oper-
ator, shot and killed the army officer.
Judge, Day was one of the two men
who framed the first code of statutes
for Oklahoma after II was admitted to
the Union. He has amassed a large
fortune In oil, being head of two large
corporations, and also has been active
In politics as close friend Of former
Senator Thomas p. Gore.
The shooting, according to friends
of Day, came as the result of be-
trayal of trust by the army officer.
Beck made flight here from Post
Field. Fort Sill. of which he was COM
mandant. yesterday t, attend card
party given by Mrs. Day. He long
had been a close friend of the family.
At the conclusion Of the party Judge
Day took several of the guests to their
homes in his motor car. 1t vas on his
return that he found his wife strug-
Cling in Becks arms, according to the
statement given out by r. w. Dick. inti-
mate acquaintance of the family. and
authorized by Judge Day.
Were Alone in Home.
Mrs Day was left alone with Col.
Beck while Judge Day was taking the
guests to their homes, Dick said. When
the Judge returned. 1t was stated. he
broke through porch window and saw
his wife fighting to release the army
officers hold OH her.
Day rushed upstairs, obtained his re-
volver and returned to the room where
the two still were struggling.
Beck made a motion rs Il to strike
Day. according to Dick, and the Judge
struck him over the head with the re-
volver.
At the same instant the weapon was
discharged and Beck fell to the floor.
He was dead before police arrived.
Judge Day was released in $4,000
bonds pending an inquest.
Day told county authorities he struck
the officer on the head. Beck was In
stantly killed when the revolver was dis
charged. which Day claims was not in
tentional lie contended the impact OF
the blow caused the weapon to explode.
According TO detailed statement to
newspaper men. Day as he drove up the
driveway saw his wife and Beck seated
on a divan in the drawing ROOM
Day observed the officer reach for his
wife. he said, and a struggle ensued.
"She fought him. 1t was an awful
battle between them." Day said. Il
paused only moment. then opened the
door to. see Beck back through tho cur
tains between the drawing room and
dining room.
Il rushed up the stairs and obtained
my revolver. Returning to the dining
room I commanded. You get out os
here and with this he drew back his
hand as IL to strike"
Blow Discharges Gun.
Day said he then landed blow with
the revolver on the officers head and the
weapon was discharged.
Mrs. Day corroborated her husbands
statement. She was hystericai wnen
police arrived and was unable to give
coherent account OF the affair.
Day Is so years old and Is president
of the Foursome Producing and Refining
Company and vicc-president OF the Con-
tinental Asphalt and Petroleum Com
pany. His wife Is said to be seven
years younger They have one child q
daughter. who is student at ,he uni
versity OF Oklahoma. The family has
lived here for the last seven years.
Col Beck was on. OF the first four
aviators in the United states Army.
which he entered as a Second Lieutenant
In 1899 He was assigned TO the in
fantry branch, but took up hylng more
than ten wears ago. He went 70 Post
Field as commandsnt OF the aviation
section there last year. He was a
widower. but had one son. also N the
army. Beck was born In Texas in 1876.
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