Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-04-05
JUDGE LOVED VICTIM
WHO ATTACKED WIFE
Says Army Officer Was Acct
dentally Shot When Hit
With Pistol.

Oklahoma City. Okla. April 5.--Jean
?. Day, former State Supreme Court
Justice, who is held in $1,000 bail
pending a coroncr's inquiry into tho
killing OF Colonel Paul w,
Beck. we'll known in army circles. in
his home early yesterday, issued a new
statement last night, recounting de-
tails Of the tragedy.
Day again asserted that Beck,
pioneer army aviator ana assistant
comma ndant OF Post Field aviation
station At Fort SIN, attempted to at
tack Mrs. Day after a midnight party
and that the army officer was shot &C
cidentally when he day struck him
over tho head with revolver.
Gould any red blooded American do
anything else when his confidence had
been violated. his home Invaded and
his faithful wife insulted and violently
attacked" ne demanded.
Clad in house coat and slippers. with
a burned-out cigar between his fingers.
Day sat on the front porch OF his home
and calmly related the details.
$50 help me God. ! never meant to
kfil Beck" no declared. Il loved Beck
like q brother.
He had my complete confidence.
He had tho run OF my home. He was
at liberty to come in unannounced for
dinner or as an overnight guest. He
had entertained us often nj POET Field.
No man could have trusted a brother
more He came up Monday night un-
announced lie was sitting on the
porch when l drove up at $40 p. m.
Aa ~ Of a
night"
After attending the theatre, Mrs
DAY and Beck. Day eaid. agreed &c
pick him up later at the hotel where
they had dned Beck and Mrs. Day
returned to the hotel and met Mr.. and
Mrs. l.. II. PriChard. Mr.. and Mrs. +.
IL. Anderson and Major X. Il. Pad
dock OF Fort Sill They left a note
vsaying they had gone to Prichards
tone and asked Day 10 go there
Judge Day went there and the party
danced.
1T was midnight o~ after when we
left Prichard's home" Judge Day
said. II suggested that they all come
over TO my house and dance. and we
came 1t may have been after i.SI
O'Clock when the Prichards started for
home. The Andersons had no car
so offered 20 drive them home.
Mrs. Day was tired and did not &C
company me. Beck said he would sta,
and entertain Mrs. Day. ! may have
been gone half an hour. When
stopped my car on the driveway
Heard commanding voice comm,
from somewhere. The blinds In IRON
were all up. ] came up the sid'
steps and saw Beck struggling Will
the pures,, dearest woman In tn
world He was attempting TO Assault
her, and a. hurried 70 the door
could hear her begging and pleadin,
and trying,to shame him.
Il DO things Intellectually. When
cav what was going on l decided e
drive him out of the houea.
"Just before I turned the knob. 4
occurred to me that army n0csr'
oftsn 10 around armed and that hst
better GET my gun.
Beck Jumped UP from tho couch Al
quickly a. cat as l came in the dool
and went toward the dining room
When got my revolver and CANT
down stairs I paused in the andint
looking into the living room. but Becl
was not 10 be seen. Then l turned
around and went down a short figh
81 steps TO the kitchen. / thought
would find him II I made the circuit
1T occurred to me that Beck ha'
left the house as l started through tn
kitchen. I passed into the breakfas
nook and. looking through into III
dining room, / saw the portiere
bulged together. l walked In an
Beck stepped out boldly. He locke
me in the eye. I was Just four fee
from him.
Il said: Now. you get out OF m
house. you cur
His right hand was clenched an
he had hold OF his Sam Brown bel
He pulled that arm back. 1t ma
have been for a blow. I thought b
might be armed. did not know.