The Washington times., 1922-04-08
SET FOR
BECK INQUEST,
DAY To G0FREE
Continued from First PageJ

Continued from First Page)
in the latter's home here, in the small
hours of Tuesday morning. after Day
says he found the airman in an at
tack upon his wife.
Since that hour all Oklahoma has
taken sides In the case. Days story
is an old-age tale, a story of mis-
placed trust.
Day, II was believed. will not
change his story before the inquest.
He will insist that he found Beck at
lacking his wife and that Beck was
killed by accident when Day dealt
him a blow over the head with the
revolver.
1t is to refute this story that the
airmen who served under Beck's
command at Fort Sill aviation field
have come to the inquest.
Headed by Beck's Son.
They are headed py Beck's son and
by his nephew. Lieut.. John w. Beck,
was slain under mysterious cir
cumstances 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.
Twelve witnesses have been called.
Day himself will testify.
His wife will tell events preceding
the tragedy. She will say. however.
that from the moment she saw her
revolver in hand, her mind
ls a blank as to the actual shooting
Of the ariman.
Mrs. Rachel Beck, seventy-seven
year-old mother of the slain man,
arrived here for a last view of her
sons body this morning. She was
by the wives of army
officers from Fort Sill.
1T isn't true-it can't be true"
Mrs. Beck said, crying softly. My
boy could not do the things they
say"
The airman's mother is a tragic
figure.
Life One OF Tragedy.
A pioneer of the early West-an
army mans wife in the Distant
Indian fighting days Of Oklahoma,
Mrs. Beck settled at Fort Sill. Her
husband died. Then she wed Brig.
Gen. William Beck
They have told me what is being
said of my boy" Mrs. Beck said,
They tried to keep it from me, but
some day / would hear and it might
not be from the lips of those who
loved me.
II will be brave under the cross,
for my boy would want me to be
brave.
II must cry little. but I'll try
oh, I'll try so hard to be Just the
kind of a mother he would want me
to be-" and the little gray-haired
woman forced wan smile through
the big tears which filled her eyes.
Leave Sunday for ID. c.
Mrs. Beck is going to accompany
her sons body to Washington on
She will see it placed be-
side the grave of his father in Ar.
lington Cemetery.
Mrs. Bee; will not attend the in
quest.
1t was expected, even by Prosecu-
tor Forest l.. Hughes, that the jury
would return a verdict urging that
prosecution against Judge Day be |
dropped.
Behind closed doors and acting on
the order of Judge James I. Rhelps,
Of the district court, detectives from |
the office OF Forest Hughes, pros
ecuting attorney, sought today to |
secure lTOIll lOuI ptIsOfls an durfllS- |
sion of a violent quarrel between |
Judge Day and his wife.
The quarrel, one of the detectives |
said, was reported to have occurred |
an hour before Judge Day killed |
Colonel Beck. The de- |
tective declared reports reaching |
him from sources that look mighty |
good. told OF Judge Day upbraiding |
his wife for her attentions to Beck.
Too Attentive To Beck.
Mr.. and Mrs. Paul II. Anderson |
and l., II. Prichard. guests at the |
Day home during the hours preced- |
ng the tragedy, were the witnesses |
under examination. Mrs. Prichard |
was not called. but will be one of |
he States witnesses at the inquest |
% be held later today.
"I want to tell my story--I want |
hem to know ! am not to blame"
Mrs. Day said today. II have told |
he truth and nothing but the truth
n my story Of my relations with
Colonel Beck and his attack upon
ne. There is nothing more to tell"
My attorney says I can't talk"