New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-04-05
1t. Col. Paul Ward Beck
Is Shot Dead by Jean P.
= Day, Rich Oklahoma Oil
Man, in the Day Home
Attempted Attack Is
Charged by Slayer
Struck Victim With Gun.
and Weapon Fired It.
self, Shattering Skull
Special Dispatch 10 The T,ibu,s

OKLAHOMA CITY, April 4.-Lieu,
tenant Colonel Paul Ward Beck. as
slstant commandant of Post Field al
Fort Sill, Okla, and one of the armv's
pioneers in aviation, was shot and
Killed at 2:30 o'clock this morning after
q midnight party at the home of his
close friend, Jean P. Day, wealthy oil
man and former Justice of the Okla
homa Supreme Court. Although no
formal charges were filed, Day put up
bond Of $4,000 for appearance Satur-
day before coroner's jury. A COM
mlttee of army officers from Post Field
also will meet Saturday to investigate
the shooting
According to the story which Day
told the sheriff, Day struck Colonel
Beck over the head with a revolver
after he had caught the army officer
trying to force his attentions on Mrs.
Day. The force of the blow discharge d
the weapon, Day said, and Beck fell
dead. Mrs. Day. corroboratcd this
version of the incident The explosion
of the gun SO mutilated the army Of
ficcr's head that the coroner expressed
doubt whether it could be determined
whether the blow or the shot had
caused death
Dinner Preceded Party
The oil man told the police that he
and Mrs. Day and Beck had eaten din
ner together at downtown hotel and
had arranged that the army officer
should pass the night at their home.
After dinner Day was called away to
attend to some legal business and his
wife went with Beck to a theater. On
the way home after the show Mrs Day
and Beck met a group Of friends and
invited all of them to go out to the
Day home for a party. These guests
included S. H. Prichard and his wife.
+. h. Anderson and his wife, both oil
operators, and Major B. r. Paddock,
who is attached to Fort Sill Dav had
reached home ahead of the crowd and
passed more than an hour with them.
When the guests started to depart.
about 1 o'clock, Day volunteered to take
some of them home in his automobile.
they accepted and he drove off, leaving
his wife and the army officer alone.
According to Days story, he was re-
turning home after 2 o'clock. and as he
drove his car up the driveway he
caught a glimpse of the army officer
and Mrs. Day through window of the
drawing room. Colonel Beck started
toward Mrs. Day, the oil man said, and
grasped her in his arms.
Day Describes Shooting
She fought him. Day continued.
1T was an awful battle between them.
paused only a moment, then opened
the door in time to see the officer
fall backward through the curtains that
separate the drawing room and dining
room. rushed to the stairs and got
my revolver Returning to the room,
commanded: You get out of here!'
and with this he drew back his arm as
If to strike. He backed away from me
toward the dining room"
Day asserted that he then struck the
officer. with the gun, and that it's acct
dental discharge causd the officers
death. The weapon. which the police
saw, was single action Colt 38-4O re-
vovcr. Day notified the authorities
Immediately. and was held in custody
by the Sheriff until noon, He was re-
his wife, who collapsed after the Incl
dent Mrs. Day has been unable to is
sue any further statement.
Prosecutor Issues Statement
Forest Hughes, county attorney, is
sued this statement:
"Owng to the fact that Beck wa,
killed in the Day home and to The fact
that these men have been extremely
good friends up to within a few min
utes before the fatal shot, and owing
further to the prominence of both Of
these citizens, it is my desire to inves-
tigate thoroughly and minutely every
phase of this unfortunate killing be-
fore any final action.
81 do not know whether or not Judge
Day or his wife, the only witness to
the killing. will take the stand at the
inquest. The state could not force
either to testify if they did not so de-
sire.
"Inasmuch as l cannot say at this
time what turn the coroner's inquest
may take, it is possible that either a
manslaughter or murder charge may
be filed against Judge Day"
Prohibition Enforcement Officer
Meadows issued statement saying
that he would make an inquiry to de-
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