The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-09
MISSING, Y HURT IN NEW ORLEANS FIRE
Shoals Corporation Bi11 Goes to Senate M0nda, CORONER'S JURY FREES DAY OF KILLING CHARGE
Saw Colonel Beck Holding Mrs. Day on Divan With Arms Around Her, Oklahoma Attorney TeStifies.
By Associated Press

tEAAO''fNy NSAstiSOs
 By Associated Press Oklahoma City, Okla, April s. Holding that Jean P. Day, prominen attorney and oil man, was justified in the killing of Lieut.. Col. Pau Ward Beck at the Day home earl! Tuesday, a coroner's jury returned a verdict here tonight recommendin, that no charges be preferred agains Day.
 The crowded courtroom was silen as it heard the verdict read. Mir. an, Mrs. Day displayed no emotion, an, after it had been read they arose Mir. Day shook hands with Corone McWilliams and the party wake, slowly from the room without a wor, between them.
 The text of the verdict fol- Iovsi
 eve, the coroner's jury, duly sworn and impaneled to inquire into the cause of the death of Paul Ward Beck, after hearing evidence introduced before us from witnesses and after view ing the body of Paul Ward Beck, do upon our oath find and re- port.
 "That Paul Ward Beck came to his death at the hands of Jean P. Day and from the evidence submitted to us conclude that Jean r. Day was justified in de- fending his wife and himself, even though the unfortunate af- fair resulted in the death of Paul Ward Beck, and we there fore recommend and advise that no charges he filed or prosscu- ton instituted against Jean F. Day"
 The verdict was signed by nII six of the jurors
 Oklahoma City. April Son the witness stand In n packed courtroom here tonight. Jean F. Day and his wife told. with emO- tion, of the staying of Lieut.. Col. Paul ". Beck. In broken voice, but with n gleam of determina- tion in his eye, Day said he killed the army aviator accidentally when he sought to drive Beck from his home, after finding him attempting to attack Mrs. Day early Tuesday.
 ''BecIs threw his arms around nte crying Girl, girl, you swept me off my feet ana asked me to come to his room that night, Mrs. Day testified.
 'I saw Colonel Beck holding Mrs. Dny on the dIvan," said Day. .'she was fighting him. He had his right arm around her. His othed hand WAS about her knees.' T got there in time to protect he and I did Day testified
 "He jumped back and put his han back as if to fight" Day said, "an struck him with all my might" Day said he did not know whethe his finger was on the trigger of hi revolver. He testified the weapo was discharged accidentally.
 "One time caught the gun an Iut 1t to my head, but I didn't shoo thought of my wife and my child said Day relating how he surprise Beck, entered the house and went , an upstairs room where he obtaine the revolver.
 Killing Not Intended.
 T did not intend to kill him. Thi is the truth"
 Leaning over and pointing h finger at County Attorney Hughe Day said in pleading voice;
 ''I want to say to you boys yo can prosecute me to the limit, bt cont. don't make such statements q you have to the newspapers reflect ing on the purest. sweetest woma in the world"
 The county attorney replied that | had tried to be fair. but that it wa of the state to bring out every angl of the case
 You don't know what you ar saving; I couldn't do that" Mrs. Da testifi ed. she replied to Beck Sh said she did not hear her husban enter the house when he went get his revolver.
 q don't know whether l heat hi face" she said. declaring she use both hands to fight off Beck's lei arm,
 Mrs. Day testified she first sa' her husband as he descended th stairs with a revolver in one han My God, Daddy, don't do that she said she cried.
 Beck had jumped up from th divan. meanwhile. and had retreate to another room. she said.
 The next thing she said she sa was the body of Beck lying on tt fcor.
 Did Not Hear Shot.
 "I did not see the shot fired did not hear the report" Mrs. Da testified "I looked down and sa' his lips mcve" she continued lifted his head and then put hi head back down and the blood surge out. Then my hands were covere with blood"
 Later she testified she wiped tn blood from her hands and arms whe an officer brought wet towel.
 There will be people who don believe" she said brokenly.
 After the tragedy she moaned: pray that my little girl won't liv, that she won't come home.
 What Is there for her to live for
 tContinued on Page Ten)