The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-04-07
HEAD FORT SILL AIR
SFCTIONSHOTDOWN
AFFAIR IN FASHIONABLE
PART OKLAHOMA CITY
officer Met Death In Home Jean
P. Day, Widely Known Oil
Operator Who Is In Custody
Deputy Sheriff Pending In
vestigation of the Tragedy.

vestigation of the Tragedy.
Oklahoma City, Okla, April
4.-Jean p. Day, former state
supreme court justice and pro-
nInent in financial circles OF
the state, today was held un-
der 5000 appearance bond
pending an investigation by a
eoroners jury into the death
of Lieutenant Colonel Paul w.
at Post Field aviation station
at Fort sill, okla, who was
killed early today at Days
home here.
Oklahoma City, Okla. April A.
Lieutenant Colonel Paul W. Beck,
commandment of the post field avn
atom section of Fort Sill, was shot
to death here early today in the
fashionable residence or Jean z.
Day, widely known oil operator.
Oay is held at his home in custody
Of a deputy sheriff pending an in
vestigation.
According tn, a statement issued
house after escorting home a num-
Der of guests which his wife earlier
had entertained al cards and found
Mrs. Day struggling in the arms OIL
the army officer. Dick, who is an
intimate acquaintance of the fam
ily, said Day authorized the state
ment.
Close Friend Of the Days
Lieutenant Colonel Beck had
long been a close friend of ths
Days and came here yesterday BY
airplane from Fl. Sfll. He was
one OF the guests at the card party
last night Dick said, and was left
alone with Mrs. Day when her
husband saw their friends home in
his automobile
Upon his return home, Dick said.
Day peered through a porch win
dow and saw his wife fighting to
release the aviators hold on her.
He rushed upstairs and obtained
his revolver. Dick asserted, and re-
turned to the room where the cou-
pie were still struggling.
Beck made motion as il to strike
Day. continued Dick. and Day
struck him over the head with the
revolver. the gun exploding. BecE
fell to the floor and was dead be-
fore the police arrived.
The commanding officer at Fort
this morning was in state Dor
ceriEg on nervous collapse and
would make no statement concern
ing the affair.
Day Prominent In Politics
Day has been prominent in poll
teal and financial circles OF the
state since Oklahoma was admitted
10 the Union. He was a member
OF the supreme court commission
and one OF the two men who franz
cd Oklahoma's first code of statutes
He was active in the political cam
paign of former United States SEN
ator Thomas p. Core
Day is fifty years old and presi-
dent of the Foursome Producing
and Refining company and vice
president of the Continental As
phalt and Petroleum company. His
wife is said TO be a few years
younger. They have one child, a
daughter, studying at the Universe
Nv of Oklahoma The family has;
resided in Oklahoma City for the
last seven years.
Lieutenant Colonel Beck was one
of the first four ayiators in the
United States army. He had been
IN the service since 1893, accord !
ing to the post adJutznt at Fort
Gllt- OWN WchI W n A~-~A - 80
Arcadia, Fla, in July, 1921. He Is
said to have been a widower.
No Word From Fort
LAnton, Okla, April At was
impossible TO communicate with
headquarters at Post Field, For
Sill near here this morning in re-
gard TO the shooting of Lieutenant
Colonel Beck. orders having beer
issued prohibiting telephone serV'
ice into and out OF the, post.
The name Of Beck has been as
sociated with Fort SIN ever sine.
the original post was CONSTRUCTED
in 1869. Lieutenant William H
Beck and Mrs. Beck, parents o
Lieutenant Colonel Beck, came II
TT. Sill on January OF that yea
from Fort Lyon. Colo, His fathe
was at various times quartermas
ter Of the fifth cavalry, the famous
Clusters seventh and tenth caVal
Mrs. Beck mother of the lieu
tenant colonel, is at FIT Sill at pre-
sent Lieutenant Colonel Beck wa
a widower. .s.
Oklahoma City. Okla. April A.
Day told county authorities that h,
struck the officer on the head will
4 revolver after finding him in hi
home attempting TO force his at
tentions on Mrs. Day. Beck wa
instantly killed when the reVolVe
was discharged which Day claim
was not nteptional. He contendei
that the impact of the blow cause'
the weapon to explode
According to his detailed state
ment to newspaper men which wa
recorded by the county attorney
Day was returning to his home earl
this morning after he had takel
some friends home from a party a
his house. at which Beck was tn
guest OF honor. and as he drove n
the driveway in his automobile n
saw his wife and Beck seated on
djvan in the drawing room. Da
observed the officer reach for nj
wife. he said. and struggle en-
sued.
"She fought him. II was an aw
full battle between them. Day salc
at paused but a moment then wen
10 the door TO see Beck back throug
the curtains between the drawn
rom and dining room. j rushed u
fhe stairs and obtained my revolver
Returning to the dining room.
commanded: You get out OF mere
and with this he drew back his han
as il to strike"
Day said he then landed blo'
with the revolver on the aviator
head and the gun was discharged.
Mrs. Day corToborated her nus
bands statement as Weii as sh
- Il 1RaR h