Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1902-09-23
ONCE AGAIN.
Strong Effort Being Made to
Save ]. w. Beatty.

UUt uOusduu N0lhCH hpN w
tfOn-Date Set for Execution-Short
Summary of a Most Celebrated Case.
Beatty not Expected to Live Long.
Unless the State Board of Pardons
at its meeting the first Tuesday 10
October decides otherwise John Wes-
| lev Beatty now confined in the State
Penitentiary at Moundsyille, Will
hang on Thursday, November 2oth,
two years to the very day on which he
shot aud killed bis brother-in-law
David A. Nine on Salt Lick; few
miles from Terra Alta in Preston
county. Judge Holt in closing the re-
cent session of circuit court for Pres
ton county, sentenced Beatty for the
second time.
| This case has become a noted one
throughout this section OF West Viz
ginid and the details will be remem-
bered by our readers. as wegave full
account Of the crime at the time IL
was committed. Beatty, it will be re-
called, had a son who entered Mines
cellar taking therefrom quantity OF
cider. Nine had the boy arrested and
he was sent to Jail at Kingwood
Beatty father Of the boy, few morn
ings later, took his gun and going TO
the Nine farm just adjoining, found
| Nine and a companion at work In the
barn, engaged ia husking corn.
Beatty showing nothing unusual IN
his manner addressed Nine Familiarity
making various charges OF things he
! (Nine) had done to Beatty, and then
without moments warning placed
his gun to his shoulder and shot Nine
in the back. killing him almost IN
stantly. Beatty escaped and was at
large for day or so, but finally gave
himself up to justice was taken TO
Kingwood, tiled at the December
term of court found guilty and SEN
fenced to be hanged.
The pardon board was applied TO,
but without avail a petition contain
ing the names Of more than thous-
and we'll known resident of Preston
county, asking the Governor to COM
mute Beatty's sentence to life lmprls-
onment, also failed in its object; as
last resort the attorney for the de-
Tense, Hon. P. j. Crogan Of Kingwood,
applied to the United States Supreme
Court for the hearing of a motion for
a new trial for his client, claiming an
error in the proceedings of the first
trial. The hearing of the motion was
granted by the court and Attorney
Crogan put forth every effort known
to the law, but the effort was IN vain
a new trial being denied. Since then
Beatty has been confined in the penl-
Tertiary at Moundsyille.
Just in the prime of life when his
i murderous crime was committed;
strong. healthy, fine looking, with
every good prospect ahead Of him, in
two short years, aye, in less time,
really, he has grown old, SO old that
be totters in his walk; the hair that
was so brief time ago OF bright
; sandy hue, is now as white as the
driven snow, everywhere, on his face,
ia his trembling hands, in his weary
eyes, are the marks of deepest sorrow
and remorse, and persons who have
seen and conversed with him lately
could not help but feel sorry for him,
| lTOU1 UUR ueDOl1S vi bllCii h1di Oos
: Beatty has been a model prisoner;
has behaved himself in an admirable
4 manner, has given the prison authori-
ties no trouble whatever, and has
manifested a willing and submissive
: spirit since the day Of his incarcera-
tion. Indeed, at no time since the
day of his arrest has he appeared OBJ
/, stinate: seeming to be fully aware of
the enormity of his crime and repent
:, ing of it in manner uncommon.
, Beatty, however, is no common Grim
: inal.
Up TO the time of the trouble with
his brother-in-la law nothing of criml-
nal nature had ever been known
against him; indeed, he was consider
| ed very good and honest man, a
good neghbor and an earnest citizen.
He was the possessor, however, of a
very has5y and ungovernable temper,
and it was owing to this failing that
. he killed Nine. The murdered man
was we'll known farmer, member
Of the Knights Of Pythias at Terra
Alta and stood high in rural church
circles.
At the time of the murder public
I Indignation ran high against Beatty,
but with the passing of the months
that followed, and with the obser-
vance of the great change in the per-
sonal appearance Of the murderer,
together with his evident and open
remorse for his crime, came change
: in the public sentiment, and the Pc
n tition that was circulated in an effort
to save the condemned mans life
bears the signature of many infiuen-
tia aad leading citizens Of Preston
: county.
One more petition for the mans
life will be made to the Board OF
: Pardons, when it meets in October,
. aad at which time it will be again
: asked to commute the sentence to life
> Imprisonment, and should the prayer
be granted large number of people
in Preston county as we'll as fn Other
portions of the state, will be grateful
; Realty has not much prospect of lone
t. life before him, anyway, as his tive
7 years term of imprisonment has al
s ready pushed him rapidly toward thu
t grave, and several persons who have
S visited the penitentiary and who have
IL y