Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-08-29
Paul Beattie's Testimony Prove!
States Theory That Beattie
Killed Wife.
PRISONER TO TESTIFY
LAWYERS Decide to Place Henry Bsattie
on stand. Paups Testimony Unshaken
by Terrible Cross Examination.

! Chesterfield Courthouse, Va, Aug
29.-After two hours vain battling t
break down the damaging evidence c
Paul Beattie counsel for Henry, c
Beattie, jr., today announced that tn
prisoner will take the stand to max
his own fight to escape the electri
chair for the murder of his wife.
Beattie's testimony will undoubtedl
embrace blanket denial of the stor,
of Paul and the defense today began t
build up a reputation for veracity AM
high moral character for him.
During the noon recess A. L. Fette
rolf, No. six on the Beattie jury, wa
taken i'll. He vas carried from tn
lawn where he collapsed to the cour
house and doctor was summoned
1t was thought Fetterolf was affected
by the sweltering heat OF the cour
room.
After delay OF about fifteen min
utes Juror Fetterolf recovered enough
to take his place in the box and th'
jury was brought into the courtroom.
Chesterfield Courthouse, Va, Aug
29.-The possibility Of defense of in
sanity to save Henry Clay Beattit
from the electric chair for the murder
of bis wife, loomed large today.
Following yesterdays dramatic ses
sion of the trial, the much harasseo
lawyers for the defense took up seri
ously the question of pleading insanity
for their client. Weeks ago alienist:
were engaged by the defense with ar
insanity defense in mind. But Beattie,
his father and bis brother are bitterly
opposed to the insanity defense, and
they will not allow it to be undertaken
except as matter OF extreme necessity.
Harry M Smith, brilliant keen-eyed
chief counsel for Beattie, arrived on
the scene today prepared for an elabo'
rate assault 90 Paul Beattie. whose
testimony yesterday put the final links
in the chain of circumstantial evidence
forged by the state.
Smith tried TO indicate that when the
police confronted Paul with the fact
that he bad bought the gun the witness
was in very very bad fix" and thai
be bad to frame some story to tell the
police.
1T looked pretty ugly for you, die
it?" asked Smith.
"Yes," admitted Paul.
When Captain MacMahon, chic
of detectives came to you, you didn'
tell him anything but what he coule
have found out by going to the pawn
brokers did you?"
Paul and the lawyer here engaged
in a squabble over the involved nature
of Smiths questions. Wendenburt
joined in and Judge Watson had tt
admonish the lawyers to restrain them
selves.
Under a terrific fire of questions
Smith involved the witness in con
Trajectory statement as to his acquaint
auce with the pawnshop where the guI
was bought. He had said that be hac
trouble remembering the name of th'
pawnbroker and Smith elected th'
fact that he had worked at store nea
the pawnshop and had borrowed none!
there. Paul was confused on thi
point and Wendenburg then endeavor
ed TO come to his assistance with OBJ
jections, but Judge Watson silencet
him. Pounding at the youth Smitl
took his testimony at the coroner
inquest when he was confused, nervous
and where he later collapsed.
Here Smith found plainly of con
Trajectory testimony.
Wendenburg fought vigorously tt
get Paul's physical condition at tha
time in the record, but was unable t
do it at that point. Throughout th
cross examination the lawyers Tough
bitterly and several times Judge Wat
son found it necessary to warn them
Paul declared that he had know
of Beulah Binford for four years. :
used to carry things shoes ard dresse
and things-to her from Henry. Blu
never mixed up with her. don
| mix up with that kind of people," b
! declared.
Smith wanted to know if Paul wa
an epileptic" but the witness didn
know the meaning Of the word. II
depied that he had ever had fits. .
Smith wanted to know why Paul di'
not take the gun to Henry instead o
leaving it at the pawnshop to be calle'
for. Paul said he had no particula
reason for going after Henry ant
bringing him back to get tie gun. Th
witness said that Henry had never ha'
told him to keep the purchase OF th'
gun secret.
Upon court convened, the prlsone
spent five minutes watching the jury
He turned to his brother, Douglas au
talked earnestly with him evidentl
commenting on the appearance OF tn
twelve men who will decide his fate.
Paul Beattie, slight and nervous
worked his jaws rapidly as he chewe
gum.
Smith went after him hammer an
tongs Oh the very start. He attacke
the witness on the details of bis story
making him go over in detail hi
every movement during the wee
preceding and following the murder
The lawyer tried to make Paul adm
that after the killing in conversatio
with fellow-workman be had declare
that be- did not believe Henry wa
| guilty of the murder. The witness dc
MED having made any such statement
In concluding the cross-eIamlnatlo