The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1911-11-30

the awful fact without the harrow
ing details remains. For this action
am truly sorry, and believing l
am AT peace with God and soon to
pass into His presence this state
lment is made"
The ministers gave out a state
ment in which they said Beattie's
confession was signed in their pres
ence, and he desired to thank his
friends and the public for: whatever
sympathy was felt or expressed.
The crime for which Henry Clay
Beattie, Jr, was executed today was
one of the most sensational in the
criminal history of Virginia. Inter
est in the murder was countrywide
owing to its unusual features and
the swift movement of justice.
On the night OF July is, last, Beat
J tie drove his automobile into Rich
mond. carrying with him the body of
his wife which had a gaping shot gun
wound in the head. He declared that
tall bearded man had accosted him
ion the Midlothian turnpike, Eve
miles from Richmond and when he
had requested the man to make room
for him in the road the stranger with
out warning had fred the shot which
killed Mrs. Beattie. He added that
he had grappled with the man but
was overpowered and that the muir
derer had fled leaving the gun be-
hind. This story of the crime was
maintained by Beattie to the end.
For brief time Beattie's story
was given some degree of credence,
but within day or two suspicious
began to point to him and he was
kept under the closest surveillance.
Bloodhounds. taken to the scene Of
the crime, refused TO leave the place,
circling around the bloodspot on the
road.
Beattie it eventually transpired
had thrown the shotgun into the ton
neau of his automobile after the
shooting but in passing over some
railroad tracks not far from the scene
1t had been jolted out and was picked
up later by a negress. This gun. which
Reattie alleged had belonged 10 the
mysterious highwayman, proved the
means Of sending the young man 10
the electric chair
At the coroners inquest the
weapon was identified by Paul Beat
tie, second cousin of young Henry.
as the weapon he had purchased for
Henry with money furnished by the
latter. Beattic was arrested immel-
lately after the inquest. This was on
July q, and on August 10, one month
after day from the time OF the
murder, the trial was begun before
Judge Waiter A. Watson, in the pic
turesque little Chesterfield County
courthouse, sixteen miles from here,
The jury vas made up almost q
farmers, and on this fact Beattie
based his claim that he had been
convicted, not for the murder of his
wife. but because of his relations
with Beulah Binrord, a notorious
young woman. He insisted to the
last that jury composed of city
men would have freed him. Beattle
was defended by H. NJ. Smith, Jr.,
and Hill Carter. The prosecution
was conducted by L. o. Wendsnburg
and L. NJ. Gregory.
The trial moved swiftly, though
many witnesses testified, and on Sep
TENDER s, after flfty-eight minutes of
consideration and prayer the jury. in
chorus instead of through its fore
man, declared Beattie to be guilty of
the murder of his wife. Motion fer
a new trial was denied and November
"a SET as the day for the execution.
oh -NoNeHlpet 10 Tue virginia ou-
preme Court of Appeals refused to
grant an appeal on writ of error,
and two days later Governor Mann.
who had been appealed to for com
mutation or reprieve, issued state
ment declaring. that the interests OF
the people of Virginia demanded that
Beattie should die in the electric
chair,
NAVY MAIL CLERK.