The Washington times., 1911-07-22

RICHMOND, Va, July 2.-Light'
hearted and debonair, Henry Clay
Beattte, jr.. today sat in the Richmond
iail, smoked his eternal cigarette, and
laid plans for defending himself OF the
charge of wife murder. Over In the
pretty Beattie home in Manchester the
father of the man arrested for the muir
der Of his young wife tenderly cared
for his fve-weeks' grandson-the
only member Of the family now left
with him.
The aged father, banker, business man,
and respected citizen, has been the one
most affected by the dramatic denoue-
ment arranged by the police out Of the
Beattie murder mystery. The son has
never been shaken out OF his role OF
calm indifference, but the father has
aged ten years in the last four days.
Miss Binford's Story,
Not since Evelyn Nesbit Thaw as
founded New York with the history Of
her life has there been told a story that
surpasses the tale of love and death
told by Beulah Binford, the petite
seventeen-year-old "Other Woman" In
the case. For four years she has been
intimately connected with the life of the
young man who today languishes In
Richmond jail.
She testified that when she was barely
fifteen she mothered a boy. the son OF
Beattie. Prior to that time she said
Beattte gave her money for an educa-
ton at ST. Mary's School. Alexandria.
In voice low with suppressed emo
ton, the girl told of agreeing tc leave
Richmond when Beattie was. married.
Four weeks ago, she said, she met the
husband in Norfolk by accident. Then
the old love overcame her, and she
went to Richmond. For four weeks,
nrior to the murder of Mrs. Beattie, she
testified that she had been meeting
Beattie in various hotels and roomlng
houses She declared she had ARRANGED
to set up a home of her own IN RlCh-
mond, so that she coulo be near Seatt,ec; .ec
and testified that he had given her $l0
as the first installment on purchase ot
furniture for 1t.
Tells of Her Love.
The whole secret of Beulah Binford
wrecked life trembled on her lips when.
in answer to the demand, do you love
Henry Beattie?" she exclaimed:
Rather than see him go to the cleo
trio chair, l would confess that killed
his wife myself"
A gnawing conscience, and tre insist
ence of a woman. developed the In
formation that resulted in Beattie's 3
dramatic arrest yesterday. Paul c.
Beattie, the accused mans cousin, had
told his wife that he bought the gun
for the husband of the murdered wom-
an. He did not tell her, however, until
his conscience had driven him to the
verge of nervous hysteria.
Because his conscience cried out. he
told his wife Of the link IN the chain OF
evidence which the police were forging
against his cousin. Mrs. Beattie per
suaded him to tell the story to the po-
slightly at the City Hospital today, and
was able to take the witness stand al
the inquest He will probably be the
only witness called when Coroner Low
ing reconvenes the hearing this after
noon.
Gun Furnished Clue.
When the purchase of the gun with
which Airs. Beattie was killed was es-
tablished, Beattie's position became
embarrassing. So long as the gun had
rot been identified there was nothing
definite to offset his statement that a
stranger had killed his wife.
The principal argument against his
story was that II such a person as de,
scribed existed, he could have been dis.
covered when the county for miles
around was diligently searched.
The Midlothian pike is now Rich.
mond's great roadway for automobil.
lists, and occupies a corresponding po-
sition with Washington's Speedway
only the county is more rural and the
speed laws have sometimes been vio.
lated. Many of the farmers in the