Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-11-21
WILL NOT INTERFERE.
II. C. Beattie, jr, Will be Lead to the
Electric Chair on Friday..-Fed
on Hospital Fare.

RiclulOIlll, NOV. 4. Siittli Hot
Interfere" were the words Of Gov
ernor Mann last night With reference
to the granting OF reprieve for Henry
Clay Beattie, ir, whose electrocution
for wife murder is set for Friday at the
State Penitentiary.
Governor Mann was dispeased when
his attention was called to 4 mes
sage sent out from Richmond, in which
it was stated If Beattie will make q
full and frank cor fes.ion he can live
until December "a, Christmas Eve.
If he doesn't, he shall be electrocuted
at the time now liked. Let him decide
for himself"
The governor said last night, in
most emphatic way, that he had made
no proposition Of any sort, and would
make none.
Il refer you," said the governor,
20 a statement issued by them Novem-
Der Is. l then said that to grant a
respite in 80 plain case would be
to set precedent which [ would not
care to be called upon to follow; would
be to temporize with the low and To
encourage appeals to the Supreme
Court with the sole purpose OF grant.
ing time. I then expressed my be-
lief that the best way to prevent such
crimes is to punish them adequately,
certainly, speedily, and said that
therefore the judgment OF the Circuit
Court Of Chesterfield County will be
carried into effect without interior
ence."
Nothing OF a news nature developed
at the prison yesterday.
The prisoner was reported rs doing
we'll and received his usual callers,
these being as prescribed by law his
relatives and spiritual advisor.
Very little is to be done in prepare
ton for the execution. Superintend-
cnt Wood has invited those who desire
to witness the execution, and when
these assemble on Friday Beattie will
he escorted from his cell in murderer's
row to the electric chair, and the end
will come as speedily as thousands OF
volts Of electricity can destroy the
nerves OF life.
Beattie is passing his last few days
OF life within so feet of the electric
chair, to which he will be led blind
folded. His physical nearness to the
chair is telling on him, some OF those
about him think lie is 10 a base
mout cell in the new pententiary, Thu
cell being in the extreme southeast
corner, which fronts 90 Spring street
The prisoner is receiving what is
known as hospital fare. This in.
cudes chicken and other dellcacies,
but it is not special dispensation 10
his case. Men awaiting execution are
always fed hospital fare
It is said that the condemned man
has turned with apparently great sin
cerity to religion as consolation. He
has ordered out OF his cell, according
to those Within the prison, the currenr
novels and magazines which he has
been reading hitherto. and has de.
voted the major part Of his waking
hours To the perusal OF prayer book
and the Scriptures.
Rumor, many tongued, was busy
in Richmond's streets yesterday, and
sensational reports were spread that
Beattic had committed .uicide; and he
had confessed; that he had been respted
that he had denounced his cousin, Paul
Beatsie. and many more, none OF which
proved true.
ri. G.. Beattie sr. has made ar
rangements for the burial Of the body
Of his son in Maury Cemetery where
1t will rest beside the body OF bis
mother, who died several years ago.