Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1911-09-15
YOUNG BEATT|E
IS FOUND GUILTY
MAN ON TRIAL FOR sLAYING
WIFE CONVICTED OF MURDER
IN THE FIRST DEGREE.
SENTENCED TO Die IN CHAIR
Prisoner Listens to Fatal Words of
Jury and Judge Unfinchingly,
While Trying to Cheer His
White Haired Father.

Chesterfield c. H., Va.-Henry Clay
Beattie, Jr., stole if there ever was
one; creature of unbelievable capac-
ity to mask motion-listened unfiinch-
ingly to verdict that doomed him to
death in the electric chair The IL men
who held his fate in their hands took
only 81 minutes to find him guilty OF
murder in the first degree.
The expression Of their faces, half fill
ed with awe BY what they had done, half
filled with pity for him, made no impress
sion VIII atever upon the strange boy.
Nor did the solemn gaze of 500 specta-
tors, nor the shouts Of "Gullty" on the
law outside; nor the clicking Of dozen
telegraph instruments almost at his ear,
which were sending out to the whole
country the word of his conviction. He
stood motionIessly with his hands at his
sides, his shoulders squared, his head
thrown back, his eyes directed straight
forward. Not a tremor, not blink be-
trayed fear or regret. He was magnlfi-
cent In his defiance Of death. A few mo-
ments later when Judge Watson with
a tremble In his voice solemnly sentenced
him to be electrocuted ion Friday, Mo-
vember "a, he stood quite as steadily.
The Jurors went out at 5:2e p. m., re-
tring to a room upstairs In the court
house. Those who had places within the
court room did not bulge from them,
though they could scarcely breathe, so
closely were they Jammed together.
Those who had vantage points outside,
In trees, on little scaffoldinas, on boxes
and camp stools, likewise held their
posts. Everyone waited, not knowing
whether the walt would be one or five.
At 6:26 the clatter Of feet on the stair
way and a sudden hustle at the rear door
announced that the Jurors we're return
Ing. hurry call was sent out for Beat
tie and he stepped brIskly In through a
side entrance, exhallng a cloud Of cigar
ette smoke. There was a moment of ST.
ience as he and the jurors took seats.
The Judge asked the foreman of the
Jury, NJ. w. Farley, II verdict had been
reached. Farley guIped and nodded
nervously Then came the ancient for
mula-Henry Clay BeattIe, Jr.-stand up.
Prisoner, look you on the Jurors; jurors,
look you on the prisoner. Gentlemen,
how find you, guilty or not suilty7"
The unanimous chorus-the triple
"ouilty-guilty-gulty In dozen diff
ferent voices has perhaps never been
heard before In any American courthouse
Judge Watson asked then If the Jurors
had unanimously found the defendant
guilty In the first degree. II developed
that they had not named the degree In
their signed return, so they we're sent
out again to do so. II appeared that
there might be some hope, for they could
return any verdict of guilty down to as
sault and battery. In 10 minutes the
Jurors returned with properly made out
document. After the usual motion to set
aside the verdict had been made and
overruled, Judge Watson addressed Beat
tie directly:
"Mr. 5eattle. your situation great
Iy appeals to my sympathy. You are
young man. Your life began with
exceptional opportunity. You had
an honorable family name; the deVo-
tions of friends, youth, health, free
dom from any threat of poverty, a
long career before you and a future
with no evil forebodings. 1t Is sad
that such a prospect should be eriev-
iousy altered.
"a will not say anything to add to
your modification. II Is far from my
purpose to reproach you now for your
mlsdeeds, to add to your pain. But
by the verdict of the Jury your life
must be forfeited to the common
wealth of Virginia and therefore !
must sentence you to be transferred
to the state penltentiary on Friday,
November "a, and then and there,
between the hours of sunrise and
sunset, your life shall be taken and
may God have mercy upon your SOUL"
The address of Atty. Harry Smith, or
Beattie's behalf, took up all the morning
session. 1t was a brilliant appeal, testec
In a hopeless case. He tried to point out
bias on the part of Paul 8eattIe, the
possibility of Henry's hiehwayman stor,
being true and he warned the Juror,
against the danger of circumstantlal evi.
dence. He concluded by passionate
declaration that verdict of guilty wouIc
mean death not only for Henry Cla,
Beattle, Jr., but probably death for hi,
aged father, whom hey all know ant
respected and living death for the or
phaned baby, tienry Clay Reattle, III.
who would forever be Stunned as tn,
son OF murderer.
But this address was far outcIasset
by cIoang the argument for Louis o
Wendenberq, the prosecutor Calmly a
first he picked to pieces and utterly de
mollshed Henry's story of the highway
man. Carefully he built up from ,h,
evidence the states case that Reulat
Blnford had been the passion, the mani;
of this boy for years; that he had turnes
TO her again at the very time his wifi,
was suffering the panas of mothe rh ood
that he wanted her, must have her
would do anything to possess her. II,
proved, by simple logic, the planning o
the crime, the opportunity for It's com
SolS'uuilHi
took up the subject of the baby that hat
been dweIt upon so patheticalIy by At
torney Smith for the defense.
"Yes-the baby" he said. "oen-
tlemen, take that baby out 10 the
lonely grave of It's pure young
mother, hear It's wall for that
mothers milk, which II shall never
know, and then say whether or not
you will have sympathy enough for
this unnatural monster to set him
free. There is only one verdict gen.
tlemcn, VIrglnans, and that 10
guilty. And II you return that ver-
dict, every man and women OF vlr-
ginla Will say We'll done, thou good
and faithful servants"