Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-11-25

The idly curious dld not share lf
this feeling, however, for the sam,
general crowd that stood In the down
pour before dawn at the pen gates
was ON hand throughout the after
noon, hoping 10 catch a glimpse of
some member Of the stricken family
Thcy maintained their vigil until
/ darkness drove them away.
Richmond Gaspcd.
Events moved go rapidly during
the day that Richmond stilI is gasp
/ ing The sudden production Of the
murderer's confession had a pro-
uouuccd sensation.
Emphatlnally and porsistonty this
was denied by the family Of the slay-
/ en- boy attorneys who had taken part
| I'm the celebrated trial and by the
prison authorities. The ministers
have refused 10 discuss the confession,
but gave out the simple Statement
that they hoped for a confession
The acknowledgment Of his crime
by Beaptio was nowhere received with
moro quiet joy than IN the executive
mansion Governor Mann, who re-
sisted efforts brought TO bear upon
him 10 commute the sentence or 10 is
sue q reprieve has worried himself
into state bordering on nervous
prostratlon entertaining the fear that
he might be an innocent man and 90
10 his doom.
Tho same feeling is shared by jur-
ors who convicted Beattic and at
tornoys who prosecuted him and by
the witnesses whose evidence sent
him TO the chair.
Acting on written request Of Doug
las Dclttie, the council committee in
charge Of the public committees
granted permit tonight for the bur
ial Of Henry Beattie I'm Maury ceme-
terry, South Richmond He will be
buried by the side Of his wife.
Interest Country Wide.
RICHMOND, Va, Nov 24.-The
crime for which Henry Clay Beattie,
Jr.. was executed yesterday was one
Of the most sensational In the crlmi-
nal history Of Virginia, Interest in
the murder was countrywide owing
TO its unusual features and the swift
movement of justice.
ON the night Of July o, last, Beat
he drove his automobile into Rich
mond, carrying with him the body Of
his wife which had a gaping shotgun
wound in the head. He declared that
a tall bearded man had accosted him
on the Midlothian turnpike, five
miles from Richmond, and when he
had requested the man to make room
for him in the road the stranger
witout warning had fired the shot
which killed Mrs. Besttie. He added
that he had grappled with the man
but was overpowered and that the
murdered had fled leaving the gun
behind This story of the crime was
maintained by Beattie to the end.
For a brief time Beattie's story was
given some degree of credence, but
within n day or two suspicion began
TO point to him and he was kept un-
der the closest surveillance. Blood
hounds, taken to the scene OF the
crime, refused to leave the place. cir
cling around the bloodspot on the
road.
The Fatal Gun.
Beattle, 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 It had been jolted out and was
picked up later by negress. This
gun, which Beattie alleged had be-
longed to the mysterious highway
man, proved the means of sending
the young man to the electric chair.
At the coroner's inquest the weapon
was identified by Paul Beattle, a sec
ond cousin Of young Henry, as the
weapon he had purchased for Henry
with money furnished by the latter.
Beattie was arrested Immediately
after the inquest. This was Oh July
21, and on August 10, one month af-
ter the day OF the murder, the trial
was begun before Judge Walter A.
Watson, In the picturesque little
Chesterfield county courthouse, six
teen miles from here.
A Farmer Jury.
The jury was made up almost en-
tlrely Of farmers, and on this fact
Beatte based his claim that he had
been convicted. not for the murder
OF his wife, but because II his rola-
tons with Beulah. a notorious you"g
woman. lie inst,ted 10 the
last that jury composed
Of city men would have
freed him. Beattie was defended by
H. NJ Smith. Jr., and hin Carter.
The prosecution was conducted by L..
O. Wendonhurg and L. NJ Gregory.
The trial moved swiftly. though
many witnesses testified. and on Sep
tombor s. after fifity-eiRht 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
for new trial was denied and No
vcmbor "a set as the day for the exc
cution.
ON November ~ the Virginia Su-
premo 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