The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-09-07
SENSATION
IS SPRUNG
Man Who Says He Was Eye
Witness Would Testify
Case May Not Be Reopened
for This However
4 v Witness Was Farm Hand
Near Scene Of Crime

Chesterfield. Va, Sept. Prose
cutor WendenburR declared today that
he had decided not TO request the re-
/ opening Of the Beattie case on ac-
count OF the discovery of an alleged
eyewitness.
I'VE have strong enough case
without It," he sand 1--WE could not
get the man here for a couple OF days
at least as he lives out west But we
have asked him to come here just the
same to see what there is In the
story.
I "Of course we have received, as Is
usual in murder cases, many letters
from alleged eye-wftnesses. This one.
however, signed his name and we find
that he did once work as a farm hand
at e place near the scene Of the muir
der. We are going to investigate 1t
further but you can take the story now
for what 1t is worth"
The alleged eyewitness, who name
is withheld, is now in city day
and half distant by rail from here.
Wendenburg received the informa-
HON which may change the whole as
psct of the case in yesterdays mail.
The writer, who, until few days after
the murder of Mrs. Beattie was a farm
hand, employed on a place near the
scene of the crime, said that he ac-
tually saw young Beattie kill his
wife, saw him knock her from the au-
tomobile with the butt of a shotgun
and then shoot her as she lay in
sensible on the ground.
He wrote that Beattie threatened
him when he found that he had wit
messed the deed and the following day
gave him suit Of clothes and money
with which to so away. Though he
kept quiet at first because he was
afraid. the man says now he doesn't
want Beattfe to esoape punishment
and Is willing to TESTIFY.
I At the outset the prosecution was
inclined to think this was just another
crank's letter, Of which many have
been received by both sides since the
trial began. An Investigation was start
ed and several OF the writer's state
ments were soon made firm.
Women Sent Out.
Court convened at 1880 o'clock.
Judge Watson declared that counsel
in arguments today might refer to
portions Of the testimony mot fit for
ladies to hear" and requested all the
women in the court room to leave.
Judge Watson then read the in
structions to the jury and after in
structing them as to law and reason
able doubt he added:
Therefore, IL any individual mem
Der Of the jury, after having duly
considered all the evidence i'm the case
and after consultation with his fellow
jurors. should entertain such reason
able doubt Of the defendants guilt
rs is set forth in his instructions In
this case, 1t Is his duty not to sur
render his own convictions simply be-
cause the balance OF the jury enter
tain different convictions
The prisoner listened intently to
the instructions and smiled when IL
had been concluded.
]. M. Gregory began the argument
for the prosecution at 1886 o'clock.
Witnesses Released.
Richmond, va, Sept. 7.--Beulah
Binford and Paul Beattie, detained
as witnesses for the commonwealth
ia the Henry Clay Beattie, jr., murder
case, were released from the Henrico
rounty jail today by order of Judge
Walter A. watson, Of the Chesterfield
circuit court.
Paul BeAttie went at once to his
home and remained there all morn
ing with his family, greeting neigh
bors and friends and enjoying his
liberty to full extent. He says he in
tended to do nothing else for a month
and then he is going to New York to
90 into vaudeville. having received of
fers that he Ii too poor to refuse.
Beulah Binford remained In prison
until later In the day packing her
clothing and toilet accessories. She
said early in the day that she was
waiting to decide just what course
she would pursue when she actualIE
walked through the portals OF the
jail into the next chapter OF her early
eventful career.
Shortly after II o'clock the cause OF
Bsulah's delay was disclosed In the
appearance at the jail of the agents
for New York Aim company. They
held private conference with the
woman and Ia d little while she an
nounced she had signed q contract
and would go with them to New York
so pose for moving pictures.