Evening journal., 1911-11-24
No Mention of Confession
Comes From the Cham
Der of Deafh---Csrries
Bible on His March TO
Death


1T was very much like other execu-
tions," he continued. at was over
at 1928" and he stood looking over
the crowd.
well, he's done, you better move
on out Of here, now" shouted a burly
/ policeman, and the crowd skunk away
in the rain.
None of the Beattie family was near
the penitentiary when the young mur-
derer died. But over in Manchester,
a straight backed loyal father who
! has aged a life time In the past four
months, was bowed with sorrow and
torn with shame. Little 17-year-old
Halle Beattie the dead mans sister,
/ and his brother, Douglas, tried in
] vain to comfort the father, but their
sorrow almost equalled his.
Slept During the Night.
A driving drizzling rain throughout
/ the night had pattered at the brick
walls of the Virginia penitentiary, but
/ II did not disturb the sleep of the set
faced youth who early retired and sank
into an easy slumber. Not until the
guards awakened him to talk with his
spiritual advisers who were on hand
at break of day was his sleep dis
turbed. The Rev. J. ]. Fix and the
Rev. Benjamin Dennis were at the pen
itentiary early. to give the last con-
ISOLATION of religion 10 the condemned
man. They knelt and prayed with
him just as soon as he arose and be-
gan the vigil that was to end only
when they led him to the fatal chair.
The calm debonair, devil-may-care
spirit that marked Beatties whole at
titude after the murder of his wife,
was subdued as he faced his last few
hours on earth. But he dressed with
scrupulous, nervous care, for the final
ordeal. He seemed determined to pre-
serve his calmness and strained TO
appear at ease.
Four months prison life and prison
fare, however, had greatly emaciated
the lothario of Manchester and the
handsome face that had captivated
Beulah Binford was pasty white.
Long before Beattie was called 70
death the crowd of morbidly curious
had gathered before the penitentiary.
Every one was barred from the build
ing, and half a score of newspaper
men. Joined the crowd nearly three
hundred strong, that idled about the
sidewalk. Half a dozen police Kept
the crowd moving.
RumOrs Stir Crowd.
The curious stood around talking
in hushed whispers, gazing at the
grim brick front of the penitentiary
seemingly unconscious of the rain,
( which at times became a veritable
down pour. Scores of rumors stirred
the crowd. It was reported that
Beattie had confessed, that the chair
,. had failed to work properly, that he
5 had been granted a reprive. But not
!, a word came from the great silent
. building until after Beattie died.
The grief-stricken father, brother
, and sister, bade Beattie the last good
4 bye yesterday. in as pathetic and
! heart-rending n scene as the old Nir-
vinia penitentiary ever sheltered, and
4 they walked forth together having
! seen the last of son and brother
p alive.
I Won't Discuss Funeral.
The Rev ]. J. Fix announced to-
q day that a statement attributed &c
: Henry Clay Beattie. Sr., in which he
n was quoted as saying, guilty or inno-
!. cent. | am proud of my son" was not
d true.
abatement attributed to him had not
: been made by him" said the minister
The funeral will not take place un-
fill tonight or tomorrow, according 70
Undertaken Morrisette.
1--WE have not been Informed when
the funeral is to be held he said
, nausing from his grim task of embalm-
= inc the body. 1--WE shall take the BODY
lto tbe residence of II. c. Beattie, ST.
. about 4 to o'clock this afternoon
Not until then do we expect TO see
anv member of the family. We under
stand the funeral will be tonlght oi
= tomorrow ~
3 An hour after the execution Doug
j las Beattie, entered the apartments o
Superintendent Wood and went lhl'
conference with him.
No grave had been dug in the Beat
tie section of the Maury Cemeter!
this morning. Superintendent Jone
said that no application had beel
made to him This step, Jones said
was necessary, before the sod coul'
be turned. It was suggested ina
the burial would be postponed unit
Saturday, the body being Kept by al
IN undertaken until then.
- The Beattie plot is on little knol
70 in the cemetery. Side by side in thi
or is lle olAt dlt AhS bAo'No Va '-~
= tie twins Alongside of these is tn
w resting place of the murderer's moth
~ er. while beside this grave is that {
N Mrs. Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., the mul
- dered woman-without a stone c
mark Of any kind. BY the side of hi
~ wife, it is said will be buried th
y electrocuted body now lying in IN
r, penitentiary.
o Story OF the Crime.
. Four months ago, on a dark Jul
40 night, Henry Clay Beattie returne
a. from joy-ride on the lonely Mid
,st lothian Turnpike with the blood
If stained body of his wife held clos
re-. to his side in his auto. But al
o. hour before the couple had left tn
es home of the girls uncle. Thoma
owen. There the body of the dea
IT. woman was taken, and there Beatt
o. told a story of a bearded highway
at man who held up his machine
a the road, after the auto had near
of run him down. Beattie said tn;
is when he started his auto to III
re- away from the bearded strange
all who was armed with a shotgun, u
Ike man fired at the machine, KILN
TO- Mrs Beattie.
nd While the family of the dead gi
mourned her death at home, Beatti
- with police officials, and privar
detectives secured the neighborhoC
n for traces of the bearded highwa,
0 man. The blood soaked auto
Il