The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-09-07
DEFENSE HAS
BEEN A SECRET

: CHHESTERFIELD c. H.-Special
The Commonwealth has completed
It's case against Heury Clay Beattie,
alleged vlfe-murderer. 1t has rest
ed. The accused must now prov e
thaf the charges are untrue. Other
wise ne faces the electric chair.
Exactly what line of defense Attor-
neys Smith and Carter will attempt
to follow has been secretly and jeal-
ously guarded. II is known, of course.
that they will bitterly assail Paul Beat
ties statements. will -endeavor to show
mat Henry had no motive for killing
MS beautiful young wife, and by half
score Of witnesses will try 20 con-
vince the Jury that the domestic re-
lahons OF the accused were little snort
of IDEAL.
Failing to overthrow the cumula-
tive and deadly evidence which the
prosecution has piled up against the
accused, IL is not improbable that the
defense Will attempt to fix the crime
upon Paul Beattie. declaring that his
sudden and voluntary statement TO the
police regarding the purchase of the
gun and his failure to tell either the
police or the cOroner's Jury all he
knew about the murder indicate fear
OF Self-incrimination which could only
be born of -blackened con-
science.
Inasmuch as Attorney Harry NJ
smith mas positively stated that Henry
VIII take the stand in his own de-
tense, the possibility of an insanity
plea may be abandoned. unless the de-
Tense attempts TO show that at the
time of the murder the accused was
suffering from "brainstorm" which
rendered him utterly Irresponsible
But they would have to prove that
this storm" lasted not only during
the moments Of the murder, but
through the preceding week.
Henrys most intimate and his
staunchest friends admit that the
commonwealth has made out a case
against him so strong that nothing
short of a miracle can overthrow II
and save the accused from the cleo
trio chair.
The attorneys for the defense have
desperately cross-eXamined every Wit
ness so far produced, but have signallv
failed to show that any of the inn
portant statements brought forward
by the prosecution were untrue and IL
Is useless to deny that the jury, no
ucing the now visible traces of terror
stamped upon the hagard face Of the
accused, has been deeply impressed.
Assuming that the evidence of the
commonwealth then is indisputab!e-
though the defense may show to the
contrary-the following facts have
been proved:
1. The murder was committed
with gun bought by Paul Beattie at
HenryS request and delivered TO
Henry several days before the crime.
Z. Henry gave different accounts of
the murder Important details va
ried, while the whole story taken
collectively appeared so improbable
that it was almost at once pronounced
impossible.
3. The last few months of Louise
Beattie's life were unhappy
4. Henrys relations with Beulah
Binford were so questionable that the
girl upon hearing that Louise had
been murdered, exclaimed: Now
reckon Henry Clay will marry met"
.. The accused confessed TO his
cousin, saying: Il wish TO God 1
hadn't done, it, but she did not love
me; she married me for my money"
3. Paul who had bought and de-
livered the shotgun, was told the day
after the murder TO keep his mouth
shut; that he would be rewarded.
Z. Henry sent word to BeuIah Bin
ford, with whom he had spent several
hours the night before the crime. that
II she opened her mouth he would
kill her.
s. Henry telephoned shortly after
the murder to ascertain If the police
had visited or arrested Beulah Bin
ford.
3. He has shown no grief as the re-
suit of the loss OF his wife, and up
to two days ago showed no signs of
rear, though his face is now haggard
with grave anxiety and his jocular
manner has entirely disappeared.
Just how the defense expects to
break down the damning evidence of
the prosecution no one-possibly not
even the attorneys for the defense
can say.
Henry admits that the gun now in
evidence is the weapon with which
his wife was killed. Clerks at Vein
STEMS pawshop declare that the
weapon was sold to Paul. The ac-
cused said Immediately after the muir
der that he took the gun from the