The Sentinel=record., 1911-08-26
IN
 BEATIIE CASE
STATE INTRODUCES SEVERAL I'M. PoRTANT WITNESSES TO GIVE
 TESTIMONY.
DaIryman Relates Story Very Dam aging to the Defense--Star Wit ness, a Relative, Not Vet
 Called.

Chesterfield Court House. Va, Aug. l25.-R. l.. Sydnor, dairyman, sam Tally, day laborer, and A. K. Briggs The 15 year old son of a Richmond contractor, took the witness stand in Old Chesterfield court house today, and gave wha. the prosecution regards as the most important testimony so far introduced in the trial of Henry Clay Bettie, Jr., under indictment for wife murder.
 | In all, a dozen witnesses were heard but Paul Beattie, the star witness for the commonwealth, was not among them. He may be called late tomorrow afternoon. The witnesses reiterated in measure testimony that came out at the coroner's inquest.
 Sydnor swore that between sunset and dark on the night of the murder. he saw an automobile similar to Beat ties at the roadside not far from the scene of the crime. A man stepped out, he said and this man the prose cution will attempt to show was Beat tie, concealing the gun with which It is alleged he shot his wife. Taily swore that about Il o'clock that night sitting on the back porch of his home not far from the roadside he heard lthe scream of woman. then a shot and finally the noise of an automobile starting. The Briggs boy testified that some time between 10 and II o'clock on the same night he and a number of companions in an automo- bile passed car at the roadside a stone's throw from the point at which the murder is believed to have been committed.
 A man, he said, apparently was fix. ing tire of the machine, the woman was standing on the running board. The boy was not asked if the man he saw was the prisoner, but under the cross examination by the defense he maintained that they passed no other car on that portion of the jour. ney to Richmond. Some of his com panions will be called to testify along this line tomorrow.
 Just between sunset and dark" testified Sydnor in direct examina. tion, l saw big automobile go- ing west along the turnpike very lslowly.v
 Who was in that car?"
 ''One man."
 What did he do as he passed?v
 He ran around and stopped ahead of me"
 How near was the place he stop Iped to the blood spot which marked the scene of the crime?"
 Not more than 30 feet each way fsaid the witness.
 What did the man do?"
 "Beattie leaned forward in his seat and gazed intently at the wit. ness as the question was asked.
 When left him." said Sydnor, "ne was working in a ditch at the road side. on the machine's right rear tire"
 Was he an old or young man?"
 He was young man and wore g brownish suit.r
 There was a hush in the courtroom as the sheriff unroIied the Dioody brown coat worn by Beattie on the might of the murder. The witness lsaid the color of the garment resemD- led that of the coat worn by the mar at the roadside.
 He was instructed to look at ths defendant and to state If the man n. saw was about the same size.
 Yes" said the dairyman SLOWLY about the same size.
 Have you seen the Beattie auto mobile since the murden?' Sydnol was asked. He said he had and tna generally It agreed with the car h, had seen on the roadway. Tt was big. four passenger car. : he said. "and the top was yellow. The Beattie car has a yellow top Sam Tally. who said he worked il a quarry. followed Sydnor On tn, , stand.
 T was sitting on the pack porci of my house about 300 yards from tn road Tally testified in direct exam , ination. when all of sudden aDou II o'clock heard the scream of