Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-09-02
Ne W WITNESS IN
BEATT|E CASE IS
IMPORTANT ONE
Charles Kestleberg, of Richmond
Admits He Was on Mid
lothian Turnpike.
HAD WOMAN IN CAR AT
TIME BOYS PASSED HIM
Judge Watson Gets Threatening
Letters from Many Parts
of Country.

CHESTERFIELD COURT HOUSE,
Va. Sent. 2.-Charles Kestleberg, of
Richmond, the mysterious witness
whose discovery yesterday caused
counsel for the defense in the Beattie
trial to interrupt its examination OF
witnesses for nearly an hour, came
forward with the declaration. that it
was he who was motoring on the
Midlothian turnpike on the night OF
the murder and stopped his machine
to get some water while the woman
with him stood on the running-board.
The testimony of Kestleberg. If ac-
cepted as fact, neutralizes the evi-
dence offered by the prosecution in
many important respects because the
commonwealth has held that 1t was
Henry Clay Beattie, jr., who was
crouching in front of machine on
the turnpike while his wife was stand
ing on the running board, and was
shot, her fall causing the big blood
spot on the road. A crowd of boys
coming from a dance at Bon Air had
testified for the prosecution that they
them help but it was refused.
"It was T." said Kestleberg, who is
wholesale butcher TO an Associated
Press representative before court
opened today. who was on the Mid
lothian turnpike that night. I saw
the crowd of boys pass, and they Of
ferred me help, which l said was un-
necessary / have hesitated to give
I oil hn pp W
pouy, although I read in the papers
that the testimony of the boys indi-
Gated that it was Henry Beattie and
his wife who stopped, and that 1t was
Mrs Beattie standing on the running
board
'T will tell you very frankly that /
don't know who the woman was who
was with me. 1 met her on the road
and gave her a ride for part of the
way. Being a married man, l didn't
wish to volunteer testimony that would
put he in a bad light socially.
Several threatening letters came in
Judge Watson's mail t.iday. One tc'd
him that If Henry ClIy Beattie Was
convicted and sent to the chair his own
days would be numbered Another,
from New Brighton, Pa. declared that
murdered was not IN Virginia now and
that Paul Beattie never saw II. Still
another, signed Eye Witness. said
said that neither Henry n5r Paul had
committed the crime, and made threats
against the judge and jury In the
event of conviction of the prisoner. All
were anonymous, and Judge Watson
smiled as he handel them to news
paper women. Even counsel for the
commonwealth has been receiving nys-
terious letters and message One
came from New Or, ,eanS yesterday to
Prosecutor Wendenbu-g, and shid'
prosecute Paul Beattle: he's guilty"
The deposition of Mrs Steger, who is
alleged to have seen highWayman on
the road near her home, was not taken,
as counsel for the defense admitted
that what she knew was of little &C
count.
Mr. Kestleberg was called to the
stand as soon as court convened. The
prisoners face was wreathed in smiles
as Mr.. Kastleberg entered the room.
Were you on the Midlothian turn
pike on the night of the murder?"
asked Attorney Smith.
Yes"
What time?"
About ten thirty
Were you with anybody"
"Yes. | had a lady with me-"
"Did YOU stop on the road?"
IL stopped at a pump to get some
water for the machine"
"Did any one pass you?"
"Yes. two machines.
'eWere they going fast?"
Yes
"Did another car pass later?"
yes"
did it stop"
eyes and the occupants asked me If
l needed help / was in front of the
machine and the lady was standing on
the left running board
"Who was in the car that offered to
help you?"
"a carload of boys
you have told this to friends,
yes, 1 have tried to keep out of this
case"
"Why?"
because | didn't want any newspa-
per notoriety."
LAS a matter of fact,sy you were afraid
| II would cause some embarrassment at
home, weren't your
| Yes"
What kind of top did your car
have?"
! "a black one"
"You came here with some reluc-
tance, did you not?'
YES"
on cross-examination Prosecutor
xUandenh,,rp inouired If the witness
could fix the time of his departure or
return TO Richmond that night
He said he could not.
| Coleman National Business College.
| Eall Onening. Day School. Sept. 5; Eve