The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-09-01
Rv AasocIatsd Presa.

Chesterfield Court House, Va, Aug.
31.-Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., indicted
for wife murder, lsobbed like child
today when his gray haired father, In
a low and tremulous voice told of the
domestic felicity of his son and the
slain woman. 1t was the first time the
stoical calm Of the prisoners counte-
nance had given way during the trial.
The testimony Of the father in behalf
Of the son came as a dramatic close
to the days long battle of the defense
against the evidence heaped up by the
prosecution. Tomorrow the accused
testifies and the defense will then rest
its case.
Battering constantly against the tes-
tfmony of Paul Beattie regarding the
purchase of a gun and its delivery to
Henry and subsequent conversations
with the accused, the defense intro
duced several witnesses to cast doubt
upon the veracity Of Paul and empha-
sized that point when it produced
David d. Beattie, Paul's grandfather
and an uncle of Henry, who testified
that Pauls character was not good
With apparent regret the aged man
told of PauIs shortcomings.
Ernest H. Neblitt, superintendent Of
a paper making plant. testified that on
Sunday, July 16, he saw Paul on
bridge where he worked handling a
single barreled shot gun. Paul has
maintained he disposed of the gun the
same day he bought it, July Is. giving
It to Henry.
E. III. Lewis, an employe in the Beat
tie store, declared the people spoke Of
Paul as ''the biggest liar in town"
THE FATHERS STORY.
Henry Clay Beattie, Sr., told of how
his life had been saddened by the death
of some Of his children, and how Henry
was neglected in his infancy because
twins came into the family during his
boyhood, and how he had grown closely
attached to the son.
He described the strong love that
existed between Henry and his wife,
and said he himself grew to love her as
one OF his own children. Phe father
spoke highly Of his sons character and
controverted the testimony that Henry
showed no signs of GRIEF after his
: Wife's murder. He declared he sobbed
and moaned all night after the tragedy
NO INSANITY PLEA.
Harry Smith, Jr., counsel for Beattie
today put an end to rumors that ulti
mately the defense would offer a plea
of insanity for the prisoner Mr.
Smith made a definite statel ent that
under no circumstances would such a
plea, be entered.
1t was the announced intention Of
the defense to ask the court to have
the jury visit the scene of the crime.
but the muddy roads may cause post
ponement of this for several days.
David Weinstein, son of the pawn
broker from whom Paul Douglas Beat
tie purchased the shot gun, was the
first witness for the defense today.
The commonwealth knew you were
the boy who sold the gun to Paul Beat
tie?" asked Harry M. Smith, Jr., coun-
sci for the defense.
Yes"
You were not summoned by the
prosecution
Paul Beattie testified that you took
the gun apart into three pieces and
wrapped 1t up in paper and put his
name on 1t. What, do you say about
it?"
very old fashioned gun and did not
know how"
The gun was produced at this point.
what time Of day" continued Mr..
Smith. ~did you sell the gun to Paul
Beattie7"
Saturday morning between 10 and
IL"
when you sold the gun to Paul
Beattie did he say he was watchman
and wanted the gun to be used on
Mayo's bridge where he worked?"
"He did"
did you know Paul Beattie before
that Saturday."
eSs q little more Indn n week.
How did you become acquainted
with him?"
"He worked for Mr.. stegler nearby
and came in one day to buy a pistol.
l told him we didn't have any"
5EATTIE CONTRACICTED.
Paul Beattie had previously testified
that the only time he had entered the
Nawnshop before was to borrow a dol
lar and got 1t. The witness denied
having loaned him q dollar and added
that Paul had been in the pawnshop
four or five times.
On cross-e examination, Mr.. Wenden-
burg asked:
do you remember on the Saturday
after the homicide coming to the hos
pital where Paul Beattie was and tell
ing myself and others that you sold
(contInued on Page Eighty