Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-11-28
I AM READY NOW
HIS WORDS AT DOOR
Of DEATH CHAMBER
No Members of Family Present
Confession Made Shortly Be-
fore Execution, Which Was
Witnessed Only by Officials

RTCHMOND. Va, Nov. 24-Eenry Clay
Beattie. Jr., before his death IN the
electric chair at Ia q m today. con-
fessed 70 the murder OF MS wife. The
statement which was given out in the
rotunda OF a downtown hotel. follows:
81. Henry Clay Beattie. Jr., DESTROYS OF
standing right before God and man. do
on this. the sd day OF November, 1911.
confess my guilt OF the crime against
me- Much that was published concerning
the details was not true. but the awful
fact. without the narrowing circum-
stances. remains. For this action. i am
truly sorry and believing that 1 am at
peace with God and am soon - pass into
his presence, this statement Is made
Beattie's confession was followed by
this statement by the attending minis
ters:
This statement was signed in the
presence OF the two attending ministers
and Is the only statement that can and
win be made public by them
Mr. Beattie desired to thank the
many friends for kind letters and ex-
pressions OF interest and the public for
whatever sympathy was felt and ex-
pressed"
Throughout the forenoon the city
had rung with rumors that Be
attic had confessed. these were de-
MED at the penitentiary. where. in con-
nection with the announcement of the
death Il was said the condemned man
had made no statement.
The attending ministers would not dis
euss the case in any way until they had
mond and had secured their permission
20 make the confession public.
AT ELEVENTH HOUR
The confession evidently was made at
The eleventh hour. when Beattie finally
became convinced that all hope OF es-
Gaping the electric chair had passed
Two days ago, Rev. DR.. Fix announced
that Beattie had said he would not con-
fess. This was attributed to the fact
that Beattis desired 70 spare his father
the blow OF admitting guilt after nAs
many protestations OF innocence to the
aged parent
gle between nIlaI devotion and desire
not 70 go 70 his death with q lie on his
lips. He wac urged by his spiritual ad-
visers to confess. and at last broke
down
THE ELEcTRoCUTION.
Only g few. II any. OF those who wit
messed the execution knew that Beattie
had confessed
The young virginian was electrocuted
in the state penitentiary at 7.2s a. m
One minute after the current was turned
on he was pronounced dead
Beattis passed q fairly peaceful night
although his sleep was broken When
he arose this morning he dressed with
his usual care and ate sparingly. He
did not appear either nervous or appre-
hensfve. although he was necessarily
under the eyes OF his guards who had
doubled their vigilance in the final mo-
ments 80 that the law might not be
cheated
STOOD WITHOUT TREMoR.
During the reading OF the death war
rant the doomed man maintained his
composure. He stood without a tremor
As the superintendent finished, he
swayed but 50 imperceptbly that he
might have been shifting his weight
from one foet TO the other. When the
deputy wardens fell IN on either side OF
him he bowed HIS head a moment
It An READY"
II am ready. gentlemen he said sim
ply. and the death march was begun
Just before Superintendent woo5 and
his men appeared. Rev. DR.. Felix knelt
in prayer with the condemned man. he
prayed for Divine forgiveness for him.
Beattie appeared affected
While no doubt is expressed as to Beat
ties confession. IL IS pointed that he
did not shake his determination TO make
such amends to his father as he could,
and consequently withheld his confession
until the last moment in hopes OF spar
ing his father more shame. member
OF the Presbyterian faith, he is believed
70 have made his peace with God and
felt that his spiritual welfare was as
sured.