New-York tribune., 1911-11-24
.bEATT|E WILL DIE IN
CHAIR At DAWN TODAY
Takes Pathetic Leave of Family
and Is Ready to Pay Penalty
for Numbering Wife.
SHOWS WONDERFUL NERVE
Spiritual Adviser Believes Con-
demned Man Will Confess if
Guilty-Went Early to
Bed Last Night.

Bed Last Night.
Richmond. Va. Nov 23.-Taking . pa
thetic leave of his immediate family,
Henry Clay Beattie. lr.. tonight made
ready to take the final plunge into the
Unknown. Tomorrow before the sun is
an hour high he will have paid the pen
atty demanded by the law for the muir
der of his young wife last July. There
is absolutely nothing to indicate that
Governor Mann will act to stay the
hand Of Justice The Chief Executive or
the state is the only one who can length
er the span Of life OF the condemned
man. who has said he does not care
longer to gaze unblinking on the face OF
death.
For a few brief moments to-day Beat
tie broke down. and It was feared his
remarkable nerve and stoicism were
about to desert him. This was when he
took leave Of his father and brother
Douglas. When the parting came the
son laid his head on his fathers breast
and sobbed convulsively. one arm was
flung across his fathers shoulders The
other hand gripped that of his brother.
But he recovered quickly. The forti
tude Of the elder Beattle had more to do
with the recovery than the soothing Of
fees Of the Rev. BENJAMIN Dennis, who
has labored with the doomed prisoner
With Spartan self-controI the father
kept his emotions in check, although the
tears raced down his checks and his lips
twitched pathetically. No words were
spoken. but the young wife murderer
must have felt the stern repression Of
his parent. for his sobs were strangled
and he Strengthened
Final Goodby to Father
"Goodby," he said, and turned away.
Neither father nor brother trusted 10
make reply, but made their way from
the penitentiary. When they enter it
again it will be to claim the body Of
their kinsman
Hazel, the eighteen-year-ol sister of
the prisoner, and his two aunts drove to
tho state prison in a closed carriage in
the middle Of the afternoon. They were
in the death chamber a trihe more than
an hour. When they emerged Hazel
was on the verge of collapse. while all
three were violently agitated, and the
eyes Of each were red aud puffed with
weeping.
Their entrance and departure were OBJ
served by a morbid crowd of several
hundred persons gathered to witness the
rumored visit of Beulah Binford to the
prison The report proved 10 be untrue.
The girl whose subtle power over young
Beattie is said to have driven him to the
killing of his wife, 1t having been dis
covered, did not leave New York.
Only one minister was with Beattie to-
day. the Rev. Mr.. Dennis. The Rev.
John J. Fix, the young mans former
pastor, was so worn out by his labors
and the emotional strain he has under
gone that he did not put in an appear
ance. He is saving all his energies for
to-morrow's dawn, when ne fully expects
the condemned man to confess. provided
he is guilty.
Spent Day in Prayer.
The day was spent in prayer, save for
the time occupied by the farewells Of the
family. Beattie is said to nave declared
his complete conversion and to have no
fear that his peace is made with God.
He told his spiritual adviser that he
faced the hereafter with supreme conf
dence
The sustained nerve Of the condemned
man is the wonderment and admiration
Of his guards. Following the pathetic
farewells between himself and the mem-
bers Of his family, in which he broke
down completely. he disclosed such \
quick and complete reversion to his
placid demeanor that it occasoned the
utmost establishment The death watch
had looked forward to a narrowing night.
When, under the rules Of the prison,
lights were ordered out at s o'clock,
Beattie showed every evidence Of prepa-
ration to spend a quiet and restful
period before he is summoned to the
death chair.
While the funeral plans, if any have
been actually made, have not yet been
announced. it is generally understood
that Bcattie will rest in the family lot in
Maury Cemetery South Richmond only
a pace or two from the body of his wife
Beattie will be taken from the death
watch shortly after o'clock tomorrow
morning. The warden Of the peniten-
tiary, following out the law, viii read to
him the warrant ordering his death.
Within a few brief moments after that
solemn observance is completed Beattie
viii have paid his toll of life for the
murder Of his wife.
MISTAKEN FOR TAFT; KISSED