The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-24
Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., Con-
fesseS to Murder of Wife.
Written Statement Is Left With
His Pastor.
MEETS END BRAVELY.
StOlidly Listens to Reading Of
Death Warrant.
Chamber of Horror EnshrOuded
in Darkness.
REQUIRED A MINUTE
First Application of Deadly Cur
rent Sufficient.
Laws ExactiOns for Murder of
A MINUTE
First Application of Deadly Cur
rent Sufficient.
Laws Exactions for Murder of
Young Wife Satisfied.

Richmond, Va, Nov. 24.-Henry
Clay Beattie, jr., was eIectrocuted in
the state prison at 1928 a. m One
minute after the shock he was pro-
nounced dead.
Richmond. Nov. 24.-Henry Clay
Beattie. jr.. before his death in the
electric chair at 1928 a. m. today con-
fessed to the murder of his wife. The
statement, which was given out in the
rotunda of a downtown hotel, follows:
Il, Henry Clay Beattie jr.. desir-
Gus of standing right before God and
man, do on this. the 23rd day of No
ember. 1911, confess my guilt of the
crime charged against me- Much that
was published concerning the details
was not true but the awful fact, with
Aout the narrowing circumstances, re-
inains. For this action, I am truly
sorry and, believing that I am at peace
with God. and am soon to pass into
His presence, this stateme ment is made" ="
Beattie's confession was followed by
the following statement by the attend
ing minister's
This statement was signed in the
presence of the two attending minis
ters and is the only statement that can
and will 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 or ex-
pressed
throughout the forenoon the city
had been rent with rumors that Beat
tie had confessed. These were denied
at the prison where in connection with
the announcement of the death it was
said the condemned man had made nc
statement. The attending ministers
would not discuss the case until they
had visited Beattie's parents in South
Richmond and had secured their per-
mission to make the confession public
The confession evidently was made az
the eleventh hour when Beatue rnally
became convinced that all hope of
escape from the electric chair had
passed
Two days ago the Rev. Dr. Fix an
pounced that Beattie said he would
not confess. This was ascribed to the
fact that Beattie desired to spare his
father the blow of admitting guilt
cence to the aged parent. There was
fight between hlial devotion and a de-
sire not to go to his death with lie
on his lips. He was urged to confess
by his spiritual advisers and at last
broke down.
story of the Execution.
In a downpour of rain the IL wit
nesses to the execution toiled through
the raurlxy dawn up the hill from which
fhe pen!tentiary looks down upon the
single file through gates Of steel bars
to the chamber where Beattie was to
offer his atonement. There was no
conversation.
Within the chamber all was in readi-
ness The chair. a solid structure of
oak would ordinarily have appeared
like the chairs seen in libraries. In
the somberly bare chamber, however
it was sinister. Straps dangled from
its arms and back, and shining steel
clamps appeared in the light of the
electrics like tentacles outstretched to
clasp a victim.
Plunged Into Darkness.
The witnesses were seated six
abreast, in an angle of the room. They
shufied their feet uneasily and when
one leaned forward to speak to anoth-
er, his action was received with frowns.
Major Woods, with two deputy ward
ems, addressed the witnesses going
through some small formalities demand
ed BY law. Then, with his two men
trooping behind, he passed out into the
E5uilding where Beattie awaited the
summons in his cell adjoining.
In the death chamber the voice of
the warden could be heard plainly
reading to the doomed man the final
summons. The warden-5 voice droned
on. it seemed to the witnesses, inter
ninably- In reality the compliance
with the law occupied only brief mo-
ment. Then, with Beattie between them,
the deputy wardens began their prog
ress toward the chair, only few feet
away.
When the procession. followed by
Superintendent Woods, started a sig
nal was given which plunged the death
chamber into blackness save for a sin
gle light Immediately over the chair
This was so hooded that it outlined the
chair in a circle of blazing radiance
so intense that the remainder of the
room seemed in utter darkness. The
witnesses scarcely could see each 9TH
er The prisoner saw nothing but the
chair. There was no delay in prepar-
ing for the end. Beattie took his place. !
the prison surgeon and the electricians
adjusted the straps. a half dozen clamps
were quickly thrown into place aud
snapped
Death Came Quickly.
The cap, resem bling a leather foot |
rpalI head harness was adjusted, and |
the men stepped back.
The warden raised his hand. In
stantly Beattie's body stiffened with !
such violence that the straps creaked |
with the strain, the clamps ratified as |
though they were castanets in the |
hands of death. and then that which /
once had been Henry Clay Beattie. jr., |
relaxed.
It was just 1923 a. m. when the