Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-09-01

Indifference gone Beattie followed to-
days developments closely, and at
the end of the session he appeared
fatigued and nervous. The debOnair
youth of two days ago today appear
ed as a man to whom realization has
come that there is chain about his
neck which seems to be slowly but
surely drawing him on to the cleo
trio chair-and death.
Due to the fact that the rats in old
Chesterfield Jail interrupted his rest
last night, Beattie was taken to the
Richmond city Jail tonight, after at
torneys for both sides had agreed to
his removal.
Saw Car On Pike
Today's testimony was largely
confirmatory of what the public al
ready knows-yet it was damaging
to the prisoner. The first witnesses
were E. J Moseley, Roland Lassiter,
R. L. Zacharias, J. P. Paschall and
F. D. Adams who were members of
the auto party which attended a
dance at Bon Air on the night of the
murder, and who passed a machine
on the Midlothian turnpike near the
scene of the crime just few minutes
before Mrs. Beattie was killed.
foC IF of a
young men corroborated the testi-
mony of the others and was to the
effect that they saw machine of the
Buick manufacture on the turnpike
on the night of July Is at about
1O:45 o'clock; that man was stand
ing in the road at the left of the ma
chine, and young woman wearing a
raincoat was standing on the left
running board of the car.
On the night of the murder Mrs.
Beattie wore tan raincoat-of the
color described by the witness and
was taken to the spot where she was
murdered in a Buick automobile that
had a yellow top.
Sydnor Again on Stand
w. B. Sydnor, the Chesterfield
county dairyman, was recalled to the
stand and testified that the car he
saw on the Midlothian turnpike the
night of the murder had no doors
on it.
Beattie's car that night was door
less.
Sydnor testified today that he was
confident that the ear he saw that
night was Beattie's This was in
support Of the States contention
that before Henry Beattie took his
wife on the fatal ride, he had made
a previous trip on the turnpike and
had there and then hid the gun with
which the crime was committed
w. L. Drawn testified finding a
loaded shell like the empty one in
the gun. It was found the. Sunday
following the shooting, and was With
in seventy-two feet Of the blood pool
in the road.
Jurors Inspect - uto
Judge Watson permitted the jurors
to leave the court room and go out
upon the green for an inspection OF
the bloodstained automobile which
has been placed in evidence. No
word was spoken while the machine
was being infinitely examined, and
the jurors paid especial attention to
the blood spots, and removed the
floor of the car to see how the
blood could have dripped through to
the road.
Detective Scherer Called
The most important witness of the
day was Detective Luther L. Scherer
who went. to the scene of the crime
early the morning after the murder,
and who was subsequently placed
in full charge of the investigation.
The detective told of footprints lead
ing from the blood pool in the road
to the stump on the side of it, and
of the fact that that the shot gun was
delivered to the officers at the point
that morning.
Mr.. Scherer said that he had Beat
tie repeat his story of the highway
man several times, and after the au-
tonlobile was placed over the blood
pool and Beattie attempted to de-
monstrate where the highwayman
stood, he pointed out to Beattie sew
eral discrepancies in his account of
the tragedy, and that then the young
many walked away from him.
Later, Scherer said, he again talk
ed to Beattie and asked him about
his relations with Beulah Binford,
and the young man admitted being
with her on the night before the MUIR
der.
1--WE told Mr.. Beattie that his
statements were conflicting and I'M
reasonable and that he was suspected
of being the murderer" said Mr..
Scherer, and then the officer went
into detail regarding his questioning
of the accused. During part of his
testimony the women reporters were
asked to leave the room.
1t was decided by Judge Watson
and attorneys for Beattie today that
witnesses for the defense need not
come to court until Tuesday.
Paul Beattie will probably be put
on the stand when court convenes on
Monday morning.
Chesterfield Court mouse, Aug. %.
Only q miracle can save Henry