The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-09-02
MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE HALTs
WEST VIRGINIA MURDER
TRIAL
LAWYERS AND PRISONER ExcIT-
ED OVER THE DISCOVERY.
eEATTIE DELAYS APPEARANCE
ON WITNESS STAND UNTIL
SATURDAY..

CHESTERFIELD COURT HOUSE.
Va. Sept. 1.-Hienry Clay Beattie, Jr..
indicted for the murder OF his wife,
did not take the stand today in his
own behalf as was expected, but the
assertion was made just before court
adjourned that the defense would
conclude its case late tomorrow with
the prisoners testimony.
An argument ensued between coun-
sci for both sides as TO whether the
cross examination OF the accused also
could be finished tomorrow. and IL
was obvious that the defense wished
TO have the prisoner rest over Sun
day before the attack upon him 10y
the prosecution could be begun.
Thomas Hancock. one of the jurors.
however. spoke up in plaintive voice
TO the court, saying please consider
us. judge" and the court immediate
ly asked II. NJ. Smith. Jr.. counsel
Tor the defense. how many more wit
nesses he would introduce.
Just a few more" said Mr.. Smith.
But we will surely close our case to-
morrow by placing the prisoner on
the stand"
Hold Late Session.
Judge Watson announced that he
would hold court later than usual to-
morrow evening n necessary to finish
the case. hut an agreement was
reached to suspend Judgment as TO
holding the night session until the
testimony of the accused had been
presented. Court will be delayed in
the morning by the taking OF a depo-
sit!on from Mrs. NJ. &. Steger. who is
III at her home near the scene OF the
crime. and who IL Is claimed saw the
alleged bearded highwayman prowl-
ing around the day of the. murder.
Testimony today WAS perfunctory
in its character. Several woman
friends OF the accused and his dead
wife testified that the couple lived
ls"pi'y together.
Except for the impromptu admis-
siCu Oi Douslas Beattie. q brother OF
the accused. that lie would have de-
stroyed evidences OF the murder had
he known that his brother was to be
charged with the crime. the most in
terestin. development Of the day was
the discovery OF witness by the de-
fense, Joseph Casselberg, OF Rich
mond.
Important Witness.
NdootluGlEs II mas Dttn IlIAOTtQ lot
some time. has had mysterious knowl-
edge of the case. He Is reported TO
have been on the Midlothian turnpike
with another person about the same
time that the murder occurred and
Is supposed 10 he the man who
stopped 10 crank his machine and was
seen by the group OF boys on their
way from the dance at Bon Air n
he Is called as a witness and admits
that h. had stopped TO fix his machine
an the point where the boys say they
saw the car with "a woman on the
running board and a man in front OF
II. the defense considers this could
controvert much OF the testimony.
tending 20 show that Mrs. Bosttie
was shot while on the running board
and not IN the car seat as her hus-
band alleges.
n was rumored tonight. however.
that the defense may not call Cassel.
berg because OF conflicting reports
concerning his probable testimony.
The question of whether Mrs. Beat
tie was shot while standing on the
running board or in the road. or az
her husband insists. while She sat in
the front seat 10 tho left ~ him.
again was raised to-day. when sev-
eral automobile experts testified that
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