The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-09-06
Defendant Tells Version OF
Wife'S Murder.
DENIES STORY OF COUSIN.
Great Crowd, Attracted by Sensation
of Famous Trial, Travels Miles In
Hope Of Seeing Young Defend
ant on Witness Stand.

would take the stand brought a great
jam to the courthouse By farm wag
ons. automobiles and on foot fully SU0
came to the little green in the midst of
the wilderness and soon the court
room was jammed from wall to wall.
People built scaffolds of benches out
side of every window, climbed the
sycamore trees to vantage points,
whence they could see the witness
chair, and banked themselves about
the doors.
A few minutes before Judge Watson
raped for order, the prisoner follow
ed his counsel out of the Jail doors.
He was very pale. The jailer had
stood by him while he shaved. He
wore blue serge suit carefully, creas-
ed and white necktie, pinned with
a pearl. They wanted to recall Kas-
telberg, the butcher, to the stand for
a question. He was not to be found.
Then Henry G. Beattie, Sr., took the
stand to say that on the Thursday
night following the murder he had
not received an intimation of his sons
impending arrest until Richmond re
porter told him Of it over the phone.
"Henry Clay Beattie, Jr.," Smith
announced, and the prisoner pushed
his way to the stand. He took a
drink of water Sheriff Gill handed
him before the first question was ask
ed him. With handkerchief crushed
into hard ball he continually dabbled
at his nose. The muscles of his cheek
twitched as regularly as his pulse. He
constantly swallowed. Nervous strain
was written large all over his face.
In answer to Smiths query he stated
that he was employed as clerk in his
fathers store in South Richmond.
Have you ever had intimate asso
citation or relation with your cousin
Paul Beattie?' Smith asked, driving
directly at refutation of the most
damaging evidence that had been given
against Beattie through the lips Of his
cousin.
Positively none," the prisoner an.
swered "The only times 1 have had
dealings with him have been when he
came to the store to get money-to beg,
money
"You never told him a secret-never
trusted him with any close informa
tion of your affairs?"
81 should say not; even when he was
in the store he was closely watched"
The young mans eyes narrowed
when he said this. He took another
drink of water. Smith then launched
his witness directly into a narration Of
his relations with Beulah Binford
Beattie said he had first seen the
girl in August, 1907, when he was rid,
ing in an automobile with a friend
she had called from the sidewalk and
asked to be taken for ride. One of
his companions had told him at the
time that the twelve-year-old girl had
bad reputation.
''How long did your relations with
this girl continue at that timer
Until she went to Washington with
her mother" Beattie answered coolly
"What was her action toward you in
reference to the child that was born?"
"Why. she said | was the father of
it, Beattie said. "She thought she
could get more money from me than
anybody else, | refused to pay up and
she got lawyer after me. Then !
paid. After that l was the laughing
stock of the whole town."
Once more Beattie alluded to the
blackmailing he had undergone by
saying he was so soft he just ''forked
1t up" when demands were made upon
him. Then he exhibited the first indi,
cations of a nervous desire to help
himself by volunteer statements.
"NVhat were the relations between
yourself and your wife up to the time
of her death?"
'She never spoke a cross word to me
or to her" Beattie answered. 1--WE
defy anybody to say we were not
completely happy"
did your wife know of the rela
tions that had previously existed be
tween you and Beulah Binford?"
"She certainly did. | made cleaI
breast of it about the child and all
did she know of your trip to Nor
folk last April where you met Beulal
BinfordY'
Beattie was silent for an instant ant
then replied in a low voice:
"She knew ] was going to Norfolk
but she did not know l met Beulal
there" He quickly volunteered tina
he had not gone to Norfolk with tn,
express purpose of seeing the girl; hi
meeting had been purely accidental.
The lawyer then led Beattie to
comprehensive denial of every detail
given by his cousin Paul of the allege,
purchasing of the shotgun at Henry
instance and OF the ride together t
the pawnshop to get the gun on tn
Saturday night before the murder.
''If l had wanted gun for the puI
pose of murder / would never hav
commissioned such a one as Paul t
get it," Beattie snapped. But he di
admit that he had taken the despise
cousin I'm his machine with him on tn
Saturday night In question.
As the examination proceeded th