The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-09-05
Defense Delays Beattie's Tale.

Defense Delays Beattie's Tale.
Chesterfield Court House, Va, Sept
2.-Henry Clay Beattie, Jr, who to-
day was 70 have told to the II men in
whose hands his fate rests the story of
the murder of his young wife on the
Midlothian turnpike last July, will not
go On the witness stand to testify in
his own behalf UNTIL Monday, when the
climax of the trial is expected and
the case Of the defense brought to a
close.
A sharp exchange between the op-
posing counsel towards the end of the
day revealed that Beulah Binford, the
so-called "girl in the case," might go
on the witness stand before the trial
ended. It came after sarcastic re-
mark by one of the counsel for the
defense when Sampson had testified
concerning the prisoners relations
with the Binford girl.
It has become evident that the pur-
pose Of the commonwealth in with
holding the Binford girl from the
stand has been to await the testimony
OF the prisoner himself regarding the
girl to whom the prosecution points as
the motive for the murder Of Mrs.
Be:lttie.
The intention of the commonwealth,
it was admitted tonight, is to confront
! the accused some time next week with
the Binford girl to contradict certain
statements which it is expected Beat
tie will make when he is on the stand
! if be clings to the story he told at the
coroner's inquest.
Another tale of mysterious man
with shotgun was introduced today
by F. K. Clements. He declared the
man had a "whitish" beard, thereby
adding a third variety of color to the
'sandy and straggly'' and 'gray beard"
already testified to by other witnesses
to have covered the face of the mys-
terious man. On ross-examination
Prosecutor Wendenburg drew forth
the admission that it was not an un-
usual sight to see a man with a gun
On his shoulders during the hunting
season or after its close when rabbits
were plentiful in the Surrounding
woods.
Merely an Escapade.
Interesting testimony was presented
by William H. Sampson, a chum of
the accused and his companion on
many tours of dissipation. He de-
clared Henry Beatti9 never really lov-
ed the Binford girl, but when their re-
lations were accidentally renewed
shortly before the murder it was mere
ly a passing escapade.
Charles H. Kestleberg, wholesale
meat merchant of Richmond, gave an
account of motor ride he had taken
On the Midlothian turnpike on the
night of the murder and presented in
formation contradicting theoryof the
prosecution that Mrs. Beattie was
standing either on the running board
of the machine or in the road when
she was killed.
Was His Companion.
He testified that the woman with
him occupied such a position on the
running board when he stopped his
machine to fix it, and when a machine
load of boys, who already have testi-
fed for the commonwealth, passed
him.
One of the strange episodes Of the
trial is the predicament of Charles H.
Kestleberg, who testified today. To-
night he asked Attorney Smith of the
defense to smooth over his difficulties
by talking with his wife as to the ne
cessity for giving the testimony he
did.
my wife weighs nearly 800 pounds"
said Kestleberg sadly tonight, "and I
don't know what effect the exposure
will have on her. I simply had to tell
what T knew, however, after these
boys had testified, and I did so without
regard to the consequences for me-"