Evening star., 1911-08-27

| side a machine similar to the Beattie
| car on the same road three hours before
| the murder is supposed to have happened
| Adams testimony. it is claimed. bore out
the charges of the prosecution that Beat
| tie could have brought the shotgun OBJ
tanned from Paul Beattie to the place
where a few hours later he conducted his
| ill-fated wife.
| The commonwealth let it be known out
side the courtroom too, that it had dis
covered a witness. negro, named Wilkes,
who would testify that he saw the two
machines occupied by the boys, as well
as that containing Beattie and his wife.
but no other vehicle or person along the
road at that hour. By this testimony
1t is apparently hoped to quash Beattie's
story Of the bearded highwayman. Wilkes.
as well as Mrs. Binford, mother of leu
lah, both of whom were to have been
called to the stand, were not questioned
today, as Detective Scherer monopolized
almost the entire afternoon session.
Scherer to Be Cross-Examined.
The time of their appearance now Is
uncertain, as the defense gave notice that
Monday 1t would begin a cross-examina-
ton of Scherer's testimony, particularly
with reference to his alleged conversa-
tions with Beattie after the murder and
prior to his arrest.
The testimony of Scherer, inasmuch as
1t SO frequently introduced the name OF
the Binford girl excited interest on the
part of the prisoner, and his usual non
chalance gave way to a determined, til
gerlike crouch over the bench as he
strained forward to catch every syllable
uttered. Not infrequently he fdgeted
about nervously in his seat. The muscles
in his face pulsated as he ground his
teeth. Occasionally and with a sudden
ness that sometimes startled his coun-
sci, Beattie put both his arms around
ho nf NJ Smith ir the Ia "
yer beside him. and insisted on continued
whispering.
Once his whisper was audible. II didn't
say that" he protested to his lawyer. as
Scherer talked on. A smile often broke
on the face of the prisoner. but 1t ap-
parently was forced expression rather
than a wholesome. cheerful smile. His
sharp chin constantly protruded over the
prisoners bench, and the intense concen-
tration of his attention on Scherer's tes-
timony was in direct contrast to the ease
he manifested at noon when he stood
with the jury on the lawn quietly OBJ
serving the once blood-Soaked automo-
bile.
Scherer sat calmly In the witness chair,
setting forth a narrative of his activity
on the case from the start, saying in
part:
Mr. Beattie asserted to me that while
bending over the brakes the highwayman
fired. He said that Mrs. Beattie dropped
over to the right, or on his left shoulder;
that the man stepped to the rear or the
| machine and. meeting Beattie in the rear.
struck grazing blow.
Says Wife Fell to Car Floor.
"1n the meantime his wife had fallen,
| he said, to the front floor Of the car.
Beattie said he helds his wife on the left
seat and took her to the home Of Mr..
Tom Owen in that position, driving with
one hand. l asked Mr.. Beattie where the
man then went Up the road or in the
| woods, he answered uncertainty.
| Il asked Beattie about his relations
with Beulah Binford and as to whether
| his wife knew that Beulah Binford was
back in Richmond. and he said merely
| that she did He stated that he and his
wife had not quarreled then and that
| they never had had cross word"
/ Was there anything said about his
| wife knowing the relations between Beat
| tie and Beulah Binford?" asked Prosecu-
| tor Wendenburg.
| Il asked Mr.. Beattie IL his wife knew
| about his relations with Beulah Binford
| before the marriage, and he said yes"
| 1t was at this point that Scherer testi-
fed he had asked Beattie about his ply
sical condition, and the court by agree
ment with the prosecuting attorney ar
ranged to take up that question on a
separate occasion.
Court adjourned till Monday.