The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-24
JURY IS SWORN
IN BEATT|E CASE
PRISONER FOLLOWS PROCEEDINGS
WITH MARKED INTEREST
As MEMBERS TAKE OATH
DEPUTIES GUARD THEM
ACCUSED Is TAKEN TO CHESTER
FIELD COUNTY JAIL IN CHARGE
OF DEPUTY SHERIFF
GuODE.

When the jury IN the trial Of the
case Of the Commonwealth against
Henry Clay Beattie. Jr was sworn at
: 10 o'clock, Yesterday afternoon. there
was nothing q the formal in the pro-
cedure
In low clear tones, Clerk Cogbtl
read the solemn oath beginning You
and each OF You do solennly swear. ="
There WAS nothing spectacular In the
occasion II vas merely an old fash
/ toned Virginia court in an old fash
toned Virginia manner trying to do
justice in a God-fearing way, that
. innocent blood should not go un-
avenged, and that the law Of God and
man should be enforced without fear
or favor, but with absolute regard for
the rights of the accused as well as
/ for the dignity OF the Commonwealth
and tho welfare and well being of its
citizenship.
As the volume of holy writ was
passed from hand to hand. and each
juror kissed it in token that he would
attempt to do justice to Henry Clay
Beattie, Jr- as he himself hoped for
| justice. pin might have been heard
| drop in the courtroom.
Prisoner Interested.
| The prisoner looked on not with an
i air Of Indifference, rs some have been
| wont to describe his conduct, but with
| the keenes, interest,
rheh came The charge to the jury.
| The indictment with its ancient and
| cumbersome, but comprehensive YER
| biage. was first read, and then the
charge proper the prisoner standing
| with head erect and eyes fixed upon
| the clerk, while the words which
| meant so much 10 him fell from the
/ lips of that official He heard the
reading of tho document with abso-
| lutely no show OF emotion. That he
| fully appreciated the dread meaning
! of 1t all was apparent but that, down
! deep in his heart he had resolved to
! make the bravest fight possible for his
i life, and abide by the result to the
/ bitter end could be seen by even the
| most casual observer.
| No Statements Made.
| AT the conclusion OF the reading al
the charge the judge asked the at
| torneys in the case whether they de-
sired to make any opening statements
/ to the jury Both the representatives
! of the Commonwealth. and of the de-
I Tense stated that they did not desire 10
make such statements. and the Wit
nesses for the Commonwealth not har-
Z
/ Thursday morning, the court ADJOURNED
+ for the day at 3 25 O'Clock,
+ Judge Watson placed the sheriff and
+ his deputies on oath to keep the jury
/ together, and to see that they diu not
/ speak with any other persons, or thai
no other persons spoke with them or
the subject Of the Beattie ease.
In Chesterfield Jail.
Beattie was given into the custody
Of Deputy Sheriff ]. r. Goods, who
had arranged for his retention in the
/ Chesterfield county Jail
| An effort was made by the attorneys
| for the accused to get the mutual con
sent of tho court. and the representa-
tives OF the prosecution TO the bring
ing of Beattie TO the Henrico Jail each
night, hut the court declined to gram
the request.
The crowd in attendance on this
trial was much smaller than on Mon
day, and there were seats in the court
room for all who desired 10 witness th'
proceedings.