The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-24
FULL STORY OF TRAGEDY ON MIDLOTHIAN
TURNPIKE AND OF BEATTlE.S LONG TRIAL

verdict liking the crime on Henry Clay
Beattie. Jr.
The scene was shifted back to Rich
mond where for weeks Henry. Paul
and Bcuiah Btnford occupied cells In
the city and Hsnrico jails.
On August IA, Henry Clay Beattie.
Jr.. was indicted at the courthouse In
chesterfield county by grand jury VI
that county. and held for the murder
of Louise Owen Seattle. This mad
been expected. and interest now await
ed the trial OF the case. destined 10
be one OF the most remarkable In the
history Of the State, II not In the
South.
Trial Begins.
The trial of Henry G. Beattie, Jr..
occupied tho time of the court from
August q to September s. during
which time the people OF Virginia
probably evinoed more interest than
ut any other trial In the history of
The State. Though Chesterfield IL
three miles from the Peters,
burg electric line the news Of the
famous case was flashed into Rich
mond by long distance telephone and
telegraph. There were newspaper men
the case having attracted these men.
on account OF the unnatural features
connected with the murder.
Two weeks before the trial began
newspapers we're wrangling for come
kind Of special privilege ny which the
account Of the trial could be sent out.
A. the result the various stores. oh.ces
and even wood sheds In the court
house vicinity were crowded with spe-
cial correspondents. Telephone and
telegraph companies had to construct
special service for the occasion. Elk
ira wires were strung and the poles
carrying these wires had to be braced
to uphold the extra strain.
Jvoos " atson hears Case.
Judke waiter ~. WATSON, OF The Cir
cult eetFt eesaets,- eet.aaeted- TIT, ttfass
u age watson Courteousiy nau cleared
space for tiie new spaper men. Though
ms assistance or eicrk OF the court,
4. '. CoAutii, VINO Aau pIaceu IA the
court rooin long Uencn. ANA even
moved has own uesa up beside the
jouAs IN oroer that The space On the
JUICES Denen Mieht be used by the
numerous cOrfesponuenls. There we're
men AiAo women among this crown of
WRITER'S OF Aatlunal and international
fame.
On the last day of the famous trial
the telegraph Instruments Of Inc news
paper men Aeie actually placed In the
WINDOWS OF The ouu nl.le coufl mouse.
Adfoiy large enough TO noiQ more lnan
INV people comfortably.
beatLe atkeaa Ell al Chesterfield on
the noraiAs oi August ~, coming Out
IN an aulomouiie, accumpaulsu by
A'etec1se Auther l.. Scnerer. PREVIOUS
10 ms coming the Lutte jail at Ches,er.
Leio hao Leen ntteu up SO tnal beat
'to occupleo the lower moor, IN q spe-
e'o"s room Set apart by Jaiier Cog
oili, LOT ms famous prisoner.
oh MS Alst appearance IN the court
room beattia woie his usual lna,Y.
Aerent smile. he bowed to frienas ON
every nanu. anu walked jauuuiy up
ing steps OF the little courthouse. Ha
vas accompanied by his father. On
every mana were the newspaper men,
h'ost OF them having cameras or hay-
ing Representatives with such instru.
ments. trying to catch pictures of the
prisoner. Beattie with his usual pleas
ant smile consented to pose for the
.hei' on several occasions, and his pho.
tosraphs were taken In various attt.
tuoeS.
=. Get jury Quickly.
II was at first thought that II
"ouid be next to impossib BILE to ret
u jury which could with fairness try
.ne case Two venires had been sum-
iioheo. each containing sixteen men.
TOM these thirty-two men tho jury
was taken with but little DELAY.
from this time on the case was
tne one absorbing topic of the CITY.
state and to a great extent the M,
uon: even London and Paris pa
pers carrying extensive accounts of
the trial throughout.
Harry smith and Hill Carter fought
nard for the life of Henry C. Beattie
Jr. Judge James Gregory. the ar.
so'ney Tor the Commonwealth. and
L. .. Wendenburg fought equally
nara to convict the prisoner.
Beattie held up his head during
the trial and from first until lasi
protested his innocence. He was not
guilty. he declared. with his usual
nouenA1Ahoe. More than this he did
hos appear to regard as Necessary
speculation was rife al to the In
1oro- That she was to be one OF tn.
most important witnesses for the
state was generally admitted. This.
however, was not the case. and It is
supposed that the state feared that
beuiah binford would give her tes.
tlmony for tho prisoner. Al anv rate
sne made her only appear ance at
Chesterfield on the day she appear.
90 oeiore the grand jury. After the
triai she was released from the Hen
rico JAIL and left Richmond.
Paul Beatue As Witness.
Faul Beattie continued as an i'm
portant witness In the case, though
mas SINCE been declared that tn.
convection OF Beattie could be ac.
eomplished without the evidenc.
given by Paul. other cofroborative
evidence In the case being sufficien,
20 prove all that had been claimed
| Inquest. .''e
Throughout the trial the court wa.
| oafeiul that the prisoner should have
.ne benefit Of every doubt. In the
argument for instructions the court
allowed the defense practically ay-
cry instruction asked, thourh ruling
OUT several of the prosecution. Err.
cspuons We're taken by taef~naa
al every possible point In the evil
oence' but the Supreme Court upheld
Inc ira! court at every instance,
Never did attorneys try harder under
more oifncult circumstances to ave
client from the t.eath penaItv. Tha
Jury; made up Of farmers and man
oi tne county, treated the trial as a
mater or the greatest seriousness
prayer was offerd from time to tim
curing the trial. and the Jury even
aue the verdict matter Of prayer.