Bisbee daily review., 1911-08-13
JURY ID PROBE
 BEATTIE CASE
Virginia Man Accused of Kill- ing His Wife for His ParamourrMuSt Face
 lnQuiSltorS
STORY OF THE TRAGEDY

RICHMOND. Va. Aug. 12.-Intense and general interest is manifested throughout the state in the opening, next Monday, of the session of the grand jury for Chesterfield county, across the river from here. The grand jury will be called upon to in- vestigate the Beattie murder case. one of the most sensational and puzzling crimes ever committed in that coun- ty. It is'the general impression that there will be enough evidence sub smitted by the state to justify the grand 'jury to find an indictment for murder against Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., now a prisoner in the Henrico county jail. but at the same time it Is well known that the state has added little to the eireumstantiai evidence obtained shortly after the crime was commit ted, that a reasonable motive for the alleged crime has not yet been found and that counsel for the defense has been working quietly but diligently, assisted by a number of private de tectives. and is evidently determined to make a desperate fight at the sub sequeut trial to save the accused from electrOcution.
 History of Crime.
 The history of the crime with which Henry Clay Beattie, IT,. has been charged by the coroner's jury, con- tains many features of unusual inter est The accused, who is now about twenty-six years of age, is the son of Henry Clay Beattie, Sr. a well to do business man of this city. Young Beattie received a fair education and, at an early age, began to Indulge in a fast and reckless life. He had nun erOus affairs with girls, but only one '- had serious consequences. About four years ago he became intimate with Beulah Binford, a handsome but nor ally corrupt girl who, at that time, was not quite fourteen. The intimacy continued and two years ago a child was born to the girl. The young moth CT named the child Henry Clay Bin ford, but soon abandoned it to the care of some relatives. Later the child was adopted by Mrs. Mary Trout of Richmond, but it proved sickly -- and died in July last year. To hush up matters young Beattie induced Beu- iah Binford to go 10 Raleigh. x. C.. where she promised to remain, so as not to interfere with Beauties mar Tiage plans.
 Meets His Affinity"
 More to please his father, upon whom he depended for living. young Beattie, about two years ago married Miss Louise Ge=-c:i., thS pretty da1gh- ter of a resident of Dover, Del. The marriage was not happy. Young Beat tie did not abandon his fast life aft CT marriage and even the birth Of a child, about six months ago. did not improve the relations between the young married people. A few months ago Beattle met the Binford girl by accident at a baseball game at Nor T folk and she was easily induced to return to Richmond, where Beattie rromised to provide a house for her.
 Beattie and the girl met frequently at different hotels in this city, and although they kept their relations se- cFet Beattjes father learned of the affair and is said to have threatened his son with the withdrawal of his support, should the young man not - stop his dealings with the Binford girl In the second week of July last young Mrs Beattie, with her baby, went to visit her uncle. Thomas l.. Owen, within a mile of South Rich mond. She was to return here on July 1g On the evening of July IS. youn Beattie came to MT. Owens house in his automobile, to take his wife out for a ride They left, driv- ing along the Midlothian Pike About II o'clock that night Beattie re- turned to Mir owens house in his auto, steering with one hand, while he was holding his wife's lifeless body with his other.
 Coroner Accuses Him.
 Beattie said that his wife had been shot and killed with a shotgun by a tall man with a long beard, who had held them up. while they were driv- ing auong Midlothian Pike. The case called for an investigation by the cor ouer and after a long and quiet sen sational hearing the coFoner's sjury gave out the verdict that Mrs. Beat tie had been shot and killed with Q shotgun in the hands Oi her husband, Henry Clay Beattie, JT. The latter was arrested and lodged in Henrico county iaf!. where he spent his time uuconcernedly. smoking cigarettes and strumming on his guitar. The Binford girl was arrested as a possi- ble acoomplice. Since his imprison- meut Beattie stuck to his original story, hut his position became serious when Paul Beattie, a poor relative of the accused, confessed that he had bought for the prisoner the shotgun with which the murder had been com mitted. The state has succeeded in foraing a strong of circumstantial evi- deBce against Beattie. but the appar- enr lack Of a motive is considered a weak spot. which may yitally affect the chances Of a conviction