The Washington times., 1911-07-23

| famous trials never saw anything hk'
the brutal eyes that Henry Bsatti'
fastened upon the shaking figure of hi
| cousin in the witness chair. Not once
| did they shift or turn away. TIT
| prisoner nerves are astounding, but i
| is a nerve that has not lifted him II
| the estimation Of his accusers.
Paul Beatties grilling will come yet
When he goes on the stand, knowing
| that mis- evidence will acquit or convict
| the man of fis own blood, he knows he
must be prepared to have his own past
| life searched.
Yesterday he got sympathy from some
and shame from others. Assuming that
he bought the gun, utterly ignorant OF
the purpose for which II might be used,
the strain under which he has labored
must have been terrifying.
He found, he says, that the weapon
picked up BY the road was vas the same
Mrs. E. J. Houchens, mother-in-law
Of Paul Beattie, said:
II have heard reports that Paul was
a hired ASSASSIN, but they do not in the
least disturb me or my daughter, for I
and two others can establish beyond
doubt his presence in this house at the
time the murder was committed" In
his own behalf, Paul said:
They Oh. NJ. Smith and Henry Beat
tie) tried to break down my testimony,
there Is no use for them to try. Every
word I have spoken is the truth, and
they can't make it otherwise"
Reference was made to the rumor that
the killing and hidden 1t In the bushes
on the afternoon or evening of the
crime, to be'used later by the assassin.
20 pshaw; that is impossible" he
said.
II can give proof of my movements
n'rlnNk In the nnnrOin0
day) until Il that night 1 was at work
all day, and have a number of men
employed by the. 1. J. Smith Company
who can testify to the truth of what
say. From the time of quitting work
there my movements can be accounted
for and sworn to by people living in
my home. They can't get me in the
crime.
Footprints Discovered.
The clue that directly led to the sud
den dropping by the detectives of Henry
Beattie's story of the unknown assail-
ant in the case and the subsequent
concentration OF all their efforts upon
the task of placing the guilt on the
young husband, was disclosed by Depu-
ty Sheriff w. w. Sydnor. 1t had to
do with Sydnor's dogs and certain foot
prints.
-
in the road, which marked the scene of
the tragedy, Sydnor found. about $50
Wednesday morning, that his man-hunt-
ers would take the scent on the side on
which Beatie sat-the right stde-com-
ing toward Richmond.
Taking the trail there, the dogs ran
directly across the road on the right
side. circled a stump just OFF the edge
OF the roadside. then returned to the
blood spot. A careful examination by
Sydnor of the trail followed by his
hounds discovered two footprints
in the soft ground at the side of the
road and directly in front of the
pointing toward the
stump and one pointing toward the
blood spot. The theory as then de-
veloped by the detectives Is this:
That whoever ii was that killed Mrs.
Beattie after riding to the place in the
early evening of the crime. secrcted
the gun behind the stump; that later,
when passing the place. he made
some excuse to leave the car when
lust opposite the stump stepped off
the road, picked up the gun-leaving
a footprint pointing each way-and
returned to the car. and fired the
fatal shot as the woman sat or stood
awaiting him.
The discovery of these foot prints
and the action of the dogs has shaken
the confidence OF the detectives In
Beattie's story of strange assall-
ant.