The Washington times., 1911-07-23
ETERNAL TRIANGLE
LEADS TO TRAGEDY
Old, Old Story of Two Women and One Man Back of
the Sensational Murder of Mrs. Beattie at
Richmond

had been enacted, but never did they
show any inclination to take the direc-
| ton in which the supposed murderer
had fled, Bloodhounds are generally in
| fallible, and these were eager for the
| scent, but all the keenness of the canine
nose failed to develop a clue.
Mrs. Beattie was buried. The husband
went to the grave, apparently grief
| the air. Gossips became busy. For
several days the police and detectives
| working on the case said little, but prom
ised sensational developments. They
came.
The husband was arrested. He stoutly
protested his innocence, and Emoked a
cigarette. Paul Beatte, a cousin, made
an unexpected confession that several
days ago he had purchased gun at
the behest Of Henry Clay Beattie, jr.
Troubled Conscience.
A conscience that gave him no rest
and a woman's pleading are said to have
been responsible for the confession of
Paul Beattie. He told his wife Of the
purchase of the gun which he says he
turned over to Henry Clay Beattie. Re-
alizing that the recovery of the gun
might mean the implication Of her nus
band, Mrs. Paul Beattie begged him to
tell all. His aged grandmother was con-
suited.
ell Ile ITulI, DOy, anu lIuSl III lne
Lord" was the fearful advice given him
by the old woman. At the inquest he
told the story Of the gun and then col
lapsed. While Paul Beattie tainted.
Henry Clay Beattie smoked cigarette
and looked cynically upon a scene al
most unparalleled in the criminal his
tory of this or any other State. Ply
sicians, newspaper correspondents. Off
GERS of the law, ran to and FRO. Henry
Clay Beattie smoked on, protesting to
lpnuy of tho nIrnha Of the
gun nor the identity Of his wife's muir
derer.
Then came the story Of the "other
woman" in the case. She admitted her
infatuation for the young husband. She
told, with downcast eyes. Of her own
mistakes, Of the child she had borne for
the man about whom the net or circum,
stantial evidence was fast closing. DID
she love him still? She answered. with
all the dramatic effect with which Eve
lyn Nesbit Thaw told her remarkable
story upon the witness stand several
years ago:
Love him? Rather than see him, go
to the electric chair. I would confess
that I myself killed Mrs. Louise Owen
Beattie"
And Henry c. Beattie let his eyes
meet hers for a moment. and then he
lighted another cigarette.
The Coroner's Verdict.
Saturday night the coroner's jury re-
turned a verdict that Mrs. Beattie had
come to her death from a gunshot
wound inflicted by her husband. A few
hours later Paul Beattie and Beulah
Rinford were placed under 5000 bail to
be held as witnesses. They could not
furnish the bail. and the three OF them
went to adjoining cells in the Richmond
Jail.
That's about the story-stripped Of its
more sordid details. The eternal tri-
angle has brought sorrow and trouble
10 humanity sinCe the world came into
existence. Wrecked homes. divorces,
and murders have all been the fruits
of mans infatuation for the other
woman or womans infatuation for the
other" man.
Granting that the verdict of the coro-
ner's jury is correct, that Battle slew
his bride-wife, the question comes to
every one:
Was there not a more humane meth
od for the breaking of the marital ties?
Was 1t necessary that murder should
he done, and done in this brutal way
On the other hand. one must remem-
Der that the husband is as nonchalant
under charges as before they were pre-
ferred: that he strums guitar In tho
Richmond Jail. and that between the
puffs of a cigarette he looks through
The smoke and says:
Don't worry. father. II will come
out alright ! had nothing to do with
he purchase of the gun and didn't
Kill my wife,