The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-15

pleteIy lost his surroundings. The young
man declared that he did not recall what
had occurred after he began to hit the
pipe" but supposed the affidavit was
taken then.
Branded as False.
That statement" said Mr.. BaIderson
last night, is absolutely and unquali-
fiedly false. Young Beattie visited my
office without the aid of any one. He
came there of his own free will and an
swered such questions as were asked
him with a clear mind and full compre-
hension of what he was doing. Duress
and coercion played no part in the taking
of testimony"
One of those who was present during
the taking of testimony says that the
young witness, with the same COOL
debonair air that characterized him dur
ing the trial, cheerfully admitted that
certain vital points Of his first testimony
were false. He told why he had been
persuaded to give false evidence against
his cousin, and showed no more emotion
than he did when on the witness stand
he wove the final link that convinced a
jury of Henry Clay Beattie's guilt.
Those who heard the testimony fur
nished in the deposition assert that its
publication will result in the greatest
sensation that has occurred during the
entire case. They assert positively that
the evidence offered in the affidavit Is
sufficient to grant the convicted slayer
either a complete pardon or a retrial.
Whether Paul Beattie now faces charges
Of perjury or not those present will not
say. They seem absolutely confident,
however, that If the deposition is ever
brought to light and compared with the
young mans original testimony it will
absolutely nullify whatever evidence he
gave during the trial -
Arranged with Lawyer.
Young Beattie. with his uncle. Henry
Clay BeattIe, came to Washington on
the morning of October o. having pre-
viously made arrangements with Mr..
BaIderston whereby they were to meet
him at his office. The young man, an
nounced TO his friends that he intended
coming to Washington to get work and
probably would remain here a week or
more. Beattie registered at the Vir-
ginia Hotel, In Third street, and re-
manned in this city more than a week
before any of the newspapers knew of
his arrival.
Meantime, through the young defend,
ants attorneys in Richmond, the story
got out that Beattie had given an affi-
davit here that was disastrous to the
state, and would either clear his cousin
entirely or pave the way for another
trial. At first the young man absolutely
denied this. Later he told the story of
the three men, the pipe" and his sub
lime Inconsistencies of what happened
afterward.
Mr.. Balderston, who is we'll known in
legal circles here, expressed serious
doubts that the young man had ever
made any such statements. Inasmuch
as Mr.. Balderston is known at the Wash
tnSton bar as one of the foremost in
the practice of the law, Paul Beattie's
story of the pipe" is given no credence
by other attorneys.
When told last night that the affidavit
had been filed with Gov. Mann, in the
hope OF securing pardon or commuta-
ten of sentence or a retrial Mr.. Balder-
ston said he had been bound to secrecy
and could not give any statement con-
Germ ng the contents of the affidavit.