Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-11-24
Virginian Confesses Mur-
der of Wife in Shadow
of Chair.
MINISTERS HEAR 1T
Admits He Is Sorry, but Ex-
presses Satisfaction at Max
ing Peace With God.

o. @NNF' -
Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., be-
fore being electrocuted today,
confessed the murder of his
wife. His statement follows
Il, Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., de-
sirous of standing right before
God and man, do, on this 23d
day of November, 1911, con-
fess my guilt of the crime
charged against me. Much that
was published concerning the
details is not true, but the
awful fact, without the harrow
ing circumstances, remains.
For this action am truly sor-
ry, and, believing that 1 am at
peace with God, and am soon
to pass into his presence, this
statement is made.
Beattie' statement was sign
ed in the presence of two at
tending ministers.
DEATH CHAMBER IN DARKNESS.
Richmond. Va, Nov. 24.-Henry
Clay Beattie. Jr., was electrocuted al
7:23 this morning.
The death chamber was somberly
bare. and IL witnesses watched the
preparations silently. The strap and
steel clamps dangled from the arms OF
the chair. The formali'ies completed,
the anal summons WAS read to the
doomed man in his cell. Beattie was
escorted to the death chamber by War
den Woods and deputies. At signal
the death chamber was plunged into
blackness, save for single light I'M
mediately over the chair. This was
so hooded that It outlined the chair in
a circle of blazing radlsnce, so intense
that the remainder of the room seemed
IN utter darkness The witnesses
scarce could see each other.
SEES ONLY TUE CHAIR.
The prisoner saw nothing but the
chair. Beattie took his place; the
prison surgeon and electricians adjust
ed the straps: a half dozen clamps
quickly were thrown into place and
snapped. The cap was adjusted and
the attendants stepped back. The
warden raised his hand. instantly
Beattie's body stiffen~I with such yiO-
Ieuce the straps croaEsd with strains.
the clamps ratified az though they
were castanets il the hands OF death,
then that which once had been Henry
Clay Beattie, Jr.. relaxed.
LISTENS FOR LAST BEAT.
It was just 1928 wher. the shock was
applied a minute Later Beattie was
dead A surgeon with q ste,hoscope
listened for another faint beating OF
the heart that less than 60 seconds be
fore had lived He stepped back and
announced. He is dead"
The witnesses filed out. one or two
ghastly pale. as they stepped into the
early morning light
No REL ATIVE PRESENT.
No member OF the Beatue family was
present Al the execution. After the
legal formalities were complied with,
and Witnesses gone, Eea;tie's body was
removed from the ChaI. tc the mOrtu-
ary room adjoining The coroner ar
rived shortly aftcrward. and prepa-a-
tious were made 70. the removal OF
the body. The elder Be&ttie last night
sent Undertake. Brown he suit which
his son wore when the jury declared
his guilt In this the body viii be clad
fer burial
BABE NOW A. ORPHAN.
Dover. Del. Nov. 2s-R. Y. Owen,
father Of the murdered wife of Henry
Clay Beatrie. Jr.. when given news Of
Byltrie's execution t0's morning. de-
cli-ed 70 make Il s,atsgaeut We have
not and will rot discuss the affair out
side OF the family circle" he said.
However. h willingly talked about the
C-mouths-o-d son now an orphan. The
child receives much at.en;iou from the
,2mlly. and owen saws they intend 10
Keep and ra!se IL
STORY or TIT; CRIME.
The crime for which Henry Clay
Beatt5e. Jr.. wSs executed today was
one or the NEST sensational IN the
-TiU-aaj E.stc-y Of Virginia. Inter
est = tae murder was countrywide
owing 20 its unusual features and
he swift movement Of Justice.
On The night OF July Is. last, Beat.
tie drove his automobile into Rich
moEd. carrying with him the body
Of his wife. which had a gaping
shotgun wound IL the head. lie de-