The Mena weekly star., 1911-08-31
WEAVING WEBFOR
 WIFE MURDERER
Many Witnesses Saw or Heard Things Which Tend to Draw Beattie Into Deliberately
 Planned Murder.

Chesterfield Court House, Va. Aug. 29.-The greatest sensation in the trial of Henry Clay Beattie, who stands indicted for the mur- der of his young wife, came yes terday afternoon when Paul D. Be- attic, a cousin of Henry Clay Be- attic, Jr, testified the accused had told him 2f hours after the murder how sorry he was The had done It," circumstance relating to the crime that the witness had hitherto suppressed. Coming as dramatic ally and as unexpectedly as the pathetic tale an hour before of Mrs. R. D. Owen, mother of the dead woman as the domestic infelicity .of her daughter due to her hus- bands disease, the brief but thrill ing testimony given by Paul Beattie created a profound sensation. Paul Beatties at the coroner's inquest a nervous wreck, but today strong, determined, poured out tale that confessedly has troubled his mind not only because he purchased the shotgun for Henry, but because he did not until today tell all he knew of the case. With quivering lips and tear dimmed eyes, he set forth to tell the story against which his heart and sympathy had fought days before.
 Admitted Killing Wife? '.
 'I hated to testify against my own flesh and kin" he said, as the muscles of his throat pulsated, but my wife, my child and the duty owe to my city forced me to do so."
 The gasps that rose simultan- eously from the throats of those in the stulfy courtroom were strik- ingly audible, and for a moment the crowd held it's breath while Paul Beattie continued.
 Henry told me himself that he wanted me to stick by him, but said to him: This looks mighty black to me and you got me into a lot of trouble.' Henry told me, I wish to God 1 had not done it. l would not have done it for a mil lion dollars, but she never loved me; she only married me for my money.
 Dogs Fell Down.
 Major James D. Patton of Rich- mond, who went to the scene on the day following the murder, with bloodhounds, testified that the dogs failed to take any scent of an all legged bearded highwayman.
 Mandy Alexander, an old negro woman, when called, testified as to finding the gun. It became known today that Beattie's lawyers had re- ceived a letter from J. c. Miner, of Louisville, Ky, who says two men, whom he perhaps can produce, told him they were walking along the Midlothian turnpike on the night of July 18th, and saw a man with gun accost an automobile. Such testi- mony would tend to support Beat ties story of the bearded highway man, but from what can be learned here today the defense places but little faith in the story.
 R. L. Snyder swore that between sunset and dark the night of the murder he saw a motor car similar to Beatties halt at the roadside not far from the scene of the crime. A man got out, he said, and the man, the prosecution will attempt to show, was Beattie, concealing the shotgun with which it is alleged he shot his wife.
 Sam Tally swore that at if o'clock lhat night, sitting on the back porch of his home, not far from the road side, he heard the scream of a wo- man, then a shot and finally the noise of motor car starting
 Did you hear anything else, the cries of man for help, or the toot- ing of a horn?" asked the defense in support of Beattie's story that he had tried to summon aid after the bearded highwayman had fired into the car.
 II did not" the witness said.
 Defendant Will Take Stand.
 As result of Paul Beattie's tes- timony. it is now admitted by the defense that the accused man must take the stand, and upon his story will rest the hope of his acquittal.
 This was admitted today today by by the attorneys, when, after a long con- ference, they announced that dur ing the trial they would put Henry