Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-09-16
BEATTIE GUILTY
OF WIFE MURDER
Jury After So Minutes COnviCtS
Him In First Degree.
OVERCOME BY VERDICT
II Have Not Lost Yet" He Tells
Friends When Execution is Set For

Friends When Execution is Set For
Nov. "a.
Henry Clay Beatte. Jr., was found
guilty of murder in the first degree at
Chesterfield Court House. Va. The
Jury had been out for only fifty.eight
minutes when ii came into court with
a verdict of guilty No degree of guilt
was specified, however, and Judge
Watson directed that the jury retire
again to consider the matter
Ii seemed only minute or two that
the jury was gone. When they re.en-
tered the foreman announced that the
jury held Beattie to be guilty of first
degree murder in putting his wife to
death on the night of July is last. The
penalty Is electrocution.
The prisoner stood rigidly in the bar
as he heard the verdict. his face
flushed and his cheeks twitching nery-
ously. When he heard the conviction
he sank into his chair and buried his
head in his hands. For several min
utes he did not speak, and his father
beside him also covered his face with
his hands.
The foremans announcement rang
cut in the quiet court room, the other
eleven jurymen simultaneously fairly
shouting Guilty"
Counsel for the defense moved TO
set aside the verdict on the ground OF
being contrary to law and evidence
and of misdrection by the court and
because of various rulings on the evil
dence excepted to by the defense.
The court overruled the motion for
a new trial
Judge Watson stated that the trial
consisted almost entirely of questions
OF fact. and that no questions OF law
entered materially into the decision of
the jury.
The defense asked for ninety days
to file petition for a writ OF error to
the supreme court of appeals of Vir
ginia. Attorney Wendenburg, for the
state. asked that the defense be re
strieted to within a few days of the
meeting OF the supreme court in No.
vember.
Judge Watson decided that In view
of the fact that there had been little
delay In the actual trial OF the case
the request of counsel for the accused
was reasonable and granted stay Of
execution for ninety days.
Judge Watson sentenced Beattie 10
be electrocuted at Richmond on Nov.
"a. Asked il he had anything to say
why he should not be sentenced, the
prisoner replied.
Il have nothing to say"
To friends Beattie said:
II have not lost yet"
The Judge stated as a preliminary
to passing sentence that he desired to
add nothing to the anxiety of the con-
yicted man lie passed sentence as
follows:
The jury has found you guilty in
the first degree. and therefore your life
is forfeited and the judgment of this
court is that on Nov. "a you be deliv-
cred into the custody of the superin.
tcndent of the penitentiary and that
between the hours OF sunrise and sun.
set your life shall be extinguished
and may God have mercy on your
soul"
Beattie's father buried his face in
his hands and appeared overcome. The
prisoner smilingly shook hands with
several acquaintances.
In sending the jury back to fix the
degree of guilt, Judge Watson an.
nounced that under the Virginia law
every murder was presumed to be
murder in the second degree unless
otherwise specified. and 1t was Incum.
bent upon the defense to reduce it TO
manslaughter,