The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-09-07
WILL TAKE STAND
IN OWN DEFENSE

CHESTERFIELD c. H Special
1t was pretty generally reported about
the court green Tuesday morning that
the commonwealth would today rest
its case.
1t is now confidently expected that
Henry Clay Beattie. Jr., will take the
stand in his own defense. In view of
the statements made yesterday after
noon by Paul Beattle. it now appears
evident, If the defense cOntemplates
any rebuttal whatever, the accused
must take the stand TO deny that he
made the confession to his cousin.
II. NJ. Smith. of counsel for Beattie.
VIII not say positively whether or
not he intends to put his client on the
witness stand, though to the reporters
who quizzed him, however, he init
mated that he would let the accused
testify in his own behalf.
YOU NEWSPAPER MEN May
GUESS FOR YOURSELVES" SAID
HE, WHETHER A MAN IN MR.
BEAUTIES PLACE WOULD RATH-
Err LET OTHERS TELL WHAT HE
SAID, OR TELL 1T HIMSELF. THEN,
TOO, YOU CAN JUDGE FROM HIS
CONDUCT AND MENTAL CALDER.
FEW INTELLIGENT LAWYERS RE-
IOUS TO GO ON THE STAND-THATl
LIGENCE."
These. words conveyed the distinct
as a witness. Mr.. Smith. Judging by |
what he said today. evidently thinks |
Paul Pau Beattie oyerdid things when
Probably Not Call BeuInh.
Beulah Binford did not come over to |
: hesterheld today. 1t looks as If the |
state will not use her as a witness.
The Commonwealth. up to this time. |
has been relying upon BeOlah Bin
FORD TO substantiate enough of Paul'sl
to give the whole a strong
semblance of facts. Now, however. the
attorneys representing the prosecu-
ton are by no means so sure that
they will call Beulah Binford at all.
Beulah an Uncertain Quantity.
They do not know just what the |
girl will say. One day she intimates
that she will do all she can for the
commonwealth; the next she expresses
deep sympathy for the accused and
declares that she wants to help him as
much as possible.
Coming. over, to Chesterfield this
morning in Robert L. Allport's auto
mobile, the prisoner had but little to |
Scherer and devoted the major part of |
his time TO manicuring his nails He /
was In no talkative mood. but seemed |
Accused Feeling Fine"
when Henry arrived this morning |
he appeared to have entirely regained |
ms old composure. He wore the light |
gray suit which he bought a short |
time before, and which still looks |
brand new.
I'm feeling fine" he said in an
swer to several friends who met him |
as he stepped from the automobile in |
Henrico county jail.
Paul Beattie was at the courthouse |
when his cousin arrived. Paul shows |
no signs of nervousness, though he |
was severely grilled yesterday by At
tOrney Harry Smith, and has as far |
as outward appearances indicate. en- |
tirely recovered from the violent at |
tack of fainting and hysteria from /
winch so nearly caused his death |
while the inquest was in progress.
l.. /. Scherer said this morning that |
II had not yet been decided whether |
or not Beulah will be called. The re- |
port as TO her non-appearance (unless |
she be called in rebuttal testimony |
seems direct, however, as Louis Wen
denburg, when asked if the State would |
enc nd ITS case today, replied in the |
Paul Beattie has said under oath
that the day after the murder Henry |
asked him to take a message to Beu-
lah. According to Paul, the accused
would kill her unless she kept her
mouth shut. (Henry spent a part of |
the night preceding the murder with
the Binford girl.)
Defense, Too. Afraid of Girl.
If the girl will now swear that Paul
delivered Henry's message. as PAM
declares he did, his whole story would
be strengthened, but it is evident that
rather than run the risk of putting
the girl on the stand the prosecution
will allow Pauls story to stand as best
1t can.
PauIs account might be contradict
ed if Beulah should be put in the wit
ness chair by the defense, but the de-
Tense seems TO be equally afraid of the
girl, not knowing whether she will
testify TO their liking or in support
of the Commonwealth.