The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-08-24

An inkling Of what line the defense
in the Beattie case will probably pur-
sue was secured today by The Journal
when 1t was learned that Harry NJ.
Smith, Jr., Of counsel for Henry Clay
Beattie, Jr., will introduce at the trial
witnesses who will go on the stand
and swear that they not only saw but
talked with Paul Beattie late the night
of the murder.
Ii viii DE gathered from this that
the defense Will seek to riddle the
alibi which the cousin says he is con-
fident he can establish, and in this
way directly connect Paul Beattie with
the crime.
1t will be remembered that when
Paul was on the stand at the inquest
into the death of Mrs. Beattie, Harry
Smith stroVe to prove that Paul
bought the gun to use on the Mayo
Bridge, where he was employed as
Waterman. and that when he learned
that Mrs. Beattie was slain with the
same weapon, ne shouldered the re-
spOnsibility on Henry.
When asked by the attorney if it
was not a fact that he told Vein
stein, the pawnbroker from whom the
gun was purchased, that he desired
the weapon to use on the bridge, Paul
replied in the negative
The Saturday morning Immediately
following the murder a reporter for
The journal was assured by both
his mother-in-law. that they We're pre-
pared to establish an alibi for Paul if
this was necessary. In view of the tack
expected to be taken by the defense
it goes without saying that this will
be necessary, as il is regarded as not
improbable that the defense will seek
to place the original responsibility
for the purchase of the gun upon
Paul Beattie.
The witnesses who will swear that
they saw and talked with Paul late the
night of the murder are employees of a
paper mill not stones throw from
While he was employed as watchman
on the structure Paul is said to have
made the acquaintance of a number Of
the mill operatives and is known to
have frequently visited the mill and
chatted with the employees when he was
off duty.
The opera tives through whom the de-
Tense will prove that Paul Beattie was
not at home on the night of the muir
Chesterfield side of the river, say there
is no mistake: that they have known
Paul Beattie for some time and that
they are sure Of their man.
Harry Smith is said to have paid a
visit to the mill Monday night and was
in earnest conversation with the opera
tiVes, or those who saw and talked
with Paul, fer some time.
Summon Many Witnesses.
list of fifty-four names was pre-
pared at a conference of attorneys
and detectives for the Commonwealth
in the Beattie case yesterday. This
list will be given Sheriff w. G. Gill,
who will be asked to have all of the
parties summoned to Chesterfield
County Court next Monday morning.
The names were not made public.
as the prosecution is reserVing its
fire. and for tear that some of those
TO whom the notoriety would be dis
tasteful would leave the State were
they to learn that they were to be
summoned.
The detectives have talked with
about $50 persons who in one way
or another have been able to throw
some light either on the murder it
self or the life Of Henry Clay Beat
tie, Jr. This great mass of informa-
ton has been reduced to writing and
indeXed.
OF these only fifty-four were found
to have information that is believed
to be sufficiently material as to JUS
tify their being called into the case.
OF those called many will give only
cumulative evidence, and il may not
be necessary to put them on the
stand.
The defense as yet has not indi-
Gated what witnesses it will call.
POsfpOnement Would Help Accused.
1t Is agreed that postponement of
the case would be of inestimable value
to the accused, as witnesses lose their
freshness OF memory and are apt to
overlook details after a lapse OF time
win SO large NUMBER as nIty-IOur
IL is improbable that all could be Sc
cured three months hence.
Should the case go to another term
steps will doubtless be taken look
ing to the release OF Paul Beattie and
Reulah Rinford, material witnesses for
the CommonW ealth, who have been de-
tained IN the Henrico county jail since
shortly after the commission of the
crime.
Once free. the Commonwealth would
have no assurance, except their bond,
that they would be within the State
when the case IL again called to trial.