Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-09-06
BEAT TIE WANTS
TO SEE HIS BABY.
Accused Still Wearing the White
Rose of Innocence. Says He will
Dine with His Father and
Brother Saturday Night.


Chesterfield Court House, Sept. g..
THE unemotionaal, sphinx-like
stoicism of Henry Clay Beattie, jr.,
whom twelve men, good and true,
must decide guilty or innocent OF
the murder of his wife, lapsed today
as the young prisoner sat in his steel
cell here The prisoner wistfully
looked out at the bit Of sky through
his cell window, and for the first
time since his arrest, expressed a
desire to see his baby.
I'D like to kiss my youngster, :"
he said plaintively. Il haven't seen
him since they put me in here. /"
Hundreds of miles away, in Dover,
Delaware, the two months old child
of tragedy is mothered in the arms
of it's grandmother. Today was the
first time that the fatherly instinct
was expressed by the young prison
er.
The man who withstood seven
hours of bitter ordeal on the stand
almost unmovede was more human
emotional-today now that
the end of his trial is in sight. The
air of braggadocio of the past few
weeks was still there, but the cold
stoicism was changed.
Il feel sure" he declared en-
phatically that my appearance on
the stand and my testimony con-
vinced the jury of my innocence. l
have no doubt that l will be ac-
quilted"
Meanwhile out on the broad lawn
about the courthouse the twelve men
in whose hands rests the fate of
Beatie, strolled about taking their
exercise beneath the spreading syc-
amores. From the barred window
of his cell the youth confronted with
the electric chair could see the men
who hold the balance in which rests
his future, and he strained his eyes
to follow them as they walked about.
For anyone but stole of the
type of Henry Clay Beattie today
would have been a nerve racking
respite. With all the testimony
against him in the hands Of the
jury, he was locked up for the day
while the lawyers wrestled in a
technical legal argument to in
fluence the charge Of Judge Wat
son. The judge went in to Rich
mond to meet the lawyers in cham
bers for their requests to charge.
Only the aged gray haired father
of the prisoner hurried over the long
tedious road to the back country
courthouse to comfort his son in
his ordeal of waiting. The paternal
kiss, and the protecting fatherly arm
were the sole comfort of the youth
today.
Over in Richmond Jail, a slim
seventeen year old girl-woman,
sweetheart of the accused man,
wept bitter tears of disappointment.
In jail for Ave weeks, Beulah Bin
ford enraged because she was not
allowed to shine before the gaping
crowd at the trial, or perhaps be-
cause she was unable to do her
share in the attempt to save her
lover, bitterly scored the keen witted
lawyers for the state.
"They were afraid to put me on
the stand she sobbed, twisting her
little hands in rage. They knew |
would tell the truth and they were
afraid of the truth. l could not
believe that Henry ever killed his
wife and l know that Paul Beattie
lied. Why don't they let me out
Of jail? The trial is over and they
can't use me any more. Some one
will suffer for this
Overcome by grief and rage and
the little girl threw
herself on her iron cot and with
flashing eyes ,drenched with tears,
endeavored to control herself.
The real beginning Of the end of
Beattie's fight for life will come to-
morrow when the lawyers will be-
gin their summarizing arguments.
All of the power of southern elo-
uuence from the lips of the best
lawyers of the south will be exerted
for and against him. But it is gem
orally conceded that the stolid back
country farmers who make up the
jury have pretty well settled the ev-
idsnoe in their minds, and that more
than argument will be necessary to
influence their view Of the case.
II will have dinner at home with
my father and brother and sister,
declared the prisoner today. II have
no doubt that the verdict will be in
by Saturday night. l watched that
Jury just as closely as they watched
me and I am certain that they be-
lieved my story and will set me
free. / have made arrangements
for family dinner on Sunday to
celebrate my release"
Over in Richmond the detectives
for the prosecution still continue