Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-08-29

ldlts
The prisoner figited uneasily durin
his cousins testimony. He buried hi
fingers into a crumpled handkeTchie
and at times almost showed it into hi
mouth.
Before court adjourned counsel fo
the defence announced that the cross
examination of Paul Beattie would b
continued tomorrow
The accused was attired in a gre.
suit to-day and looked refreshed ate
his rest in commodious cell in Rich
nond over Sunday.
Detective L. l.. Scherer immediately
took the stand.
"You have examined or talked witt
nearly all the witnesses for the prose-
eution and have been practically n
charge of gathering the evidence fof
the commonwealth since the murder
occurred have you not?"
Il have" answered Scherer.
Counsel for the defence continued
questioning along this line with the
apparent purpose of determining
whether or not Scherer had been
coaching the witnesses. including those
in jail.
Did Mr.. Beattie tell you that he
failed to stop at any of the houses
along the way because he knew there
was a physician at owen home where
he was taking his wife,"
In this connection | asked Mr..
Beattie simply if he had stopped ct
any houses along the route to set peo-
pie on the trail of the man, who he
said, shot his wife. He said he was
hurrying to get her to a doctor. /
then asked if he did not know his wife
was dead He answered that he had
tried after she was shot to feel her
pulse and heart, but could not tell II
she was dead He said he stopped
only to fix his lights"
On redirect examination Scherer
told OF the condition of the Beattie
automobile while he examined the day
after the murder He particularly de-
seribed the drip pan underneath,
pointing out that hardened grease COW
cred the tin and that no trace of blood
could be found.
The prosecutions idea was 70
demonstrate that the big pool of blood
in the road did not come through the
machine and that Mrs. Beattie was
not shot while in the automobile which
was alleged by Beattie.
A woman dressed in black was sud-
denly brought into the room and took
the stand She was Mrs. Owen, moth
er of the dead woman.
Your name" asked Prosecutor
wendenburg, as Beattie's clothes We're
brought in.
Mrs. r. " owen"
You were the mother of the dead
woman?"
Yes.
Il wish you would tell the jury all
about your daughter living happily
with her husband said Mr.. Wenden-
burg
There was pause, while counsel
for the defence conferred. The pres
eIce of the woman in mourning caused
a sensation in the courtroom, as her
coming was entirely unexpected. Beat
tie fidgeted nervously in his seat. In
answer to the question of Mr.. Wendell
burg concerning Mrs. Beattie's home
life, Mrs. Owen said:
"She vas sad and had frequent cry
ing spells
The witness spoke in weak, low
voice AS she faced the jury, she
lifted her veil. showing pale, wrink-
led face, but did not look at the pris-
oner.
do you know what was the cause
of Mrs Beattie's SORROW"
Il do not know. She did not tel
me-"
did she show you anything as 8
cause for looking sad or having the
crying spells?"
I'VE object" snapped counsel fol
the defence.
The prosecution announced that i
hoped to show that Beattie's physica
condition had caused his wife sorrow
On objection attorneys for the prose
cution said that they would defer tn
question to take another line
did Beattie ever go out with hi
wife alone" asked Mr.. Wendenbure
mot until that night"
Here the court decided to recess t
a jury room to discuss certain point
concerning prospective testimony Q
the witness.
II think the prisoner should be pres
emit suggested Mr.. Wendenburg. ant
the court agreed.
After the conference, the eXamina
ton of Mrs. owen was resumed. Sh
testified al length. indicating tina
there was no doubt of young Mrs
Beattie having knowledge of the phys
ieal condition of her husband. Thu
testimony brought out that the condi
tion of Beattie became known to hi
wife on the Thursday before she wal
killed
ION the night of the murder" sale
Mrs. owen, y asked Beattie VIII,
could have been so cruel as to kill al
innocent girl He gave no explana
tion but said: Take me out of tn
room"
DID you notice any tears on tn
prisoners face then?" No"
Cross examination then began b
Mr.. Carter for the defence. The a,
torney drew from Mrs. owen the ad
mission that her knowledge of BE
attie's condition was based purely o
what her daughter had told her M
Carter moved to strike out the evi
dence and Judge Watson reserved de
cision.
You spoke of your daughter hay