The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-11-23
LAST HOPE VANISHES.
Governor Declines Even to Grant
Brief. Respite.

DTlC1 IeSSp1ICs
Richmond, Va, Nov. 15.-With
the frank and emphatic statement
that he believed in the prisoners
guilt, Gov. Mann to-day declined to
grant respite to Henry Clay Beattie,
Jr., convicted in Chesterfield county,
September 8, of wife murder. The re-
fusal Of the governor to interfere
with the sentence, which the supreme
court declared on Monday to be
plainly right, means that Beattie will
die in the electric chair at the State
penitentiary on Friday, November "a.
Being aware that final decision
would be reached in his case to-day,
Beattie, in the death cell, waited ex-
pectantly for some word from the
father, utterly broken in spirit and
strength, who notified him on Monday
that an appeal had been denied, was
spared the ordeal of conveying a Sec
ond message that all hope was lost.
Hears Fate in Silence.
The Rev. Benjamin Dennis, an
Episcopal minister, who had interced
ed in the young mans behalf, went
quickly and quietly to the prison to
inform him that every possible effort
to save him had failed. Beattie heard
the announcement in silence, though
he was visibly affected. Later in the
afternoon his father, brother and
young sister called to see him.
Unlike the supreme court, which
filed no written opinion in refusing
writ of error, Gov. Mann gave out
statement, in which he said that
Beattie's appeal was made with 1.-The
purpose, if possible, of avoiding the
consequences of crime of which he
knows is guilty.
Not Worth Considering.
The governor also stated that the
so-called affidavit of Paul Beattie was.
not worthy of consideration as evil
dence.
In a signed statement to Beattie's
lawyers and the public, Gov. Mann
said: 'While sympathize very pro-
foundly with the father of H. C.
Beattie, Jr., and would be glad to
help him if could do so with proper
regard for the public interests, 1 can
not with any consideration for those
interests interfere with the due exc
cution of the sentence of the court in
the Beattie case.
Followed Trial Closely.
Il followed that case during the
trial, and as it's horrible facts devel-
oped, regretted that a crime so cruel
and malicious should have occurred
within the confines of this State. In
the decision of every question which
was presented to the able and impair
tial judge who presided at the trial,
he was careful to give the benefit of
every reasonable doubt to the prison.
er; his instructions were as favor
able as counsel for the prisoner could
have expected; that he did not err
in the admission of exclusion of evil
dence or in his instructions given to
the jury, is shown in the refusal of
the supreme court of appeals to grant
writ of error.
Defendants Rights Protected.
There is no question of the hon.
esty and fairness of the jurors trying
the case, nor is there any question
that the defence made by lawyers of
character and ability obtained for H.
c. Beattie, Jr., every advantage guar
anteed by law to persons charged
with crime.
THAT Beattie is guilty of the will
full, deliberate and cruel murder of
his young wife have not the slight
est doubt, nor is it insisted that there
shall be any greater relief offered
than the communication of his SEN
tence to Imprisonment for life.
Il do not think the afidavits of
Paul Beattie, printed in the papers,
or any other evidence of consideration
brought to my attention, sufficient for
that purpose, nor do I question the
wisdom, l might add, the necessity
of capital punishment in cases where
human life has been quickly and de-
liberately taken.
"Life for Life.'
"On the contrary believe that this
punishment is necessary for the pro-
lection of society, and if on jury I
would not hesitate, in proper case,
to agree to verdict requiring life for
life.
ITO grant a respite in so plain a
case would be to set precedent;
would be to temporize with the law
and to encourage appeals to the su-
preme court, with the sole purpose
of gaining time. I believe the best
way to prevent such crimes as this
is to punish them adequately, certain
ly, speedily. Therefore, the judg-
ment of the circuit court of Chester