The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-11-18
LIFE FOR LIFE
Governor liam q Virginia, :RefDsed Res:
pile in The Beallie Case
KILLED HIS own Wife

AlLLED Mo VWN WIFE
The Convicted Virginia Wife Slayer
Must Die in Electric Chair on No.
vember "a, Unless Unforeseen Cir
cumstance Prevents Execution Of
the Laws Sentence. =
With the frank and emphatic
statement that he believed in the
prisoners guilt, Governor Mann Of
Virginia declined to grant respite
to Henry Clay Beattie, J;r::, convicted
in Chesterfield County, September s,
of wife murder. The. refusal of the
Governor to, interfere. with the sem
tence, which the Supreme Court de-
clared on Monday to be plainly right,
means that Beattie willaGie in the
electric chair at the State peniten-
tiary on Friday, November "a.
Being aware that a final decision
would be reached in his case We'd
nesday, Beattie, in the death cell,
waited eNpectantly for some word
from the Governors office. His gray
haired father, utterly broken in spir-
it and strength, who notified him on
Monday that an appeal had been de-
MED, was spared the ordeal of con-
veying a second message that all
hope was lost.
Rev. Benjamin Dennis, an Epis-
copal minister, who had interceded
in the young mans behalf, went
quickly and quietly to the prison to
inform him that every possible eff
fort 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 sisted called to see
him.
Unlike the, Supreme Court, which
filed no written opinion IN refusing
a writ of error, Governor Mann gave
out a statement, in which he said
that Beattie's appeal was made with
"the purpose, ifspossible, of avoiding
the consequences Of crime which
he knows he is guilty"
The Governor also stated that the
socalled affidavit of Paul Beattie was
not worthy of consideration as evi-
dence: In a signed statement to
Beattie's lawyers and the public,
Governor Mann said:
i while I sympathize very pro-
foundly with the father of He C.
Beattie, Jr., and would he glad to
help him If ] could do so will proper
regard for the public interests, I
cannot with any consideration for
those interests interfere with the due
execution Of the sentence of the
Court in the Beattie case.
II followed that case during the
trial, and as its horrible facts were
developed, regretted that crime so
cruel and malicious should have oc-
Cured within the confines of this
State. In the decision of every ques-
ton which was presented to the able
and impartial Judge who presided at
the trial, he was careful to give the
benefit of every reasonable doubt to
the prisoner; his instructions were
as favorable as counsel for the pris-
oner could have expected; that he
did not err in the admission or eN-
clusion Of evidence or in his instruc-
tions given to the jury, is shown in
the refusal of the Supreme Court of
Appeals to grant writ Of error.
There. is no question OF the hon
esty and fairness of the jurors try
ing the case, nor is there any ques-
tion that the defence made by law
yers of character and ability obtained
for II. c. Beattie, Jr., every advan-
tage guaranteed by law to persons
charged with crime.
THAT Beattie is guilty of the will
full, deliberate and cruel murder Of
his young wife 1 have not the slight
est doubt, nor Is It insisted that there
shall be any greater relief offered
than the commutation of his sentence
to Imprisonment for life.
II do not think the affidavits oG
Paul Beattie, printed in the papers,
or any other evidence or considera-
tiun brought to my attention, suf-
flcient for that purpose, nor do
question the wisdom, I might add,
the necessity of capital punishment
in cases where human life has been
quickly and deliberately taken.
"On the contrary, / believe that
this punishment is necessary for the
protection of society, and II on jury
would not hesitate, in proper case,
to agree to verdict requiring life
for life.
ITO grant respite in so plain a
case would be to set a 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, cer-
tainly, speedily. Therefore, the