Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-08-26
4. c. BEAT TIE MAY
TAKE THE STAND.
A Mysterious Witness for the Prose-
cution Expected to Appear
Prisoner Startled Out of
His Frozen Calm.

Chesterfield, Courthouse, Va, Aug.
26.-A mysterious witness whose testi-
mony is planned to smooth the way OF
Henry Clay Beattie, ir., to the electric
cbairfor the emurder Of his wife, loomed
up today.
Followingrtheir field day yesterday,
when point after point was scored against
the calm eyed debonair young man,
the prosecution declared today that
there is at least one witness who has
not been mentioned in connection with
the case. Whether it is man or wom-
an, they would not say, but they were
certain that the new witness will clinch
The chain of circumstances which will
convict Bpattie.
The future loome1 somherly for
Beattie VII. II court hogan today Wit
neSses 10 further clinct the testimony
OF yesterday which indicated tha, Beat
tie visited the scene Of the crime early
on the evening of the kiliug-to hide
the gun, the prosecution says-were
called. With this point nailed down
and the fact established that the mur-
dered girl uttered shrill cry OF terror
before the gun was fred, thu, proseou-
ton will have the ground work OF their
case complete. Then will come Paul
Beattie with his story of buying the
gun, the Norfolk woman who will testify
that they heard Bsattie declare he
wanted to be rid OF his wife. and
Beulah Binford.
The steady grinding OF the mills
against him today startled Henry
Beattie out OF his frozen calm, and he
wriggled uneaslly in his seat as he
framed the line of cross-examination
which lawyers Smith aud Carter fol-
lowed. The lawyers, too. we're appre.
hensive and they pounded witnesses
mercilessly to break down the web
which they see slowly but surely gath
ering about their client.
The aged gray-haired father OF the
prisoner, seated With his arm about his
accused son, showed more plainly than
anyone else in the court room the grad
ual trend OF the evidence against the
boy whose troubles have drawn the
lines of care on the old mans pallid
face.
The possibility OF Henry Beattie tax
ing the stand at tile conclusion of
the trial TO make the final appeal of his
fight for life loomed up large today.
Harry Smith, chief counsel for the ac-
cused man, nervous aud troubled over
the strength OF the case the prosecution
is making, was in favor of putting his
client forward to make his own last
plea. But the Beattie family, and it is
believed Beattie himself, we're opposed
to that course.
When Beattie took his place in the
COURTROOM today and began to scan a
newspaper aud many in the room had
discarded their coats, Judge Watson s
Virginia temperament revolted.
Gentlemen, | have a request
must make OF you all. This is the
first time in my remembrance geutle-
men have entered courthouse with
out theiri coats. There are ladies
present and Virginia gentlemen should
not appear in the court house without
their coats"
The shirtwaist squad donned their
outer garments.
That the early promises of speedy
trial will not materialise was indicated
when the defense today excused all
their witnesses until next Tuesday.
Even then the prosecution said they
might not have completed their case.
E. R. NIosely, one of the boy Joy.
riders, who passed the Beattie car the
night of the killing on the Midlothian
turnpike, was the first witness OF the
day.
Mosely told of seeing car which he
believed was the Beattie machine
standing at the side OF the road at
the scene of the crime.
The man in the car he saw was work
ing out in the road seemingly doing
something to the engine and the wo-
man, supposed to be Mrs. Beattie, was
standing on the left running board of
the machine, Beattie has denied that
he stopped his car at any time the
night OF the killing except when he was
held up by the bearded man"
Mosely said that he and his compan-
ions offered their aid to the occupants
OF the standing car but that their prof
ferred assistance was refused.
Carter was unable to shake the boy
on cross examination. The young men
talked back at the lawyer without hesi-
tation and Carter finally gave up his
attempt to worry him.
W. B. Sydnor, another Of the boys
followed. He corroborated the testi-
mony of Mosely as to the car seen
standing at the sideasf the road. he
declared that theswoman on the
running board of the machine wore a
tan coat, either rain coat or duster.
Mrs. Beattie wore rain coat when she
met her death. These boys passed The
scene of the crime according to Sydnor
between 10:45 and Ills, or with a few
minutes of the time Beattie says hi:
wife was killed. Carter's efforts tc
shake Syduor's story we're unsu ccess
full.
Roland Lassite,, another OF the boys
told the same story, adding. that he
thought the machine standing beside
the road was Buick car He said ht
was able to tell the different makes o
automobiles by their appearance