Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-09-01
BEATT|E WILL
TAKE STAND
COUSIN STICKS TO TESTIMONY;
PRISONER WILL BRAND IT
A FABRICATION.
BOY WITNESS SPRINGS SURPRISE
Prosecution Delays Resting Case to
Try to Disprove His Story
other Witnesses on
Stand.

Henry Clay Beattie, Jr, is going to
take the witness stand and deny, first,
that he shot his bride. Then he will
declare that the story of his cousin,
Paul Beattie-to the effect that Henry
confessed his crime to him and beg.
ged him to keep quiet about twas
an utter fabrication. Next he will
stick to his tale that highwayman
held him up and shot the young wom-
an while trying to kill him. Finally,
he will defy the cross-examiners of
the commonwealth of Virginia to
shake his narration. The cousin. Paul,
underwent an hour and a half of
cross-examination. At the end of 1t
bis testimony remained unshaken in
It's main points. Then It became ap.
parent that the defense intends to re-
flute his testimony by placing on the
stand the prisoner himself. Harry
Smith, counsel for Beattie. made this
announcement casually during the
days session when John Sandifer, in
stead of giving expected testimony
for the prosecution, gave character
testimony for the defense and Prosecu.
tor Wendenburg entered objection.
Prisoner Confident.
When Mr.. Smith said that he in
tended to put the prisoner on the
stand. the court allowed Sandifer to
proceed with his delineation of Henry
C. Beattie, Jr.'s character and reputa.
ton.
But his smile was obviously forced
and there were few who heard his
declaration who believed that he could
stand up under the keen questioning
of Commonwealth Attorney Wen
denburg, which will be prompted by
Detective Luther L. Scherrer. who
worked up the case against Beattie.
Against his testimony will be placed
that the Beulah Binford, the alleged
rafinity." If Henry swears that he
did not send message to her saying:
III you open your mouth I'll kill
you." she will be called to swear that
he did say Just that. If he swears
that he did not spend the night with
her before the tragedy. she will say
that he did.
The Jurors then will have to con.
slider the word Of Henry, who ha.
everything at stake. against that Of
Paul. who has nothing; and then agar
Of Henry. who faces the electric chair
against that of Beulah, who face.
only moving pictures and vaudeville
engagements. And whom will they be
ueve?
Commonwealth Surprised.
The state expected to rest its case
but an unexpected statement from one
Of its own witnesses caused a delay
A boy named Alexander Robertson
was called to swear that he had picked
up in the roadway. at point where
pool Of blood indicated the place Of
the Staying, yellow shell hairpin be
longing to Mrs. Beattie.
The lad told this. then went on, un
asked, and volunteered the statement
that he had come across second pool
Of blood about a mile and half alona
the Midlothian turnpike towards young
Mrs. Beattie's home. This indicated
merely that part Of Henry Beattie's
Dtory-that part to the effect that he
had hurried home Immediately after
the highwayman had shot his wife
and had stopped a mile and a half
away to light lamp which had gone
out-was true. This is in line with
the contention of the defense that all
blood on the road oozed from the car
In which Beattie alleges his wife was
shot.
Other witnesses in the main corrob-
Grated Paul's story. The only inter-
esting thing about them was that some
Of them had long been personal
friends Of the defendant and avoided
his gaze as they entered the court
room. 1t is expected that sometime
today the commonwealth will rest It's
case and the defense will begin. Young
Beattie will probably be the last wit
ness-the defense hoping he may
prove so strong that his words will
contradict every damaging thing the
prosecution has brought out against
him.
Beattie, the accused, and his cousin
were confined in separate cells In
Chesterfield county Jail. Paul hither.
to had been kept in confinement in
Richmond in default of bond. but
after he finished on the witness stand,
Judge Watson suddenly ordered his
retention in jail here.
MRS. NEAPoLITANA TO PRISON.
Famous Canadian Slayer 10 Parted
Erom Aabe and Aaojns Life Term.