The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-08-28
WILL TRY TO HIx A MOTIVE
Without Calling the Binford Girl to
the Witness Stand.


Chesterfield. Aug. 2S.-The most vital
broadside of testimony thus far aimed
against Henry c. Beattie, Jr., on trial
for wife murder was planned by the
prosecution for today's session of court
here.
The story of the motive, the under
lying force that might lncite a mar
to murder his wife was carefully as
sembled by the commonwealth fol-
emission through a string of witnesses
Besides arranging for testimony con
cerning Beattie's relations with Beulah
Binford as Indicative of his alleged de-
sire to eliminate his wife so that com
panionship with the Binford girl might
continue unObstructed. the common
wealth was prepared to pour into the
record the evidence of physicians and
others who would tell of Beattie's al
legged physical ills, in an effort to show
that the prisoner feared his wife might
inform his father of them and that the
latter might then disoyn him.
From Richmond's underworld the
prosecution has secured witnesses to
testify as to Beattie's visits to certain
resorts and as to his being seen at
such places with the Binford girl. The
prosecution intends to make an effort
to impress the jury with the testimony
sidered not at all impossible that if
by the end of the day the apparent
effect on the jury had been sufficiently
strong, the state would not revert again
in the trial to this line of argument.
Such a. contingency would mean, it is
admitted, the possible elimination from
the stand of Beulah Binford, the girl
in the case from whom the public but
neither the prosecution nor defense has
looked forward to dramatic testimony.
1t is pointed out that the Binford girl
has made many statements and given
many interviews, their tenor so di-
versifed as to make her an uncertain
witness.
May Leave Her Out,
1t is feared that by possible incon-
sistent statements on the stand the ef-
feet of her testimony would be nulli-
fled and it is reasoned by the prosecu-
tion in this respect that other witnesses
and evidence such as is contained in
letters or previous admissions by the
prisoner sufficiently establish the reta-
tions between the Binford girl and
Beattie. The prosecution is interested
in the girl only insofar as she nltghr
have furnished the motive and numer-
Gus witnesses other than the girl are
available to aid the commonwealth on
this point Should the state today COM
plete its fight on the motive it hopes
next to have Paul Beattie on the stand.
to begin its direct evidence concerning
the purchase of the gun by Paul for
Henry Paul Beattie was expected 10
be brought again to the court house
from Richmond today but the chances
of his taking the witness chair were
considered slight.
The defense planned Immediately on
the opening of court to commence a
scathing attack on the testimony
given Saturday by Luther L. Scnerer,
the Chesapeake & Ohio detective VINO
worked UP the case for the prosecutor.
1t was expected that attempts would
be made by counsel for the defense
coached in conference with the prisoner
yesterday, to shatter the detective
testimony particularly as it attempted
to set forth fragments of conservation
which he had with Beattie after the
murder and just prior to the arrest
On the length of time used by the &c
fense in its cross examination were &c
pendent the plans of the prosecution
for the rest of the day.
It was thought possible that the de-
fense might use most of the morning
session and part Of the afternoon n
cross ss-examination of Scherer thus de-
laying the direct examination of VII
nesses as to the motive for the crime