The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-16

While he had hoped and earnestly
prayed that no event would arise
which would make it necessary tor
him to again discuss any feature of
tragedy he can never forget, II. c.
Beattie, ST.. abandoned yesterday his
attitude of silence to deny statements
and interviews which he character
lied as outrageously false and cruel.
Tears raced down the old mans cheeks,
into which the lines OF sorrow have
been deeply cut. as he talked of his
boy whom Chesterfield jury branded
as the murderer of his wife.
Mr.. Beattie still carries with him
the scars of misery. For u short half
hour yesterday while a reporter for
The Times Dispatch talked with him
at his residence in South Richmond,
he never lifted his voice in anger.
even when he reached the point of
giving the most emphatic denial to
the printed story that he had asked a
Council committee for permission to
bury Henry Clay Beattie. Jr.. in Mau-
ry Cemetery after his body comes from
the chair of death. 1
Dazed by What He Rcud.
when l first read that cruel state
ment in the newspaper" said Mr..
Beattie. II was simply daZed. l could
not understand it-could not believe
my own eyes. AS you recall it was
made to appear that L had given up
}all hope, that l was satisfied Henry
Clay would be put to death, and that
/ was arranging for his funeral. even
while the case was still pending in
higher court. 1t was printed that the
committee held secret meeting at
which the burial request was made
BY one who was speaking for me. The
l'whole thing was SO brutal and cold
blooded that IL must have sent q
shudder through the public breast.
But what hurt most was the fact that
1t was not true.
My first move after l saw the pub
LEGATION was to find out whether any
such meeting had ever been held.
Then undertook TO find out by whose
authority Councilman Patram made
the request must say, however, in
justice to him that Mr. Patram was
actuated throughout by spirit Of
kindness and friendship. ne had read
the city code. he knew the law, and
out of the goodness of his heart he
was endeavoring to save US from n
most embarrassing experience
Deeply Hurt by Report.
But j am sure he would not have
brought up the question at ali had
he suspected that II would be paraded
in the newspapers. Some days later
wrote short card to one of the news
papers asking for a correction This
was published, but II did not get -
same prominence by any means that
was given the first article. My friends
have since informed me that the first
story about the burial permit has been
sent broadcast. and accepted by the
public wl.nout question, as very few
| saw the denial printed in small type
on an inside page. For that reason.
alone have discussed with MIR. H. NJ.
Smith, Jr.. anu he has approved the
propriety of asking The Times Dis-
patch to do me the justice OF denying
: in Its news colurns statements which
are untrue, unfair and misleading
II have no personal grievance
against the newspapers. but some
| times l doubt Ii they can appreciate
the extent OF this sorrow which hangs
over my home. They tried and con-
victed my boy long before the case
reached the jury-long before the jury
was summoned. But do ;,sk now for
some consideration. If had been
called over the telephone before that
cemetery article was printed there
would be no occasion now for me
to parade my sorrow before the public
simply that justice may be done those
OF us who are sorely afflicted"
SIN believes In SON.
Mr.. Beattles whole speech and man
ner showed convincingly that he still
believes in his logs innocence, not
withstanding the verdict and the sent
ence. But he had no unkind word to
say about the jury. the court or the
men who worked up the case against
his son. The matter Is now before
the Supreme Court OF Appeals" no
said, and there is still hope"
Taking up another phase OF the case
which has caused him great distress
Mr. Beattie mentioned an alleged i'm
terview with Henry. In which the Int
ter was quoted as saying that nc
| would die like a :aan. that he would
willingly turn on the electric switch
in the death chamber and show the
people that he was not afraid.
Gave No Such Interview.
This interview he said, did not
| take place. The newspaper said that
J 1t go: It's information from one OF
| Henry's friends who had called to see
him at the City JAN. ! talked TN II;
| Henry. and he told me that he had
said absolutely nothing OF tho kind
1t is hard to deny and denounca all
the unkind and untrue things which
| ~. printed, especially when reaMzel
that the correction can neN-r overtaka,