Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-25
5EATTIE PAYS PENALTY
HE LEAVES A CONFESSION.
Continued from Page one.)

nesses labered under too great strain
and all, even the hardened prison at
tendants. seemed ill at east and anx-
ious to be done with the task. The
electrician brought board studded
with electric bulbs and laid il across
the arms of the chair. The lamps
blazed brightly. Then. in other ways.
the instrument of death was tested,
and, finally. at a signal, attendants
went over the apparatus. attaching
the deadly electrodes and testing every
strap and clamp. When the prelimi-
naries We're over, Supt. Woods, ac-
companied by two deputies. threw
back an iron studded door and started
for the death cell Instantly the death
chamber was plunged in blaekness,
with the exception of a vivid circle of
light from the hooded and powerful
lamp above the chair. The chair. an
oaken bit of furniture, which except
for its straps and steel bands might
grace any library, was on rubber
mat. All but it was obscured. the daz-
zling rays from the low-swinging lamp
throwing everything else into dark
ness.
The little party in the chamber heard
the superintendent few feet away.
droning out the death warrant. Beattie
listened TO it with intensity, but did
not finch. He stood during the reading,
as is the custom. and when it was
ended he swayed just triiie. but
quickly recovered himself. Then. with
out assistance he took his place be-
tween the guards and began his march
TO the unknown.
His entrance TO the death chamber
was as dramatic as anything he had
done since first he commanded the
public eye. He halted for a brief mo-
men. on The Threshold, looked on the
chair with an inscrutable smile, which
had IN it the hint of sneer and then
walked briskly forward. Not once did
he deign to strive to pierce the black
ness outside his circle Of glowing
lights.
1t had been feared that the prisoner
would faIter when the dread moment
came to seat himself in the chair. But
there vas no trepidation and not a
hint of hesitation in his attitude Still
wearing his peculiar smile, half amused
and half cynical, he stepped lightly
into the seat, settled himself as though
he had been looking forward TO the
rest and assisted the attendants in ad-
justing the straps and clamps by
placing his arms and hands in the
proper positions. The only indication
that he was under d nervous strain
was his tightly clinched left hand.
During the few seconds preceding the
turning on of the current. Beattie NOV
ed once While the attendants were
stepping back out of the light. he
squeezed himself back as though 70
seek a still more comfortable position.
At the same time he raised his head,
now almost completely hidden by the
leather helmet that covered the upper
part of his head and face. The next
second the shock came.
When the law was satisfied and the
Witnesses were gone, the prison at
|tendants removed the body to the NOR
tuary room, which adjoins the death
chamber There 1t lay for four hours
until the undertaken, authorized by the
Beattie family to prepare it for buri-
| al removed it to his morgue. Later
| it was taken to the Beattie home
where funeral services. attended only
by the family, will be held. Interment
in Maury cemetery viii follow. sun
| day
When the funeral cortge moves tC
| the cemetery, Sunday afternoon, the
morbid will not find places. near the
grave TO satisfy their curiosity. The
police have received orders to clear
the cemetery during the services there
and to permit no one to enter the
burial ground, save the Beatties and
their dead.
Tonight. the Beattie family is alone
with its grief. The window shades il
the residence are drawn tight and ne
movement is seen about the place. Re
speeding their sorrow, neighbors an'
townspeople who would like to offe
word of consolation and sympathy
are remaining away from the home
The idly curious did not share thi
feeling, however, for the same gener
al crowd that stood in the downpou
before dawn at the penitentiary gates
was on hand throughout the after
noon, hoping to catch a glimpse 0
some member of the stricken family
Events moved so rapidly during tn
| day that Richmond still is gasping
| The sudden production of the murder
| ers confession caused a profound sen
| sation. There had been rumors Of tn
existence of such document but tn
rumors were based on nothing tangi
bic. Emphatieally and PERSISTENT
they were denied by the family of tn
slayer, by the attorneys who took par
. III, ae celebrated case and by tn
prison authorities The ministers re
fused to discuss the report, putting O