Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-26
ABUSED BY HUSBAND
Young Mrs. Beattie Said to
Have Threatened to Tell.
CAUSED VIOLENT QUARREL
Beulah Binford and Accused's Broth
er Questioned by Detectives.
STORY OF ROLAND SYDNOR
Says He Saw Beattie at Scene of
Crime Before the Wife
Was Slain.
|CAUSED VIOLENT QUARREL
STORY OF ROLAND SYDNOR
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

| Special Dispatch 10 The Star.
RICHMOND Va. July Eft is now
claimed by the detectives that Mrs.
Henry Clay Beattie, murdered week
ago last night, suffered from her hus-
bands abuse. Her physical condition
was such that a physician was called
to attend her. The wife. Inundated
and crushed, told her husband that she
would tell her mother. 1t was this
that led to the violent quarrel on the
night preceding the murder. when Mr..
Beatte. senior. told his son to desist
in his harsh words to his Wife or to
leave the house. declaring that he
would provide for the daughter in law
and the child. Young Beattie is under
the care of physician.
There are two sets of detectives en-
gagged in the case today. Chief Scherer
is fitting together with nicely the de-
tails that may send Henry Beattie to
the electric chair. other detectives
are at work on the trail of Paul Beat
tie.
Beulah Binford and Paul Beatte were
visited by state detectives today at noon
and We're given grilling.
Mrs. Trout, the woman who adopted
the Binford woman's child. said today
that when Henry Beattte was told of
the child's death he said: This is the
grandest thing that has ever happened
1t is stated that Beulah Binford will
probably in The course of the next few
days he taken from the Henrico county
Jail and confined in a Jail in another part
of the state. The authorities hope that
after her removal she may be induced
to disclose more than she has bearing
upon the case.
Roland sydnor's Story.
Roland Sydnor, the Chesterfield county
dairyman. who, with his son Elmer,
passed an automobile Tuesday night
standing at the very spot where the muir
der was short time after committed,
was taken to the jail yesterday and con-
fronted with Henry Beattie, whom he
thereupon positively declared was the &C.
cupant of the car
MY son and l were going home" Mr..
Sydnor said 1T was few minutes after
O'Clock, and it was still light. Both my
son and 1 remarked on the car 1t passed
us, went UP the road a short distance,
turned around. ran back few yards and
stopped. Only one person was in the car
"a young man. / had never seen Beattie.
but inasmuch as the behavior of the man
looked suspicious--and I remarked upon 1t
to my son--we took good hook at him.
After stopping his car he. got out and
appeared to- tinker with one of the auto
mobile tires. We We're then able to get
better look at the man. J am convinced
he was Beattle. When l saw Beattie
few days later at the coroner's inquest
l recognized him.
When Beattie left his home for the
home of Thomas Owen. where his wife
was stopping, he should have arrived in
a few minutes. AS matter of fact, it
took him over an hour to make the trip,
and it is the theory of the prosecution
that he drove up the turnpike, waited for
an opportunity. hid the shotgun which
he had carried with him, and then went
back and got his wife.
Denounce Statement as False.
Counsel for the defense denounce as
false the statement printed in one of the
daily papers purporting to come from
Beuiah Binford that young Beattie had
said to her shortly before the murder:
"Of course. 1 have no intention of
spending my life with Louise. / may
have to live with her as long as my
father Is alive. hut just as soon as the
old man dies-say. kid, you and l will
run away together. l don't know whether
We can get married or not, but We will
take e chance. anyway"
The story persists that the Binford girl
has made such a statement. although
when questioned at the inquest she denied
that Beattie had ever talked of going
away with her.