The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-11-16
BEATTIE TAKEN re-
DEATH CHAMBER
Thanks Jailers for Kindness On
LEAVING and Hopes to Be Back
Rin"-Gets Fresh Cloth
pg, Eats Breakfast and
Has Smoke.
RIG HMON Nd, VA.-Special.-

K l G III Nj o n ID, VA.-Special.-
Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., condemned
to die in the electric chair in the
State penitentiary November oath for
the murder Of his wife, Mrs. Louise
owen Beattie, on the night of July
18th, on the Midlothian Turnpike, is
today in the death cell" in the big
white prison.
He was removed from the city Jail
soon after o'clock this morning. Ma
jor James Il. Wood, superintendent OF
the prison, and Guard Mullins called
at the Jail with a carriage and pre-
scented the formal order for the de-
livery of the accused man TO the su-
perintendent of the prison.
The papers in the case were re-
ceived by special delivery at the PEN
itentiary last night at IL O'Clock, and
Major Wood made his arrangements
for the transfer of the accused man
early this morning.
Soon after the day guards went on
duty at the Jail the carriage appear
ed, and superintendent Wood and
Guard Mullins emerged and entered
the prison. They had to wait but a
few moments. The prisoner was es-
cOrted down and greeted the officers
with a CHEEKY smile and hearty good
morning.
1t was about 7 o'clock this morn
/ ing when Jail Deputy Robert p. Lord
went to the cell of the condemned
man and informed him that the pen
itentiary authorities would be there
for him in a short while, and that he
would be taken to the penitentiary
Beattie was sleeping soundly wher
| the officer appeared and aroused him
AS he rubbed his eyes he sat up in
bed and remarked:
'All right, Mr.. Lord"
Hopes TO Be Back Again.
In the office of the Jail, as th'
handouts were being adjusted, Beat
tie spoke TO the jailers and declared
that they had been very considerat'
of him. saying he could not have beer
treated better had he been in his owl
home.
Il hope to be back here with yol
again." said Beattie, as he shool
hands with the officers and started Il
the door TO enter the carriage. Al
the carriage drove away he waved {
farewell to the men in the Jail door
He was as bright and cheerful a
any man have ever seen, said Deput,
Lord afterwards. He smiled at tn
air. lie took nothing whatever ava,
| from here save the clothes he had ol
tertiary would not have permitted hin
to take anything to the penitentiary.
Made Trip I'm Fifteen Minutes.
The drive TO the penitentiary occu
pied fifteen minutes The jailers ha,
not fed the men their morning meal
and as the prisoners are not required
when Beattie left the Jail for the las
| time.
The prisoner and Mullins sat to
| Eether, and Major Wood occupied the
| front seat in the carriage, whose shut
| ters were down. Beattie talked freely
enough about things in general, but n
| which has landed him in the death cell
He talked about the weather. the brac
ing air. and appeared as much at ease
| as any person not connected with the
crime could possibly have done.
/ Arriving at the prison Beattie was
taken to the bath room and under the
| direction OF the guards removed every
shred OF his clothing. He was given 2
good bath and fresh clothing-hat
shoes, un idSS Sin collar and tie
| always taken, and in this case there
was no exception to the rigid rules OF
! the prison.
First breakfast in the Pen.
IT was after o'clock when BeattiC
ate his breakfast-the first in the peni-
! Tertiary. He was served with break
fast from the hospital kitchen today
! The meal consisted Of bacon and eggs
crisped potatoes, coffee and rolls. He
| ate with relish. and after he had fin
ished he called for the usual cigarette
and enjoyed a smoke. He carried the
cigarettes with him. and though he is
/ not allowed to have them in his cell
! they are kept within reach Of the
| guard, who hands one to him whenever
he calls for IL. The matches are sup
/ piled by the guard, one at time, and
| II the first fails to light Beattie is
forced TO hand that back before he gets
| another. That is the rule OF the prison.
| Major Wood, soon as he received
J the formal order for the transfer in
| formed the officials OF the Jail that he
\ would call early this morning for
| Beattie, and in doing so he acted that
\ he might avoid the curious crowd that
| hangs around and which would have
/ gathered to witness the removal Of the
i central figure in one of the most terri
bic crimes in the history OF the State
The law requires that a person con
| demned to death shall be removed AZ
any time within thirty days before the
| execution and not less than fifteen DAYS
\ prior TO the execution. The papers
| were made out by Clerk p. V. CogbilI
| OF Chesterfield. being part of the record
| In the case in connection with the sen
tence OF the court which tried Reattie
| The Judge of the court did not have to
| approve or endorse the writ the clerk
| merely hlling out the form and for
warding il to the superintendent OF the
| penitentiary.
I