The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1911-11-22
LIFE FOR LIFE
Governor Ham Of Yirginie, Refused Res
pite in Ihe Beatie Case
KILLED HIS own Wife

KILLED BIS own WIFI
The Convicted Virginia Wife Slaye
Must Die in Electric Chair on No
Yember "a, Unless Unforeseen Cir
cumstance Prevents Execution o
the Laws Sentence.
With the frank and emphatic
statement that he believed in ths
prisoners guilt, Governor Mann o
Virginia declined to grant a respite
to Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., convicted
in Chesterfield County, September
OF wife murder. The refusal Of th.
Governor to interfere with the sen
tence, which the Supreme Court de-
clared on Monday to be plainly right
means that Beattie will die in tht
electric chair at the State peniten
tiary on Friday, November "a.
Being aware that final decision
would be reached in his case Wed
nesday, Beattie, in the death cell
waited expectantly for some wore
from the Governors Office. His gray.
haired father, utterly broken in spir.
il and strength, who notified him on
Monday that an appeal had been de.
MED, was spared the ordeal of con.
veying a second message that al
hope was lost
Rev. Benjamin Dennis, an Epis-
copal minister, who had interceded
in the young mans behalf, went
quickly and quietly to the prison to
inform him that every possible ef.
fort to save him hal failed. Beattie
heard the announcement in silence,
though he was visibly affected.
Later in the afternoon his father,
brother and young sisted called to see
him.
Unlike the Supreme Court, which
fled no written opinion in refusing
a writ of error, Governor Mann gave
out a statement, in which he said
that Beattie's appeal was made with
the purpose, if possible, of avoiding
the consequences OF crime which
he knows he is guilty
The Governor also stated that the
socalled affidavit Of Paul Beattie was
not worthy Of consideration as evil
dence. In a signed statement to
Beattie's lawyers and the public,
Governor Mann said:
while I sympathize very pro-
foundly with the father Of H. c..
Beattie, Jr., and would be glad to
help him if could do so with proper
regard for the public interests,
cannot with any consideration for
those interests interfere with the due
execution Of the sentence Of the
Court in the Beattie case.
81 followed that case during the
trial, and as it's horrible facts were
developed, regretted that crime so
cruel and malicious should have oc-
Cured within the confines Of this
State. In the decision Of every ques-
ton which was presented to the able
and impartial Judge who presided at
the trial, be was careful to give the
teneft of every reasonable doubt to
the prisoner; his instructions were
as favorable as counsel for the pris-
oner could have expected; that he
did not err in the admission or eS-
clusion Of evidence or in his instruc-
tions given to the jury, is shown in
the refusal of the Supreme Court Of
Appeals to grant writ OF error.
There is no question of the hon
esty and fairness of the jurors try
ing the case, nor is there any ques-
tion that the defence made by law
yers of character and ability obtained
for H c. Beattie, Jr., every advan-
tage guaranteed by law to persons
charged with crime.
THAT Beattie is guilty Of the will
full, deliberate and cruel murder Of
his young wife I have not the slight
est doubt, nor is 1t insisted that there
shall be any greater relief offered
than the commutation of his sentence
to Imprisonment for life.
Il do not think the afidayits Of
Paul Beattie, printed in the papers,
or any other evidence or considera-
tion brought to my attention, suf-
fcient for that purpose, nor do I
question the wisdom, might add,
the necessity Of capital punishment
in cases where human life has been
quickly and deliberately taken.
"On the contrary, I believe that
this punishment is necessary for the
protection Of society, and if on a jury
I would not hesitate, in a proper case,
to agree to a verdict requiring life
for life.
"To grant respite in so plain
case would be to set precedent;
would be to temporize with the law
and to encourage appeals to the Su-
preme Court, with the sole purpose
of oainioo time T be1ieye the hest
way to prevent such crimes as this
is to punish them adequately, GER
tainly, speedily. Therefore, the
judgment Of the Circuit Court OF
Chesterfield will be carried into ef-
feet without interference from me. .
Team Demolished by Train
A team Thursday evening killed a
mule and demolished buggy belong
ing to N. H. Logan. on crossing