The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-08-17
CLOSE GUARD IS
KEPT ON BEATTIE
Henrico Officials Even Compel
Accused Husband to Use Safety
Razor, Lest BE Attempt Sui
cide-Friends Stick
by Prisoner.

bANt1hOND, VA, Special
Since a Main Street barber put
one over" on an unsuspecting taller
and interviewed Henry Clay Beattie.
Jr., alleged uxorcide, for an after
noon newspaper, while negotiating a
razor over the face of the accused. Off
Gals OF the Henrico county prison now
deny Beattie the society Of tonsoriaI
artists.
In the place of BARRIERS, they pro-
VIDE a safety razor, which, however.
never gets out of the sight of a watch
full guardian. and Beattie is relieved
OF the razor as soon as he completes
the operation.
In view OF the alleged threat of
the supposed wife-murderer that he
would end his earthly existence be-
fore he would go to the electric chair.
his jailer is careful not TO let Beat
tie out of his sight a moment with
even knife, fork or spoon. Each
meal consumed by Beattie is eaten in
the presence OF the jailer or a deputy.
Since Beattie's recent threat. or al
legged threat, which he, however, de-
MES, the Jail officials have increased
their vigilance, and Beattie is seldom
out OF the sight of someone. and never
when he is engaged in any pursuit
which he might convert into a means
OF ending his life.
He Acted Strangely.
The following story, having to do
with the actions of Henry Clay Beat
tie. Jr:, is going the roupds on the
Southside:
On the Saturday night preceding the
murder, and few hours before Henry
Beattie is alleged to have gone over
TO Weinsteins pawnshop with his
cousin. Paul Beattie, to get the shot
gun purchased a short time ago by
Paul, and with which IT is believed
the young wife was killed. a young
married woman living on the South
SIDE went into the Beattie store, on
HUI street, with an eight-year-old
daughter, to buy pair of shoes for
the little girl. Henry Beattie waited
on the two.
Upon the return home of mother
and daughter, the little one remarked
to her parent:
Mama, did you notice how excited
Mr.. Beattie looked?"
The young woman, in telling of the
incident and her daughters interroga-
ton, remarked that Beattie did appear
to be up in the air" about something.
that he acted as if he did not know
what he was doing.
1t IL pointed out that Beattie's state
or mind must have been greatly dis
1 turbed TO attract thereto the attention
or an oisht-year-old child. BY those
who place any stress on the incident.
| tho explanation is advanced that the
elIeSed wlte-murderer was impatiently
awaiting the arrival of his cousin. on
the errand which ultimately led to the
| death OF Mrs. Beattie.
Far From Being ShiftIeSs.
a prominent Southside citizen, a
friend of Henry Beattie. Jr., today
took occasion to deny vigorously some
or the printed stories which have de-
scribed the alleged wife-murderer as
a shiftless. e'er-do-well" who rode
around town in an automobile given
| him by his father and spent the senior
Beattie's money with absolute aban-
don.
Henry Beattie, Jr., was in his ia
| thers store, where he worked in the
capacity OF clerk, every morning at
| I;So o'clock. said the alleged uxor-
young Beattie spent all of his time
running around town in his automo-
| bile with women, and that he never
earned a dollar in his life, is talkie
about something concerning which he
| knows nothing. And anyone well ac-
quainted with the youth will corrobo-
| rate what ] say"
| Condition OF Mrs. Beattie's Clothes.
| Much has been said and printed
about the condition of the clothing
| owen Beattie, wife of Henry Clay
Beattie. Jr., Immediately following
/ her untimely end on a lonely portion
Of Midlothian Turnpike.
| The question was asked by detec-
| tiVes working on, and others interest
| ed in, the case, whether or not the
hair and garments of the young wife
q. and mother showed any trace of dust
| or admixture of dust and blood The
purpose of this line of questioning
| was to determine. If possible. whether
the wife was within or without the
autom Obile when she was slain.
Luther l. Scherer and others who
| investigated the killing were early
| convinced, in their own minds, that
| Mrs. Beatte was murdered either
while standing on the running board
Of the car or while standing on the
/ ground, having been lured out of the
machine. the detectives believe. by
her husband, while the latter stepped
J over to the side Of the road and pro-