New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-31
MAN WITH A GUN NEAR
SCENE BEAH|E MURDER
Two Witnesses Testify to Seeing
Bearded Stranger, Who, PriS-
oner Says, Shot His Wife.
ANOTHER SAW BLOOD SPOTS
Testimony of Lad Confirmed by
Comprehensive Offers Evi-
dence to Refute It-De-
fence Opens It's Case.

Testimony intended to corroborate the
story told by Henry Clay Beattie, ir.. that
a bearded hishwayman killed his wife with
a shotgun was introduced by the defence
in the Beattie trial to-day. when w. r.
Holland. who lives near the Midlothian
Turnpike. where the murder occurred. de-
clsred that he had seen a bearded man
with a shotgun there about five hours be
fore the tragedy.
II was the first move NJ the defence after
the prosecution rested lis case at noon to-
day TO sblish the veracity Of the pris-
oher. and. besides Hollands statement con-
corning a man with a shotgun. Eugene
Henshaw. a farmer who travels the Mid
lothian Turnpike daily, testified that he
saw a strange looking man proving around
on three different days before the murder.
II is reported tonight that the prosecu-
ton is ready when its time for rebuttal
arrives to put on the stand the man who
passed along the railroad tracks where
Holland said he saw man with a shotgun,
and that the new witness will say he was
squirrel hunting that day.
The defence summoned many witnesses.
Besides the testimony regarding the beard
ed man. expert testimony was introduced
as 10 the bouncing qualities OF an auto
mobile similar 10 that driven by Beattie
20 account for the iolting from the car Of
the shotgun which Beattie said he placed
in rear seat after the encounter with
the alleged hishwayman.
The prose cution alta oked this line Of evil
dence on cross-examinatiOn. II contended
that the railroad crossing where Beattie
claims the gun must have bounced from
the car was a smooth one. and that the
jolt which might have resulted from cross
ing the tracks where the rails are exposed
necessarily would nave tossed the weapon
forward from the crossing. instead of d.
rectly sideways. parallel with the track
where the gun was found. The idea of the
prosecution has been TO indicate that Beat
tie himself slowed down at the crossing
and threw the gun to one side on his way
10 the owen home with his dead wife.
Hold-ups Not Infreouent. Defence Says.
The defence sought TO show that being
held up by highwaymen while motoring in
this vicinity was not an uncommon occur
renee, and put on the stand a chauffeur
who related an experience with highway
man a year ago. The commonwealth at
torneys objected to the testimony as IT.
relevant. Judge Watson ruled that. unless
showing holdups Of a similar character
20 the one described by the prisoner. evi.
dence as to A single incident Of the KIND
would be ruled out The defence announced
that 1t intended 20 give other instances
later
!. Peatte's counsel attacked the declaration
NJ Sam Talley that he heard on the night
|Ff the murder a shot and the scream OF a
/woman on the Midlothian Turnpike. Sew
eral witnesses testified that the morning
after The murder when Beattle talked
with Talley and others nothing was said
about a woman screaming.
An amusing incident occurred when the
defence put on the stand William Pember-
ton. man Of forty-hve years Of age. 10
attack the truthfulness and character of
Talley. Pembcrtons own mentality was
questioned by Prosecutor Wendenburg.
Are YOU right in your mind?" asked the
prosecutor.
What do YOU mean? Am I crazy?"
Pemberton asked Well no"'
Didn't you have nine cats chained in one
room in your house once?" asked the
prosecutor
No"
We'll, weren't there pictures taken Of
those CATS"
Maybe"
Witness Turned on Prosecutor.
Here the witness fidFeted and began to
show signs Of embarrassment. He turned
on Mr. Wendenburg sava6ely, cxclaiming
Look here, man, are YOU trying to cross
examine me? You are talking out Of your
head
The witness continued talking rapidly,
but his remarks were drowned in the
laughter Of the courtroom and even after
Judge Watson had restored order the wit
hess talked on at lightning ike speed until
the court ordered him 10 stop.
Even the prisoner joined in the laughter
md was the las, in the room to regain his
oomposure
Miss Louise Reams finally appeared as
the prosecutions first witness Of the day.
She came 10 the courtroom with her
father. She Vas maid of honor al Mrs.
Beattie's wedding. and testified that a
hairpin found near the scene Of the muir
der was such as are worn by hundreds OF
women.
Saw But One Blood Spot on Road.
Detective FARRELL who has worked on
the case for the prosecution since the muir
der. was summoned.
did you look for any blood between the
owen house and the scene Of the crime %
asked the prosecutor
Yes. on the night Of the murder and all
day following, which was Wednesday"
TEL the Jury whether there was any
other blood spot
There was none II there had been
would have been bound TO see it, | walked
up and down that road. ! reckon. more
than any other man. ] couldn't find but
the one spot
Did you know that Alexander Robertson
claimed there were any more blood spOts?'
NO ] hadn't found any. and ] had
looked SO carefully that l paid no attention
20 what any one said"
After the machine was brought 10 Tom
Owens's how long before il was moved"
1T stood there until after u o'clock"
Did any blood dip on the ground in
front OF the house,"
NO"
ct is in testimony that an elliptical
blood spot % by IS inches was in front OF
Mr. Rices house on Midlothian Turnpike
Was such a spot there IN Wednesday,"
NO
Did you examine the road on Thursday
too?'
Yes"
Was 1t there
NO"
On cross-eXsmination, Mr.. Carter. for the
defence. asked the witness why he repeated
his search for blood spots. lie said he heard
Of story and a diagram in Richmond
ran1r concerning the discovery OF other