The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1911-11-29
OF His Guilt at the Very
Last Moment.
DIED IN THE ELECTRIC CHAIR
For AtrOciOuS Murder of His
Young Wife Nerve Was
mistaken.
BRIEF HISTORY OF HIS CRIME

Richmond, Va, Nov. 24.-Henry
Clay Beattie, Jr., was electrocuted
in the State Penitentiary to-day at
1928 a. m. One minute after the
shock he was pronounced dead. He
went to the death chair mistaken,
and although entreated by his spiri-
tual advisers to confess to the muir
der of his wife last July, he did not
acknowledge his guilt openly, but
did so in written statement given
out after the execution.
The statement left behind by
Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., with his
spiritual advisers was a complete
confession of his guilt The state
= ment was as follows:
81, Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., de-
sirous of standing right before God
and man, do on this, the 23rd day
of November. confess my guilt of
the crime charged against me.
Much that was published concerning
the details was not true, but the
awful fact without the narrowing
circumstances, remains. For this
action / am truly sorry, and believ-
ing that | am at peace with God
and am soon to pass into His pres
ence, this statement is made"
Beattie's confession was follow
ed by the following statement by
the attending ministers:
This statement was signed by the
two attending ministers and is the
only statemtnt that can be made
public by them.
mr.. Beattie desired to thank
the many friends for kind letters
and expressions of interest and the
public for whatever sympathy was
felt or expressed"
The attending physicians would
not discuss the case in any way un-
til they had visited Beattie's par
ents in South Richmond, and had
secured their permission to make
the confession public.
The confession was evidently
made at the eleventh hour,
when Beattie finally became con-
WINGED that all hope OF escaping the
electric chair had passed. Two
days ago the Rev. DR.. Dix announe-
ed that Beattie said he would not
confess. This was ascTibed to the
fact that Beattie desired to spare
hts father the blow of admitting
guilt after his many prostestations
OF Innocence to the aged parent.
There was a fight between filial
devotion and a desire not to go to
his death with lie on his lips. He
was urged to confess by his spiri-
tual advisers, and al. last broke
down.
Story of Crime.
The crime for which Beattie was
executed to-day was one of the most
sensational in the criminal history
of Virginia. Interest in the murder
was countrywide, owing to its un-
usual features and the swift move
ment of justice.
On the night OF July IS, last,
Beattie drove his automobile into
Richmond carrying with him the
body of his wife which had a gaping
shotgun wound in the head. He de-
clared that tall bearded man had
accosted him on theHidlOtbian turn
pike, five miles from Rihmond, and
when he had requested the man to
make room for him in the road, the
stranger. without warning, had fired
the shot which killed Mrs. Beattie
He added that he grappled with the
man but was overpowered and that
the murderer had fed, leaving the
gun behind. This story Of the
crime was maintained by Beattie to
the end.
For a brief time Beattie's story
was given some degree OF credence.
but in day or two suspicion began
TO point to him and be was kept un-
der the closest surveillance. Blood
hounds. taken to the scene OF the
crime, refused to leave the place.
circling around the bloodspot on the
road.
Beattie, It eventually transpired,
had thrown the shotgun into the
tonReau OF his automobile after the
shooting, but passing over some
railroad tracks not far from the
q e.