Omaha daily bee., 1911-11-25


nesses to the execution toiled through
the murky dawn up the hill to the peni-
tentiary, that looks down on the city.
They were quickly conducted. single file,
through gates OF steel bars TO the cham
Der where Beattie was TO offer his atone
ment. There was no conversation.
Within the chamber all was in readi-
ness. The chair. solid structure OF oak.
would ordinarily have appeared like the
chairs seen in Libraries. In the somberly
bare chamber, however, IL was sinister.
Straps dangled from It's arms and back,
and shining steel clamps appeared in the
light Of the electrics like tentacles out
stretched to clasp victim.
Tho witnesses were seated six abreast,
in an angle OF the room. They shuffled
their feet uneasily and when one leaned
forward 70 speak to another. his action
was received with frowns.
Major Woods, with two deputy war
dens, addressed the witnesses going
through some small formalities demanded
by law. Then, with his two men trooping
behind, he passed out into the building,
where Beatue awaited the summons in
his cell adjoining. t4ssf
Death March f. short.
In the death chamber the voice OF the
warden could be heard plainly reading to
tho doomed man the final summons. The
warden's voice droned on. II seemed to
the witnesses Unfortunately. In reality
the compliance with the law occupied
only a brief moment Then, with Beattie
their progress toward the chair. only a
few feet away.
When the procession. followed by
Superintendent Woods started. signal
was given which plunged the death cham
Der into blaokness. save for a single
light Immediately over the chair. This
was so hooded that It outlined the chair
In a circle Of blazing radiance so intense
that the remainder OF the room seemed
In utter darkness. The witnesses scarce
could see each other. The prisoner saw
nothing but the chair. There was no de-
lay in preparing for the end. Beattie
took his place, the prison surgeon and
electricians ADJUSTED the straps, a half
dozen clamps were quickly thrown into
place and snapped.
The cap, resembling leather foot ball
head harness, was adjusted. and the men
stepped back.
The warden raised his hand. Instantly
Beattle's body stltfsne1 with such vio-
lence that tn. straps creaked with the
strain. the clamps ratified as though they
were castnets in the hands Of death, and
then that which once had been Henry
Clay Beattie, jr, relaxed.
II was just 7;sS a. m. when the shock
was applied! One minute later Beattie
was dead. II
The surgeon had gone forward and
with a stethoscope had listened for an
other faint beating Of the heart that
less than sixty seconds before had lived.
He stepped back.
''He is dead
The witnesses flied out. one or two
were CHASTITY pale as they stepped into
the early morning light.
History OF Crime.
The crime for which Henry Clay Beat.
tie. ST., was executed today was one OF
the most sensational in the criminal his-
tory Of Virginia. Interest in the murder
was country-wide owing 10 its unusual
features and the swift movement OF jus
tiee.
on the night Of July IS last Beattie
drove his automobile into Richmond. car
rying with him the body OF his wife,
which had gaping shotgun wound IN
the head. He declared that a tall bearded
man had aceosted him on the Midlothian
turnpike five miles from Richmond. and
when he had requested the man 20 make
room for him In the road the stranger
without warning had fired the shot which
killed Mrs. Beattie. He added that ne
had Erappled with the man. but was over
powered and that the murderer had fled,
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 credenoe. but within
a day or two suspicion began TO point 70
him and he Was kept under closest sur
venlance. Bloodhounds taken 70 the scene
OF the crime refused TO leave the place.
clreling around the blood spot on the
road.
Beattie. Il eventually .transpired. had
thrown the shotgun into the tonneau OF
his automobile after the shooting. but IN
passing over the same railroad tracks
not far from the scene Il had been iolted
out and was picked up later by a negroes
This gun. which Beattie alleged had be'
longed 10 the mysterious highwayman
proved the means OF sending the young
man 10 the electric chair
At the coroner's inquest the weapon VA
Identified BY Paul Beattie, a second