The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-09-14
How ONE JUROR
LOOKED AT CASE
CHESTERFIELD. c. H. Special.

Juror A L. Fetterolf, one OF the
twelve men who sat as the triers OF
Henry c. Beattie. Jr. came back to
South Richmond early this morning
TO resume his work as a general con-
tractor and to look after a business
which had necessarily suffered much
neglect.
He lives at Centralia. but his voca-
tion for years has brought him in
close contact with the people Of
Washington Ward. Among those he
met and knew was the man whom he
yesterday helped TO convict. The ac-
quaintance, however, was not init
mate, as the habits and haunts OF
the two men were different.
Mr.. FetterOlf, il may be explained
now that the trial is over, was one Of
the two men who. according to a fall
laclous report would hang the jury.
Wiseacres confidently predicted
that he leaned to the accused. Never
was there q greater error-or, rather.
II is fact that Mr.. Fetterolf did
hope continuously that he would find
something to Justify the acquittal OF
Beattie-but that something never
came.
And the other jurors were in very
much the same position. II would
almost have afforded them JOY TO free
the young man. but their oaths, as
well as their sense of duty, decreed
otherwise.
Mr. Fetterolf said this morning
that his own mind, as we'll as that
or his associates. was fully made up
Aas to the guilt of the prisoner even
before Louis Wendenburg spoke.
But, nevertheless. they still listened
carefully to what he said. SO that
thelr convictions might be clinched.
He explained that a verdict would
have been found even more quickly
than II was had not some OF his as
sociates desired to take a last look
at the instructions and exhibits and
go over one or two controverted
points.
a secret ballot. taken Immediately
after retiring, revealed perfect unan-
unity on the part of the twelve men.
But not satisfied with this. Juror
Blankenship was asked TO pray-an
honor conferred upon him because he
is Sunday School teacher.
Much OF the time Of jury service
was spent by the twelve men in sing
ing hymns, and they also went TO
church whenever occasion allowOd
| They talked a good deal among them
selves about religion. too. and quickly
learned that all save one Of their
number was a church member.
And the erring brother now out OF
the fold, In view of the piety of his
| associates. took occasion TO explain
that he, too, had once been a church
member but had fallen from grace.
| He said that his "backsliding'' was
due in part to the intense indigna-
| ton that came when a delinquent tax
| bill was unJuStly charged up against
| him after he had really paid what he
owed the State.
The jury. according to Mr. Fetter.
| Olf utterly brushed aside that par
Of Paul Beattie's evidence which de.
/ tailed the alleged confession Of the
| accused. Realizing that there might
| be doubts about the authenticity OF
! this. they gave the prisoner the benefit
/ of the doubt.
But enough remained without that
| interesting hit of evidence.
Kastelberg Not Convincing.
Anxious as were the twelve men tC
! find some justification for n verdict
OF acquittal, they did not feel i'm
| pressed by the testimony Of Carl Kas-
telberE. the wholesale butcher VIII,
claims 10 have been on the Midlothial
road on the night Of the murder. anC
who. aCcOrdinC 20 the defense. was
mistaken for Beattie.
And this evedinece became utterly
worthless in their eyes when certain
witnesses said that he was back at the
garage by 1880 o'clock on the nigh
Of the crime.
IT does not appear that dissent at
any time developed among the jurors
one member of the body did not al
ways enter into the schemes of his
associates when they We're off duty
and ii was expected by some that his
decision. at the final moment. might
not accord with theirs. but such
proved not to be the case.
Jury Dry as a Bone.
The jurors partoOk or no strong
drink during their period Of official re-
sponsibility. Sheriff Gill suggested to
Judge Watson that 1t might be wen
to have some whiskey on hand. ir
case OF sickness developing among his
charges. but the judge thought il
would be better not 10 provide it.
He expressed the fear that some