The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-09-08
BEATTIE ON STAND
BATTLES FOR LIFE
RECITES HIS STORY As TOLD AT
THE CORONER'S INQUEST.
Prisoner Vigorously Questioned by
Commonwealth. Ordeal Being Tenn
porarily Ended by Adjournment.

Chesterfield Court House, Sept. A.
Through six weary hours in a crowd
ed and stuffy court room, Henry Clay
Beattie, Jr., indicted for the murder
of his wife, battled for his life today
A lone figure was young Beattle in
the crowd that surrounded him on all
sides-even the windows and trees
commanding the court room being
thick with staring faces. The pris-
oner sat for hours, unfolding the sor-
did details Of his relations with Beu-
lab Binford, the 17-year-old girl, tor
whom, the prosecution charges, Beat
tie killed his bride of year. Not
alone the orgies of the four years.
before his marriage and those that
preceded the tragedy, but the grue-
some tale of the attack of the high
wayman, the wild ride to the Owen
home at speed of IS miles an hour
with the 1ifeless body of his wife IN
the machine beside him, was given 70
the jury in all it's horrible detail.
Donned Bloody Coat.
The prisoner, by request Of the
prosecution, even stood up to full
length and donned the bloodstained
coat that he wore the night Of the
murder and attempted to explain why
blood had not fecked certain portions
of the garment if his wife was re-
c1ined against him in the way he DE-
scribed.
The clothes of the dead woman had
been burned just before the arrest OF
Beattie and as more than once there
was occasion to refer to them, Prose
cutor Wendenburg exclaimed: 81 wish
to God we had them here!"
It was day Of extreme solemnlty IN
the court room. The accused sat IN
an arm chair, his head often resting
on one hand, while with the other he
rubbed knotted handkerchief over
his pale and perspiring face. In the
bar sat his brother, Douglas, and his
white-haired father, the latter at
tines covering his wrinkled counte-
nance with fan as some particular>-
= " loathsome details we're reclted Dy
the son. But when the end OF the day
came. the father, as usual, bent over
the prisoner affectionately and kissed
him.
Showed Little Emotion.
Beattie answered questions in an
even voice and without emotion. Ex-
cept for the nervous lingering of MS
handkerchief and the characteristic
vibration of the muscles in his cheek,
he sat like a school boy expresslonless
as he narrated the story of the crime
In no essential did the prisoners YER
sion of the affair today differ from that
which he gave at the coroner's Inquest
or that to which the defense, through
it's witnesses, hitherto has clung. The
direct examination lasted only two
and a half hours, while the cross-ex-
animation had proceeded three and
half hours when court adjourned fol
the day.
The prosecution in its cross-exama
nation gave particular attention. now
ever, to two points in the previous
testimony of the prisoner.
Two Main Questions.
IF the accused had on the night o.
the murder a. light fastened to tht
rear of the machine, why could HI
not see the fleeing highwayman IN tnF
rear of the car, or if, the prisoner
had grappeld with the man and sue
ceeded in wrestling the shotgun from
him, falling to the ground at the same
LluS, WILL Cu0 1O4Sa9S ~ ~~~'
weapon from the highwayman;s hand
why did the highwayman flee viii
Beattie at his feet on the ground?
The questions the prisoner evadet
in his testimony but tomorrow thu
prosecution will hammer away a
them anew.
Denial after denial came from thf
lips of the prisoner as Prosecutor
Wendenburg questioned him concern
ing the alleged purchase of shotgun
for him by his cousin, Paul Beattle, OF
the Saturday before the murder ant
the testimony of the latter as to tn
confession in which Henry is alleged
to have exclaimed: II wish to God
had not done it! I wouldn't do l
again for million dollars!"