The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-26
DR.. A. G. franklin Now Ap-
pears as Witness of Great
Importance
GIRLS DIARY SHOWS
NOTHING IMPORTANT
Refers to Henry, Dear and
Items of Furniture for the
Flat-knoWn in
Danville, Ill.,,

Positive discovery OF the motive OF
Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., for the MUIR
der of his wife. Mrs. Louise Well
ford owen Beattie. on lonely Mid
lothian turnpike near midnight
week ago, the revelation of the secrets
of BuIah Binford. as shown by her
diary, recording the events OF each
day during her recently sojourn I'm
Richmond, the appearance of the
most valuable witness for the prose-
cution and city wide search for q
second woman In the case" were
the most startling and sensational de-
velopments yesterday in the famous
mystery.
That Beattie sent his wife into
eternity through the medium OF
heavily charged shotgun for the pur
pose Of shutting her mouth" and
preventing her from disclosing to her
mother, Mrs. Robert Vernon Owen,
Intimate secrets which would have
given the young wife sufficient
grounds for divorce, with Alimony for
herself and financial support for her
son. was established by detectives
last night. they say. beyond the
shadow OF a doubt. and this Is de-
clared to be Beattie's only motive
for the alleged heinous crime of vito
murder.
Physician Important Witness
Forcing DIR. A. G. Franklin. of $40
West Grace street. to the fore as the
most important and valuable witness
spite the vital testimony contained In
the confession of Paul y. Beattie.
who purchased the shotgun with
which the fatal shot WAS fired, the
detectives delving into the mystery
declare the physician knows the real
motive of the crime, and that he win
divulze II when placed upon the wit
ness stand to testify against Beattis
when the case comes to trial at Ches-
terfeld Courthouse on August Is.
Substantially abandoning the theory
that Beatte murdered his bride of
year to run away with Bulah Binford
and that the wife was killed because
OF the love of the young husband
for the Binford girl, the detectives
started out on fresh track and In
augurated q city-wide search, which
may develop into a country wide hunt
for second woman in the case"
a girl who held and still holds Beat
ties real and only love, q passion
strong enough to lead him to perpe-
trats ttls crime OF which he In ac-
cused.
That the young wife and mother
Z
Reat,ie she intended betraying him
to her parents and asking their adj
vice as to the course she should pur-
sue In the dilemma In which he had
placed her through his conduct. and
that he decided the only method to
prevent her was to close her lips In
death was practically established an
a result OF the revelations OF last
night. @4,.,s's s..ess.., .54.s -.-s
1.-THE Fastest Way Out"
Beattie. detectives assert, learned
his wife first Intended consulting her
physician, and then decided to con-
tide her trouble in her parents and
ask their counsel, and II Is stated that
when he gained this Information he
realized his name and social position
was at stake, and arrived at a con-
clusion that the easiest way out OF
the difficulty was to kill Mrs. Beat
tie.
Failing in a final attempt to per
suade Mrs. Beattie to withhold her
secret, which would cause his ruin.
Beattie, the detectives declare. then
conceived the plot whereby his wife'S
lips would forever be closed. and he
asked her to accompany him on the
automobile ride over the dark and
lonesome TURNPIKE The argument
were both seen standing beside their
automobile In the road by a number
of automobilists returning to the city
from a dance Is believed to have been
the elimination OF Beauties final re-
Quest of his wife that she remain
silent.
When the young mother refused.
detectives say, the husband decided
there was no use in delaying his plans
longer According to the detectives.
all doubt as to the motive has now
been removed and the motive was
simply the fear that the wife's be-
travail would result in his being di-
vorced and socially ostracised.
That DIR. Franklin Will be the most
valuable witness for the prosecution
and probably VIII give the testimony
which will result in the conviction
OF Beattie is the assertion made by
detectives, on the grounds that DIR.
Franklin, and he alone, can give the
facts which will prove the husbands
motive for wishing TO end the earth-
iy existence of his bride. Beattie had
n telephone converse ton with tho
physician on Monday a week ago. the
day before the crime, and what words
were exchanged In this conversation
Is considered by those aiding in gatn-
ering evidence for the prosecution to
be the most valuable testimony yet
unearthed.
Calls on Physician.
II was learned last night that Bu-
lah Binford called To see the doctor
about a month ago and asked him to
treat her. and that the doctor de-
clined to treat the girl as she had
disoheyed his instructions when un-
der his care more than year ago and
had broken a promise to him in adj
dition TO making arrangements for
the payment of the biz When the
physician declined to take the CASE
a month ago. BuIah Binford said:
DIR. Franklin. Henry Beaftie told
me To come to you and told me "a
tell You he would see everything wAs
all right, and that he would stan1