Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-11-20
BEATT|E's LAST SUNDAY.
Condemned Man Not Expected to
Make a Statement. Still Smokes
Cigarettes.

t-Richmond, Nov. 2O.-Yester'lay was
the last Sunday Henry Clay Beattie
will spend on earth, for on Friday
next. between the hours OF 8 a. m.
and 6 D. M. at time to be designated
bv SUPERINTENDENT Wood, OF the State
nrison. Beattie will be electrocuted IN
expiration OF the crime OF murder
ing his wife, Louise Wexford Owen
Beattie, on Midlothian turnpike July
is last.
The father OF the condemned man
sa;d Yesterday that he would make no
statements and that in all likelihood
his son would make none. The elder
Bcattie added;
III Henry desires to say anything
before Friday he will come to do it
entirely of his own initiative. / surely
did not advise him to do so, for | wish
the initiative in the matter to come
from him. But if he should ask my
advice, know very we'll what should
tell him.
He implied that the clergymen who
are daily visiting Henry Clay Seattie,
ir., 10 his cell in the penitentiary
are actuated by the same feeling
regarding any statement or confess
sion.
IT thought OF making a statement
myself" said the father, and | made
:. rough draft OF some thing thought
of saying. This tentative statement /
showed to some friends and my sons
attorneys, but the lawyers advised
me against giving it out for publ
cation. That settled the matter with
me-"
Superintendent Wood, OF the State
Penitentiary, announced yesterday that
reporters would not be admitted to
the death chamber. Under q state
law Virginia newspapers are not per-
mitted to publish details OF al electro
cution.
Douglas Beattie, the prisoners broth
er has made a statement denying that
Henry has already confessed to his
spiritual advisers or that he will cou-
fess. Douglas Beattie seems firmly
convinced OF his brothers. Innocence,
and while the trial was on at Chester
field Courthouse none OF tn ose who
said they thought the father knew the
son was guilty declared they believed
Douglas Beatt!e thought so.
Douglas says:
my brother has made no confess
sion, nor will he make any, becau.e
he has nothing to confess. My father
is still confident Of his innocence of
the crime charged against him and so
am L."
TIE campaign tor respite for the
prisoner is still going on. Harry NJ.
Smith has given an interview saying
he is convinced Paul Beattie made his
affidavit in sober mind before Attorney
Balderson in Washington. Smith saw
Balderston in Washington Saturday.
Many believe Smith may have known
before Paul went to Washington,
ostensibly seeking job, he was going
to make that affidavit.
The prison authorities refuse t.
give out anything relative to the prison
or other than that his health is good
and that he is holdiog up we'll under
the strain. His visitors today were
his father and members of his family
and Rev. Benjamin Dennis, his spirit
ual adviser.
Beattie has a Bible which was given
him by a friend, and this he occasion
ally reads intermingling it with light
literature and the smoking Of ciga-
rettes.
All efforts looking to delay of the
execution are believed 20 be vain.
There is no reason to believe Governor
Mann will alter hi attitude, even if the
appeal should take the form OF a wide
spread movement. Most Richmond
people seem to approve the Governor
stand.