The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1911-11-25
ADMITTED HIS GUILT AND
WROTE A STATEMENT JUST
BEFORE THE EXECUTION.
None Of the Members of the Con-
demned Mans Family Was Present
and His Father Believed to the Last
That He Was Innocent.

Richmond, Va, Nov 24.-Henry
Clay Beattie. Jr., before his death in
the electric chair at 1923 a m. today,
confessed to the murder of his wife
The statement follows:
=, Henry Clay seattie, Jr,. desis.
Gus of standing right before God and
man, do on this, the 23d day of Mo.
Verber, 1911, confess my guilt Of the
SriFne against me. Much that was
published concerning the details was
not true, but the awful fact, without
the saarrowing circumstances remains.
For this action ! am truly sorry, and
believing that / am at peace with God
and am soon TO pass into His pres.
enee, this statement is made"
Beattie's confession was followed
by this statement by the attending
ministers:
This statement was signed in the
presence of the two attending minis
ters and is the only statement that
can and will be made public by them.
Mr.. Beattie desired to thank the
many friends for, kind letters and ex-
pressions of. interest and the public
for whatever sympathy was felt or
expressed"
Throughout the forenoon the city
had rung with rumors that Beattie had
confessed. These were denied at the
non tom "a ~ apa ~, ooupaatsrys !,
the announcement OF the death it was
said the condemned man mad made
no statement
The attending ministers would not
discuss the case in any way until they
had visited Beattie's parents in South
Richmond and had secured their per-
mission to make the confession pub
lie.
The confession evidently was made
at the eleventh hour, when Beattie
finally became convinced that all hope
Of escaping the electric chair had
passed. Two days ago Rev. DR.. Fix
announced that Beattie had said he
would not confess. This was ascribed
to the fact that Beattie desired to
spare his father the blow of Admit
ting guilt after his many protestations
of innocence to the aged parent.
In Beattie's mind there was strug-
gle between filial devotion and de-
sire not to go to his death with lie
on his lips.
He was urged to confess by his
spiritual advisers and at last broke
down.
Reattie Eleetrocuted.
Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., was cleo
trocuted in the state penitentiary to-
day at 723 a. m. One minute after
the shock he was pronounced dead. He
went to the death chamber unshaken,
and although entreated by his spirit
ual adviser to confess to the murder
of his wife last July, ne waited until
the last minute to do so.
Rev. John ]. Fix, pastor of the
Presbyterian church, of whom young
Beattie was a member, and OF which
the elder Beattie is an officer, appear
ed at the prison long before dawn.
With prayers and entreaties he be-
sought Beattie to tell the truth about
the crime.
ITO go before your Maker with lie
upon your lips, exhorted the pastor
"is sacrilege. If guilty, speak"
And he spoke the awful truth.
Beattie passed fairly peaceful
night, although his sleep was broken
when he arose this morning he dress
ed with his usual care, and ate spar
tng1y. He did not appear either ner-
vous or apprehensive, although he was
necessarily under the eyes OF MS
guards. who had doubled their vigl-
lance in the final moments, SO that the
law might not be cheated. :.
During the deading OF the oeatn
warrant the doomed man maintained
his composure. He stood without
4remor.
AS the superintendent finished hf