The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-29
May Get Jury from Distant
County to Try Henry
Clay Beattie, Jr.
CLAIM
CHAIN Is COMPLETE
Carefully Conceal Evidence,
but Admit all Witnesses
are in Hand and
Ready for Trial

Counsel for the defense in the
Beattie murier case. il iS under
stood, will seek II change of venue
from Chesterfield county on the
ground that public sentiment
against YOUNG Beattie is SO strong
that n really unbiased jury can
not be secured. 4
Personally, the lawyers for the
accused young wife murderer are
not doing any talking, but it Is
learned on good authority that
they VIII make every endcayor To
prevent trial of the case in Cites
terticid. 1t has been suggested
that the case might he tried at
Chesterfield Courthouse with u
jury from some other part of tine
State, as was done in the Mct)ue
case at charlottesville, and IL may
De that this may obvintc neces
sity for u change of venue.
The name of the men who told
OF hearing on the night OF the
murder Il scream. the
explosion of gun and the monk
ink OF an automobile horn is be-
ing guarded with thf, aar
care. He has m~ade%oath to fIay-
ing heard the sounds. and the
prosecution will make much OF
his testimony.
Prosecution Ready.
That the whirlwind investigation
which has sent thrills of ~nsatio
vibrating through Richmond and ra-
dating throughout the country since
the murder of pretty Mrs. Louise
Wexford Owen Beattie in a lonely
spot in Midlothian turnpike near the
hour of IL on Tuesday night a week
z Will come TO a stop by Monday
was the announcement made last
night by Detective Luther l.. Scherer.
who has been directing the inquiry.
Summing up the work Of the corps
OF detectives under him, Mr.. Scherer
said that more than twenty witnesses
have been interviewed by investiga-
tors and volumes of evidence gathered
and that by nightfall Monday the
prosecution Will be as ready To begin
the trial as when the case is called
at Chesterfield Courthouse on August
IA.
Working day and night, frequently
neglecting food and sleep, leaving no
stone ui1turned and forgetting self in
the combined endearor to prove the
guilt Of the man who killed the young
bride and mother. the men under De-
tective Seherer declared last night
that the chain of cireunlstantial evil
dence which has been woven about
Henry Clay Beattie. Jr., Is complete.
with not n link missing.
That the last link was not placed
in the chain until Yesterday afternoon
was admitted by the detectives, who
did not hesitate u say that one OF
the principal witnesses. who viii take
rank with Paul p. Rcattie, cousin
of the alleged murderer. and Bulah
Rinford, the woman in the case. In
giving valuable evidence for the pros
.ecution, was not found until yesAer-
day morning.
Conceal Their Hand,
-. @taeeHfefttsr nlJyd8A tY@ tffs witness re-
veaied to the detectives, il is stated.
that their case would have been in
complete and one OF the most impor-
tant links missing from the chain ie
the witness had not been found. he
investigators also admitted that most
of their mysterious actions and secret
conferences of the last few days have
been in connection with the search 70.
4 is new witness.
To reveal the name OF the latest
figure in the case, according to Detec-
tive Scherer. would be to show 10 the
defense the best card held by the
prosecution MIR. Seherer said that in
the last few days several imptttAt
Witnesses have been found hut ftlGir
rames haze been kent secret and the
Tame of the latest witness found Is to
be treated likewise. MIR. Scherer would
not oven say whether the new witness
is a nan or
According to Detective Scherer the
work of investigating a number of
minor and uninteresti~g points in tho
case and collecting a bit Of o%rrobora
tive evidence here and there will cause
his men to be active probably until
Monday night but after thai time there
win be nothing to do hut await -hs
openinE OF the trial unless there IS
some Improbable and wholly ~unexpect-
ed development.
More Sensations.
The general belief I'll Richmond that
all Of the sensational features Of the
famous case were revealed at the in
quest conducted by Coroner Loving at
his horne in S~wansboro. on the Friday
and Saturday after ms cri,ne MAS res
futed yesterday by detectives who
claimed that tie TRIAL of Beattie VIII
be replete with startling disclosures
which will gain the case more -.uh-
licity than it has had at any time since
the murder.
That the general plan of the prose-
cution has not been changed, that IL
will be sought to nrove Beattie MUIR
dered his bride with deliberate pre-
meditation is not denied by detectives
nut tIGA dFh 4 Ai0 GtW tiAtCitGL III
the ease viii center in adftfonaT fea-
lures which will be BROUGHT to lioht
and which. though NOT disturbing tho
main course OF the prosecution Will
create sensations.
With the investigation by the de-
tective practically at An en- the chief
public interest In the case Is -~- be-
ginning to center in tho trial and dis
cussions of his great legal battle arc
daily growing more frequent. Added
interest was lent yesterday when 1t
became known that Attorney Harry Fl.
Smith. Jr., associated himself with
Attorney Hill Carter for the defense.
Opposed TO these eminent lawyers will
be Attorney l.. O. Wenderburg and
Commonwealth Attorney J. M Greg
DRY. In the quartette Of counsel are
the most eminent attorneys in Virginia,
men whose regulations at the criin-
inal bar has gon out beyond tina
boundaries OF the State.
Old papers for sale At thta oE0nA