Evening star., 1911-08-30
DETECTIVES TESTIFY
REGARDING BLOOD POOL
Deny There Was More Than One
Found in Midlothian Pike.
PROSECUTION RESTS ITS CASE
Progress in the Trial of Henry Clay
Beattie, Jr., for the MUIR
der of His Wife
r.;
July 16.

CHESTERFIELD COURT HOUSE, Va.
August 3a.-Hasty preparations were
made overnight by the commonwealth to
combat today the testimony given by tif-
teen-year-old Alexander Robertson yes
| terday i'm the trial Of Henry c. Beattie,
jr.. for the murder of his wife, that he
| had seen on the Midlothian turnpike
blood spots other than the pool of blood
where Mrs. Henry c. Beattie. jr., is al
legged to have been killed by her hus-
band.
Rain-soaked roads gave the principal
| figures i'm the trial, including Judge Wat
| son and a number of witnesses much dif-
fculty in reaching the courthouse. When
the scheduled hour for the opening OF
court, 10 o'clock, arrived only a few peo-
pie had reached the courthouse.
A long string OF automobiles splashed
| through an almost continuous stream
! OK water which hid the road in many
/ spots and when the first few cars
| anchored at the courthouse the mud
| despatched passengers made haste to,
| get indoors. Several machines were
| stuck in the road and hacks and other
| seagoing vehicles, on other days scorn-
| fully abandoned for the big touring
cars that ply between Centralia, the
nearest railroad station, and the court
house. were popular today.
Court Opening Delayed.
The convening OF court was delayed
by the non n-arrival Of Prosecutor Wen-
denburg.
Court finally convened at 1915
o'clock. and Harry NJ. Smith. jr. counsel
for thesdefensr. suggested that during
the wait for Mr.. wendenburg a canvas
the defense present 50 that absentees
| might be brought to the courthouse.
Many witnesses for the defense were
| excused by Mr.. Smith, as he said Ger
tain phases Of the case anticipated had
not been touched upon by the prosecu-
tion.''
The prosecuting attorney reached the
uncomfortable experience with the
| muddy roads.
The significance of the declarations
made by young Robertson is that IL 1t
should be proved that there were many
blood spots on the road ii would support
the contention of the defense that the
first pool of blood dripped from the ma
chine from the bleeding woman. who was
alleged to have been shot while In the
front seat. On the other hand the prose-
cution wished to show that no blood
could have oozed from the machine, and
that the large pool resulted from the
shooting of Mrs. Beattie while she was
standing either on the running board or
i'm the road.
Detectives in Rebuttal.
Detective Scherer, who has been most
active in working up the case for the
prosecution, was selected by the COM
monwealth to refute today the testimony
of young Robertson.
Explaining the alleged finding by the
boy on the second morning after the
murder of spots which apparently had
escaped the scrutiny of q large detective
force, the prosecution had planned To
show that what the boy really did was TO
read, the day after the murder, story
IN an afternoon paper on which nus
older brother is employed telling of the
discovery of many blood spots, and that
the next day Robertson went out ana
located the alleged blood spots
referred to in the newspaper IN SUP
port of this, the prosecution had sum
moned the detective, who, in good faith,
gave to the newspaper the story in
question, to tell how he later found that
he had been mistaken and that the adj
ditional blood spots which he thought
he saw were spots caused by expectors-
tion.
Brief Recess Taken.
Before any witnesses Tor the oeIehse
were summoned court recessed for few
minutes to permit the defendants counsel
to argue a point with Judge Watson, IN.
the absence of the jury, concerning the
striking out of certain evidence intro
! duced by the prosecution.
The commonwealth has occupied
week in placing its case before the jury.
The defense announced early In the
day that ii would call Paul Beattie to the
stand again.
First Witness Called.
MA Louise Reams appeared as the
prosecutions first witness OF the day.
She came to the courtroom with her
father.
"Did YOU know Mrs Beattie?" asked
Prosecutor Wendenburg.
i YES"
Maid of honor at her wedding Were
you not?"
The hairpin alleged to have been worn
lby Mrs Beattie on the night OF the MUIR
der was produced.
Ihairpin?"
| Yes"
The witness was excused after brief
icross-e animation In which she admitted
THAT the hairpin was Of a kind worn "
hundreds Of women.
Saw But One Pool Of Blood.
Detective Terrell, who has worked on
the case for the prosecution since dts in
loeption was summoned.
..Did you look for any blood between
the owen house and the scene OF the
crime?"
| YES"
| "When?'
"On the night of the murder and an
ldav Following, which was Wednesday,"
.:Tell the jury whether there was any
other blood spot
"Tbere was none. II there had been
| vo,,ld have been bound to see IL. I
walked up and down that road. reckon.
more than any other man. / could ind
but the one spot
4 Ibid you know that Alexanaer HoosfD