The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-11-25
BY Associated Press.

Richmond, Va, Nov. 24.-Henry Clay
Beattie, Jr., went to his death at dawn
today the self-confeSsed murderer OF
his young wife, although the confes-
sion was not made public until four
hours after he had paid the toll ex-
acted by law He maintained to the
end the remarkable nerve he had ex-
hibited since he was first accused Of
the murder of his young wife ana MS
last expression was sneer when ne
observed the chair that was to launch
him into eternity. The confession was
made public at downtown hotel py
Rev BENJAMIN Dennis, one OF the
ministers who had labored with Beat
- CONFESSED NOV. 9.
The minister acknowledged that
Beattie had first admitted his guilt on
Nov. 8, the day after he entered the
death cell, but it was not until yes
terday that he would agree to its
being put in writing for his signature.
Then all hope that the governor would
interfere was gone. The extraordinary
document follows:
sT. Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., desirous
of standing right before God and man,
do on this, the 23rd day of November.
1911. confess my guilt OF the crime
charged against me. Much that was
published concerning the details was
not true, but the awful fact. without
the narrowing circumstances, remains,
For this action I am truly sorry, ana
believing am at peace with God ana
am soon to pass into His presence
this statement is made"
SECRET HELD INVIoLATE.
The secret of his confession was
held inviolate by the ministers until
today Not even the father knew or
it's existence, friends declared.
With the game intrepidity which
had marked his conduct from the be-
ginning, Beattie went to the chair and
brought the sordid story to a dramatic
end. The shock that killed Beattie
was given at 7:19 this morning. Three
.iistinct and separate times the cur
rent was turned on and at 1928 it was
shut or. Physicians minute later
ANNOUNCED that death had been instan-
faneoJfss
The twenty-five persons IN the death
chamber thereupon filed out, and the
end of the lengthy and costly battle
for Justice had ended. The body was
prepared for burial by the undertaken
and then taken TO the Beattle nome.
where the funeral services viii be held
Sunday and interment will be in MauTy
cemtery.
Tonight the Beattie family is alone
with it's grief. No movement can be
seen about the Beattie home.
MANY RUMoRS OUT.
Throughout the forenoon the city
had rung with rumors that Beattie had
confessed. These were denied at the
penitentiary, where it was said the
condemned man had made no state
nlent.
The attending. ministers would not
discuss the case in any way until after
they had visited Beattie's parents in
South Richmond and had secured
their permission to make the confess
sion public.
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. DIR. Fix
announced that Beattie had said he
wouId not confess. This was ascribed
to the fact that Beattie desired to
spare his father the blow of admitting
guilt afer his many protestat1ons OF
innocence to the aged parent.
In Peattie's mind there was strug-
gle between filial devotion and de-
sire not to go to his death with a lie
on his iips.
He was urged to confess by his
spiritllaI advisers and at last broke
down.
Rev. John J. Fix, pastor of the
Presbyterian church of which young
Beattie was member, and OF which
the elder Beattie is an officer, appeared
at the prison long before dawn. i. With
PRAYERS and entreaties he besought
Beattie to tell the truth about the
crime.
'FTo go before your Maker with lie
upon your lips" exhorted the pastor
''is sacrilege. If guilty, speak quick"
A TORRENTIAL DOWNPOOR.
In a torrential downpour of rain
the twelve witnesses to the execution
tofIed through the murky dawn up the
hin from which the penitentiary looks
down upon the city. They were
quickly marshaled and conducted, sin
gle file, through gates of steel bars
to the chamber where Beattle was To
offer his atonement. There was no
conversation.
Within the chamber all was in
readiness. The chair. a solid struc-
ture of oak, would ordinarily have ap-
reared like the chairs seen in scores
of libraries throughout the land. In
CONTINUED on Third Page)