The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-07-20
SHOT DEAD IN AUTO
Mrs. H. C. Beattie Slain While
With Husband.
SAD TRAGEDY IN CHESTERFIELD co.

Shot through the head ana IN
SANITY killed by an unidentified
white man. the body of Mrs. II. c..
Beattie. Jr. Oi Richmond. was car
ried - ht husband arly > miles
10 Ga. home OF Thomas L. owens,
near FOres. Hill Friday night short
ly after II o'clock The shooting oc-
currl d ON the Midlothian Turnpike.
IN Ches erfield county .aad police an
DloodhOunds are searching for as
sailant
Mr.. Bcattie was driving the car
and SLOW, down when he SAW man
walking in the middle OF the road
directly in front OF him. As he pui
on his brakes the man said You
had better run over me. iOu have
got all the road MIR. Beattie re-
sponded. and putting on power he
started 10 pass on one side The man
raised a shotgun he was carrying
and fired at short range AT the
couple In thc car. The entire load
entered Mrs Beatiie's face. literally
blowing of the top OF h-r h ad.
Mr.. Beattie jumped from tn ca
and grapplcd with the man. who
gave him a smashing blow across the
face win his gun. leaving an ugly
wound The two struggled and
Mr.. Beatlie wrestod the gun from
he man. who ran into the bush
and disappeared.
Spriaging back into the car Mt.
+ Belttic was Mortified 10 find the
/ bleeding tOdy OF his wife lying acros
/ III. seat Throwing the gun on the
rear sea-. he started the ear ana
Groy, M high spe for nearly five
miles with one hand. while his other
arm held the body of the wife 10
whom he had been married only liz
teen months.
For several weeks past. in fact.
since IN birth OF her boy baby live
weeks ago. Mrs. Beattie had ben
staying az the owen piac'. near For
rest Hill. MIR. Beattie mOtored out
each evening and took his wife for
la drive with the baby Friday night
was their first drive on which The
baby was left at home.
Mr. Owen. Dr. Mere and others
were seated IN the owens front
yard shortly after II o'clock. when
/ !hey heard a voice calling. and tn"
motor err took the sharp drive in
/ from; and ciTcled up the driveway
at high spec d. the brake crashing
on just beside them. Startled they
hdriied forward. only to lift the
body of Mrs. Bsattie from Mr.. Beat
lies arms as the husband staggered
from the car. broken and exhausted
by Tn terrible strain.
NCighbCrs w-rc no flied. Magis-
tratc Jacob and County Officers Her
aid and Finn were soon on the
scene. and "A general alarm was sent
out
County Coroner Loving began OK
animation. The gun which Mr.. Beat
tie took from his assailant and plac-
Cd in the back OF the car was mis-
sing. Whether il had jolted out in
the wild ride, or whether 1t fell to
the ground when first thrown be
hind him as the car started, has not
been determined. Officers with Ian
terms and motor cars with strong
searchlights patrOlled the roads
through the night, looking for any
scrap of evidence.
Thomas +. Owens, at whose home
Mrs Beattie was stopping, and who
Is her uncle. and a cousin to Benz
=. owen, private secretary to Cover
nor Mann. got into communication
with the Henrico county authorities
and asked the assistance of Deputy
Sheriff SydnOr's bloOdhounds They
were put on the trail at daylight.
The Richmond Police Department
sent a detail of mounted men 10 as
sist in patrolling the roads
Mrs Beattie was the daughter of
K. V. Owen. Of Dover. Del, and was
married about fifteen months ago.
Her father was notified by long dis
lance telephone.