The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-20
HOUNDS CIRCLE
SCENE OF CRIME.
Refuse to Pick Up Trail Lead
ing Through Woods or Along
Midlothian Turnpike-Gun
Found Where 1t Was JOS
tied Out of Beattie
Motor Car.


the unanimous opinion of detectives
and special officers who spent all of
yesterday Investigating the murder OF
Mrs. Harry C. Beattie, Jr. on the Mid
lothian Turnpike. in Chesterfield coun-
ty. shortly before midnight on Tues
day.
The coroner's inquest called for yes
to-day afternoon was postponed after
but little evidence had been taken, un-
til tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock.
While the reason given for the post
ponement was the absence of a stenog-
rapher to take the testimony, 1t is be-
lieved to have been largely in response
to telephone request from L. L.
Scherer, special agent of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Railway, who, with
Detective Sergeant Wren. of the Rich
mond police force. has been working up
features of the case. and who believed
that the making public of certain cir
cumstances at this time would hamper
the officers in the pursuit OF the MUIR
derer.
Funeral This Morning.
The funeral of Mrs Beattie will be
held this morning at 10 o'clock from
Central Methodist Church, South Rich
mond. in which she was married on
August "a. 1910. The body was re-
moved yesterday afternoon from the
owen home. on North Road, near For
est Hill, to the Beattie residence, 1929
Porter Street. South Richmond The
interment will be in Maury Cemetery,
the services to be conducted by Rev
Henry c. Pfeiffer. who performed the
marriage ceremony, assisted by Rev.
j. j. Fix. of the Presbyterian Church
All day yesterday officers of three
counties, representatives of the Rich
mond and South Richmond police and
that were reported. Little actual pro-
sress toward solution of the case was
reported save the finding of the shot
gun, which was picked up by Henry
Jennings. decent looking Chesterfield
county negro. shortly after sunrise-
yesterday morning, while Jogging along
the road toward South Richmond in his
one-horse farm wagon. He found 1t in
the grass at one side of the belt line
railway crossing of the Midlothian
road, not q half-mile from the Owen
home.
Fits In With Beattie's Statement.
Inc hnding of the gun fits in with
the story told by Mr.. Beattie OF wrest
ling with his assailant and canturine
the weapon and throwing 1t into the
back of his car: The automobile. q
Buick touring car. with folding top. had
mad the rear doors taken off for re
on the front seat. driving with one
hand, and holding the body of his dead
wire with the other arm, 1t is believed
That the gun jolted out as the car
crossed the railway tracks at high
speed The gun was broken in the
RAIL- stx-inch splinter of the wooden
stock being found later in the grass.
The gun itself is an old-fashioned az
iar' Shattuck perfection. OF type
oarreled and had in 1t cartridge Tor
No. shot. 1t was breech-loader. but
opened on the side. and the trigger
was so worn that 1t was easily snapped.
going off almost as though II had
hair trigger
Jennings turned the gun over to Mr..
Pettgrew, neighbour, the first white
man he passed. and as the situation
stands 1t is the most available piece of
| evidence. The officers believe that if
they can find the owner of the gun they
will have no difficulty in convincing a
jury of his guilt of the crime OF MUIR
der The officers are following each
line which the gun suggests. let 1t lead
where il may.
No Clue In Hat.
Another clue which promised well
led 10 little and has been almost aban-
doned. y straw hat was found on the
Midlothian Road. not far from the scene
of the murder Close examination
showed it to be Dunlop 81 hat. almost
new. and sold by O. f. Berry & Co.
broken in both crown and brim as
though 1t had been run over by an au-
tomobile. 1t is now believed to have
been the property of some passing JOY
rider and TO have blown under the
wheels OF mis- car and been aban-
doned. The Midlothian Road is tho
Mecca of motorists day and night. it
being rare moment when the dust OF
a passing car is not in evidence.
Evidence gained by bloodhounds
proved negative and contradictory in
its character. the hounds c!rciing the
scene OF the murder and working hard.
but making little OF any .rail. BY 3
O'Clock yesterday :norning, Major James
ID. Patton. OF the Penitentiary Board
was notified of the crime. He called
John Alsop, OF the Alsop Motor COM
pany. for fast car. and together the
two made record run TO the State
Prison Farm. in Goochiand county,
where the finest bloodhounds in this
section of the country are kept
Rnilronh Lends Ala.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
lent It's aid. An engine and caboose
from a passing freight train were cut
hose, and the run % .%cnty-seyen
miles back 20 Richmond was made Ia
thirty-seven minutes. BY rare good
fortune. Luther l. Scherer. General
agent OF the Chesapeake nnl Ohio Rail-
way, and a detective who has won wide
distinction in many cases. was at the
state Farm Seeming the battie from
afaT like a war horse. he came down
with the hounds and by 5:30 o'clock
had Joined Detective Sergeant Wren, OF +
the Richmond force. at the scene OF the