The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-25
TOM OWEN TELLS HOW
MOTOR CAR TRIPENDED
First Witness for Commonwealth Gives Detailed
Account of Prisoners Conduct When He
Arrived With Wife's Body at
Owen Residence

With Thomas owen, uncle of the
young mans murdered bride on the
stand as one of the States leading Wit
nesses against Henry him Clay Beat
tie, Jr., yesterday morning entered up
on the first day OF his actual trial on
the charge of brutality staying his wife
on the Midlothian Turnpike on The
night OF July is. And for the first
time when his own bloody clothes he
Wore on the night of the murder were
placed in evidence, there dawned in the
eyes OF the hitherto stoical inditfer-
ent hoy the look of a hunted animal.
The battle which will rage with
Henry Beattie as the storm centre was
on owen. thoroughly versed in the
technicalities of the law and as
thoroughly versed in court procedure
made an admirable witness, and was
thanked for his fairness by MI Smith
when he left the stand.
Judge Watson was a few minutes
late in entering court After seeing
that the press representatives We're
comfortable and that none had been
crowded from his seat. Judge Watson
said;
Mr.. Sheriff open court Deputy
Sheriff Goode repeated the ancient
formula, and the crowd settled for tho
hrst sharp thrusts.
The first thing will ask You to do"
said the court lis to clear the inside
railing. We are bound to have room
and air"
Needed Air In Court Room.
Back UP there, boys" warned Sheriff
GIL Back up" They backed UP at the
command. Then the sherin handed
fans TO the jurors. for the room was
hot and close. The aisles were still
crowded, and again the court ordered
that they be cleared, and asked the
audience to stand so as to give all
more room
Heads up" said the redoubtable
sheriff.
Gentleman" said the Judge. the
court reminds YOU that 1t is in al
tendance upon an important trial. The
lie of a human being is at stake. II
is not only desirable but necessary for
me jury to hear the evidence clearly
and 10 understand IL thoroughlv. The
court is satisfied that the deportn,ent
Of the citizens will be as 1t should be
and II is hardly necessary to remind
you that quiet must be maintained n
lies within your hands to maintain
order. and II is unnecessary to re-
mind you not to show approval or dis
approval. 1 feel that You will not
manifest either approval or disap-
~ W. aus inc trlal. II You should
40 so. l shall be forced TO deprive YOU
OF room in the court. The court hone
1t VIII not be necessary TO exercise It's
authority in the premises"
beattle, accompanied by his father.
was then brought into the court room,
ana TOOK his usual seat, father on his
right and brother just at his back
Many people had gathered at the win
oo"s ana they were ordered away, for
me crush was so great around the bar
mat attorneys, prisoner and others be-
hind the bar Were uncomfortablv hot
is the Commonwealth ready 10 pro
ceed? f inquired the court.
Yes. your Honor"
How says counsel for the dcfense?"
Witnesses Excluded.
II your honor please" said Mr.
oafter' rising before we proceed we
wound Ike TO have all the witnesses
eNcluoed from the couit room. But we
except Mr.. Scherer and Douglas Reat
tie"
The court consented. and ordered the
roi! OF witnesses for the State TO be
called hVe at time \ few of the
witnesses, whose presence was moi
necessary at the time, were absent.
but the matorIty.-was present. Tom
oven was the first TO be sworn
You and each of YOU solemnly
$40 li4c testimony to he given
In this trial shall be the truth. ,ha
whole truth and nothng but tbs
truth" said Clerk Cogbill, and the
witnesses Kissed the Bible. Tom owen
ana Major James D. Patton. who is al.
so a witness. We're allowed TO remain
In the courtroom both sides consent.
ing. Major Louis Werner and Detec.
yves L. L. Scherer. T. j. Wren and :
~ Wiltshire entered together. ana
were sworn Immediately afterwards
retiring.
County Constable George farrell an.
nounced that Witness w r. Hart is
III in bed with typhoid fever There
were four colored witnesses. two men
arately
Wendenburg and scherer then went
over the names Of the witnesses. ana
announced that they were finished
Cali Tom Owen" said the CON.
monwealth. But before examination