The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-07
AGREE ON
FINAL INSTRUCTIONS
Judge Watson to Make Such Changes as He Sees
Proper Before Submitting Them to Jury in
Battle Case This Morninm


Practical agreement was reached on
the instructions to be given the jury
in the trial OF Henry Clay Beattie. Jr..
yesterday. Some OF the points on
which both sides have submitted con-
flicting drafts Judge Walter A. Wat
son stii has under consideration. and
he indicated at the close of the argu-
ment that he might rewrite them to
suit his Views. The Instructions will
be dlivered TO the jury this morning
at 10 o'clock, y the argument OF the
case before the jury will begin at once.
The proceedings yesterday were in
tornna!-more q CO" ference between
Judge Watson and the attorneys than
a formed argument. The talk abound
ed in Latin phrases. legal technicali-
l es, ana references to ponderous
leather bound volumes and to prece-
dents in Virginia practice. It was
stated that the Instructions given by
Judge Morris in the McCue case were
being used to some extent as a basis,
though Judge Watson said those IN
the Beattie trial would be much short
E and simpler.
Each Side Had Instructions
Attorneys on each side had pre-
pared tentative instructions before the
meeting with Judge Watson The -four
lawyers and the Judge met at the
State Library building at 10 o'clock.
adjournment vas Mad very shortly.
however. TO the Offices of Smith. Mon
cure & Gordon or the tenth foor of
the Travellers Insurance building.
where an emple law library gave ac-
cess 10 the authorities quoted.
For three hours the lawyers and
Judge were hard at work, Judge Wat
son striking out q paragraph here and
changing IA word there. accepting
sometimes h draft offered by n
side and sometimes that of the other.
With several instructions having
specifically to do with the evidence OF
Paul Beattie and other features of
this particular case still under con-
s!deration, the conference adjourned
shortly after 3 o'clock.
The final Instructions. Judge Watson
stated. would not be made public until
read to the Jury this morning
"ReusonnbIc oubt."
Important parts OF the instructions
Will be that clause which defines a
reasonable doutt." since in his case
the defense has attempted little more
than to raise such a Reasonable
doubt in the minds Of the Jury. All
o. the evidence relating 10 other high
waymen suspicious characters seer on
the roads, and people with
was not to FIX the crime In any direc-
tin, but "a show the possibility of
the story toiIv by Henry Beattie hav-
ing been trHf-merely raising in the
minds OF the Jurors that reasonable
doubt which under the law must ac-
quit.
Instructions as to generalization. cir
ElinStantta1 G,Efd1nNn a-l -.
formulated largely on recognized lines
OF virginia practice. familiar to all OF
the attorneys and TO the court, and
there was little difference of opinion
In the argument Of the case in chief
the defense VIII make much OF the
apparently lack OF olive for the orime
regardless Of the fact that In the Nc.
NC case no motive whatever was
SHOWN or attempted to he shown.
y 'cW attorneys and newspaper men
were present during part of the hear.
lhs' which was technical and uninter.
eSting' While paGe after page Of de.
o]isions In famous criminal cases wa.
heing read in Illustration Of som,
point. lawyers ana visitors WANDERED
TO Inc windows, where the Chesterfield
shore could be plainly seen across the
city and the river. attorney Smith re.
marked that with n good glass ono
ought nlmoEt 10 he abio TO pick out tins
scene Of the crime FIVE or six mile.
away on the Midlothian Turnpike.
u Believes Paul.
Pcrha ps the most important instruc.
ton asked for by tho prosecution Is
That directing the Jury to end the prls.
oncr guilty II II believes the story told
~ Paul Beattie. This viii be followed
IN argument before the fury by show.
ing that Paul's. whereabouts have beer
checked and proved true at every turn.
There could, Of course. be no corrob-
Grafton OF tho alleged confession Henry
made TO Paul, aimee they were alone
together at the time. 1t IL Henry's
word against Paul's. But Henry ha.
J denied that they were alone together