The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-04
Prisoner Rea dy Now
for HIS Final Fling
With Death.
ORDEAL
co M Els TO-DAY
After Waiting for Three Days
to Testify in His Own Behalf,
Beattie Will Meet Wen
denburg on Cross-Exam-
nation in Terrific
Battle.

death, Henry Clay Besttie. Jr, charged
with the brutal murder of his wife,
VIII go upon the stand In the Chester
field court to-day, and tell in his own
words exactly how she was shot by a
highwayman while motoring quietly
along the Midlothian Turnpike at
night He is eager for the supreme
offort-eager to give that jury story
of the crime from the lips of the sole
eyewitness. There can be no testimony
from the highwayman himself who
has vanished; should he come forth 1t
would simply be to utter his confess
sion and ask for mercy.
The twelve men who have listened
patiently to the evidence for the past
two weeks are ready. too. to hear the
closing word from the prisoner at the
bar. They have seen hsghwaymen fit
across the stage they have heard of
the prisoners alleged confession. sent
to the world in the voice of the cousin;
they have been silent while the State
was building up its proof that the gun
was bought by Paul, they have seen
that same gun in court. blood stained
and ghastly-the one bit of physical
evidence that may send Beattie to his
doom. And now they are waiting for
story of the crime from the lips of
one accused.
Waiting for Three Days.
For three days Deattie has been pre-
pared and anxious to give his evidence
in court but lis lawyers waited while
building up fabric OF defense or else
attempting to tear down that which
was built by .he State. The last word
is in-only the prisoners evidence
must come before the case of the de-
Tense is closed
AS he steps quietly into the witness
chair this morning Beattie will find
himself in kindly hands. Led through
the tragic events OF that still more
tragic night by Harry Smith. his friend.
he will give to the jury a clear. cold
statement which ne hopes will send him
forth free and unafraid. The direct
examination need not be long. but
will be sufficiently long to give the
boy his bearings-to let him feel his
way and be prepared for the most ter
rible ordeal OF his life when he falls
into the waiting claws of WendenburG.
The sudden shifting from the pleasant
lanes to the road which leads perhaps
to death will cut to the heart. From
the prosecution he expects no mercy
and no mercy will he get
Must Keep His Head.
once he breaks under the cross
exGrlination-once he loses control OF
that nerve which has stood by him
through all these cruel days-his case
will he hopeless. He must keep his
head, and those who have watched
him IN the court believe that ne will
come forth unscathed. The only fear
is that he has been over-trained; that
he has been waiting SO long Cor This
vital day that he will fail to measure
up as the man of steel. Regardless of
that evidence which has been heaped
up against him. regardless of that
chain of circumstances which Is well
nigh complete, he must stand or fall
on his fling to-day.
There is sympathy somewhere for
this hoy waiting now within the
shadow OF death. There is sympat thy
for his old father; there is sympathy
for that little sister at homc-for that
motherless babe that may yet grow up
under a blot more terrible than that
which has stained its name before. But
there is not much sympathy for the
prisoner from those who believe in
his guilt
Under that wise law which lifts the
jury beyond earshot OF the public,
beyond reach of newspapers. the
twelve men who have the fate of
Beattie in their hands are deaf to the
clamor, the talk from without. They
must measure the case upon the evil
dence; they must say If that evidence
proves beyond all doubt that the ac-
Interpretation of that same law he
must either die or go tree for first
degree murder Is the charge against
him now. There is always. however
the possibility OF mistrial. and n
mistrial in a case like this invariably
Plays into the hands of the prisoner
at the bar
Expect Great Crowds To-day.
Though the scene was quiet yester-
day, already there are indications that
the little courthouse at Chesterfield
will be banked by moving multitude
to-day The holiday crowds viii un-
consciously be drawn in that direction
but they Will not see and they WI
not hear. The space in the courtroom
cannot hold more than carload of
travellers.
With the expectation OF rushing the
trial with all due speed without VIC
lence TO the court. T. e session to-day
may BE prolonged. Beattie will go upon
the stand the echo of the opening
cry is resoundlng through the room
Two hours at the most may be suffi-
Client for the direct eXamina ton, and
then Wendenburg will take him
in hand and still have him in hand
at the recess hour and again in the
afternoon. When he Is done there will
come the States evidence in rebuttzl
but at best the verdict Will hardly he
reached before the end of the week
Beattie held his own remarkably
we'll with Wendenburg at the coroner's
Laquest. but at that time Wendenburg
had only been an hour in the case. The
evidence has been gathered since.
Little tnings and big things. all in
eliminating, have been revealed since
the day of Beattie's arrest. There is
much to be explained. much to be
made clear. Should he collapse undeer
CONTINUED on Third paKe0