The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-25
81 the tragedy was gcnerally discus


sed. and the people went about the
| streets sobcrly-glad that oil was over
Everywhere 1t seemed that tho tension
4 of the past few weeks had been alifted
ind especially In View Of the confess
sion there was a feeling OF relief that
I'LL was over. While Virginia has won
a reputation for the prompt admins
tration OF Justice. Richmond mas gained
n notoriety which is5nnything but
tasteful to her citizens. Judging from
the generally expressed opinions. The
entire progress of the. case, from tho
| murder to the electrocution, has been
regarded as peculiarly unfortunate for
the community.
| But If the public is pleased with the
confession, the feelings of Governor
Mann may be imagined. Bombarded as
he has been with letters aud kilograms
| beseeching him to at least Interfere
10 the extent Of repricve. and know
Ing that he held the life of Henry Clay
Beattie, Jr., in the hollow of his hand.
his position has been unenviable.
Got Remarkable Letters.
This has been his first experience
with case of the first magnitude,
and not for years. IL ever before in
the history of the State, has there
been an occasion which called for such
a manifestation OF all that is grotesque.
In tho human viewpoint of such q
crime and it's punishment. The execu-
tive has given the most careful study
to the evidence and the detuils of tho
trial. and became absolutely convinced
of the prisoners guilt. Yet 135 letters
In thirty six hours. piling up on every
mail. and couchcd In all sorts of lam
euage from the eXcruciatingly pitiful
and the disgustingly maudlin to the
fercely denunciatory, are not condu-
cieVe to the peace OF mind of ono
charged with grave responsibility
Some of these letters went SO far as
to denounce the Governor as a muir
derer II he failed to commute tho
sentence, and pointed to his hands
which would be stained with blood.
Beattie was pictured as n high minded
young man, with heroic courage and
spotless virtue, the victim of hired
vilifiers and the picked scapegoat for
! the sins of others or the machina-
tions of detectives.
Just how these writer's feel to-day,
after reading the positive confession
OF this ouondam hero that he killed
his young wife in cold blood, is O
matter of speculation to the Governor.
The number Of confessions which
have been sent to the Governor are
also a subject of interest. When u
score OF individuals in widely scat
tered parts of the country all assert
that they are the guilty PARTIES It
becomes evident that somebody is mis-
taken When the man under sentence
of death says in the face of his excu-
lion that he did It. tho verdict that all
have made a blunder is regarded IA
inevitable.
Made Public MT Hotel.
Following the appearance of The
llmes- dispatch yesterday, Indicating
that confession had been made and
signed by Beattie, the many newspaper
men In the city were on The qul vive
As soon as the electrocution was over
they sought interviews with the two
ministers. Mr.. Dennis made the state
ment that he would appear in the lobby
OF Murphy's Hotel at II o'clock with
such material as he and Mr.. Beattie
anu Mr.. Fix desired to give 20 the
public. The minister was also thought
ful enough TO call up local newspaper
OFFICES TO make sure that they would
not fail TO share in the information
When he appeared In the lobby, hf-
teen minutes late. he was INN ,d!ntas
~ surrounded by at least q score c,f
press representatives. Taking care Of
local papers first. MIR. Dennis the.. els
tributed typewriter sheets to the re-
mainder SO far as they woulI 20
He then briefly said that the conf.s-
sion was made to him OF November Q.
and that he communicated II to tie
rather of the prisoner AMI to Mr.. FIX
MI. Dennis added that the strain CT the
ordeal had had Its effect upon him. aud
that he could not have stood it ,ruth
longer.