The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-26

tie is in the room. and he has also
been told to keep his face turned to
the jury. 1t Is known that the young
men do not hold each other in high
regard. A battle Of giances probably
will ensue.
Interesting Cross Examination.
There also is likely to be interesting
and mayhap dramatic development.
when Attorney Harry NJ. Smith be-
gins the cross examination OF the wit
ness. Mr.. Smith knows PauIs weak
ness. The attorney observed him
closely when he was testifying be-
fore the coroner's jury And Mr.
Smith knows how To play on the
weakness of witness. whoever the
witness may be, or whatever his weak
ness. Whether the attorney will con
centrate his attack on PauPs most
vulnerable point-physical weakness
is a question which viii he answer
ed to-day.
If Paul does noE collapse, ii is I'M
probable that his testimony can be
shaken, as he knows what he is &c
ssaf aifsrost as weit as though he had
studied the narrative of his part ir
| the case in text book. Paul made
several statements to detectives which
were recorded stenographically. These
statements were compared and found
to agree in the most minor details
Paul was then shown the statements
and asked to make anv changes necea-
sary. He found not one error. Hi.
story remains as it was told on thu
day of the inquest.
Paul told that story in all its GO
sentials for the first time TO Captain
| Thomas Mcmahon. chief of detec-
tives, and Captain Alexander Wright
or the Third Police. After he hat
told the story ne signed statement
in which the story was told in alb.
! breviation. 1t was on this statement
that Captain Mcmahon arrested Hen.
ry Clay Beattie. Jr. In the statement
| ii was shown how Paul purchased tn.
shotgun for Henry on the Saturda,
| night before the murder and how
Henry was waiting one block from the
pawnshop while Paul was buying. the
I gun-
! Can be Corroborated
It might be imagined that the
prosecution will be placed at a dis
I advantage If Paul should collapse. f5ut
the attorneys for the Commonw ealth
| have planned to avoid such n situa-
ton. They have witnesses whom they
say can give the testimony Just as
convincingly as Paul. When he has
finished his story these witnesses will
be placed on the stand to corrooorate
| his statements. According - to the
prosecution the confederation will he
I perfect. and when all the testimony
| concerning the shotgun has been
| given, the States lawyers declare he
will have little hope of escaping a
verdict OF conviction.
| Paul will be preceded on the stand
by Detective Luther l.. Scherer. who
/ has been in direction of the murder
| investigation since a few hours after
| the crime was committed. Mr.. Scher-
| err Is expected to be ono of the
| strongest witnesses for the Common
wealth. and It is believed his testi-
mony will pave the way for the testi-
mony of Paul Beattie. Detective
| Scherer Will be preceded on the stand
| by the boys who claim to have seer
the accused and his wife In Midlothian
turnpike Just short time before the
| prove that Beattiue was standing In
| front of the machine and that Mrs
Beattie was standing on the running
| board.
AS all of these witnesses must take
the stand to-day. it is not likely tina;
Bulah Binford will appear before the
| Jury until Monday. 1t is probable
however. that the girl witness will be
removed to Chesterfield Courthouse
so that she will be within call in the
| event that the Commonwealth decides
| to place her on the stand before the
end Of to-day's proceedings