The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-08-31
WHOM TO BELIEVE
That Is the Question Before the
Beattie Jury.
Verdict Will Hang ON Evidence
of the Cousins.
NO OTHER WITNESSES.
When Important Events ReIat-
ing to Case, Took Place.
Defense Will Stick to the Beard
ed HighWayman Story.
o OTHER WITNESSES.

NoNhS Oll lliS NGIdC4lS OI duI DEdtL4G
as to his story of the purchase of a
shotgun for his cousin, Henry Clay
Beattie, jr., brought out at the trial
today a statement from E. II. Neblitt
that he saw Paul with a. shotgun a day
/ after he claimed to have delivered the
weapon to Henry On cross examina- |
| tiOn Neblitt said that he had only yes
| terday given this information to coun- |
| sci for the defense.
Did you tell anyone else about it ?''
Not until a few days ago, when 1
told my wife and J. G. Saunders"
Another day of slow and unpleasant
travel greeted the little knot of lawyers
and witnesses as they made the journey
from Richmond to Chesterfield Court
House. The incesSant drizzling of yes |
terday and the steady downpour dur !
ing the night brought streams to over
flowing and made the roads a mass of
rnire-
The Il jurors, housed in a small hotel |
few yards from the court house were |
forced to abandon their usual morning !
stroll into the country for exercise and !
some of them occupied themselves with |
matching coins on the Veranda while |
others INDUCED IN song. One of their |
number, j. H. Purdie, was treated last |
night for a toothache but with this ex-
ception the health of the jury remains /
good today. Permission to attend the |
sick juryman had to be obtained from |
Judge Watson who. before granting it, |
conferred with counsel for both sides
y
one of the jurymen had been found to |
be a personal friend of the accused.
Though tie prisoner denied this and |
counsel for both sides declared them |
orders were given by the court that the |
jurors be kept safely guarded from any |
possible approach.
Will Attack the Evidence.
The defense was prepared to resume
its attack en- the evidence presented for /
the commonwealth and a score of wit
nesses were summoned to appear today
to testify as to the various points Of
the case which the prosecution has I
built up to support it's charges that
Henry Clay Beattie killed his wife with
the shotgun purchased for him by his
Cousin Paul.
Cousin Paul We're alone not only at the
time of the alleged transfer of the gun
from Paul to Henry and at the con-
verSaTiOn on the day subsequent to the
commission of the crime when Henry
is alleged to have told Paul that he
was sorry he had done it, the case
has resolved itself into a question Of
veracity between the cousins.
Paul already has given his testimony
and the defense from now to the end
of the trial, which is expected to be
some time next week will occupy itself
with efforts to break down his story
through attacks on his character and
reputation for truthfulness. This will
be reinforced by the testimony of the
prisoner himself who will take the stand !
at the last moment and is expected to
repeat the denial he made before the
inquest that he not only took
no part in the purchase of any gun !
but that he made no such confession
as is alleged by Paul.
Already the defense has introduced
testimony intended to support the pris
oner's story that the murder was COM :
has endeavored to show that a man
with a shotgun was seen prowling
around on the Midlothian turnpike, a
few hours before the murder.
Harry NJ. Smith, Jr., counsel for
Beattie, today put an end to rumors ]
that ultimately insanity would be Of
fered as a defense for the prisoner, by
a definite announcement that
under no circumstances would such a
plea be entered. It was the announced Z
Intention of the defense to ask that the '
court have the jury visit the scene of Y
The crime but the muddy roads may r
cause a postponenlent of this for several Z
Jays.
Pawnbroker Is called. t
David Weinstein, son of the pawn F
broker from whom Paul Beattie pur- a
chased the shotgun. was the first wit n
ness for the defense today. t
THE commonwealth knew you were v
the boy who sold that gun TO Paul
Beattie?'' asked Harry NJ Smith, Jr-,
counsel for the defendant.
Yes
you were not summoned by the
orosecution?'' Z
No
Paul Beattie testified that you took
he gun apart into three pieces and
wrapped it up in paper and put his
lame on it. What did you say about 7
t?D s.
Il did not take it apart. 1t was a Il
yery old fashioned gun and I didn't n
Know how F
The gun was produced at this point. +
What time of day." continued Mr.. a
smith. did you sell the gun to Paul "
Scatter"
Saturday morning between 10 and
when you sold the gun to Paul -
Seattle did he say he was a wa1chman "
nd wanted the gun to be used on
fayo bridge where he worked?'s
He did,
did you know Paul Beattie before =,
hat Saturday, ;S
Yes, a little more than a week. =. -
How did you become acquainted ~
nth him2'
He worked for Mr.. stegler. nearby, = =
nd came in one day to buy a pistol. 81
told him we did not have any, -
My time he had entered the pawn ~
hop before was to borrow a dollar and NJ
OF it The witness denied having r.
oaned him a, dollar and added that IN
'au1 had been in the pawn shop four "
r five times. ~
Cross Examination. n
On cross examination Mr.. Wenden-
urg asked:
do you remember on the Saturday
ffer the homicide coming to the hos sa
sta1 where Paul Beattie was and tell da