Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-09-01

that he had seen a second blood spot
some distance from the one near
the stump, where the State alleged
the murder was committed.
To unit the witnesses disclaimed
any knowledge of the second blood
spot alluded to by Robertson, al
though they heard a report
about a second stain, and had made
an exhaustive examination. This
testimony served to completely shat
ter the boys story.
Battle For Life Begins
The defense went through the after
noon by introducing several charac-
ter witnesses, and with an attack
upon the testimony of Paul Beattie.
While the cousins testimony in min
or 'rts was contradicted by wit
nesses for the defense, his original
story remained mistaken when court
adjourned for the afternoon.
Two witnesses, Eugene Henshaw
and w. R. Holland, testified to see
ing stranger on the Midlothian
turnpike several days before and the
Monday before the night of the muir
der. Henshaw said that the stranger
had the appearance of lunatic; that
the man was about SO years of age,
and that he had gray beard.
Holland said the man he saw was
about five feet and ten inches tall,
had a single-barrel shot gun on his
shoulder, that he appeared to be
about 3S years old, and looked like
he had not had shave for several
weeks.
Henshaw testified that the reputa-
ton for J.. C. Talley for truth and
veracity was bad in his neighbor-
hood-Talley had previously testi-
fed to hearing a woman scream, then
gun shot and the sound of a NOV
ing automobile near the scene of the
murder on the night of the murder.
G. w. Booth testified that Paul
Beattie said to him on the morning
after the murder that he did not
think Henry killed his wife because
he loved her SO.
This testimony was fatty contra
dicted when Paul resumed the stand,
and swore that he did not know
Booth, and had not made the remark
attributed to him.
The court at this juncture ordered
the jury to disregard anything said
by witnesses relative to the action
of the bloodhounds.
Broadnax Robertson, a brother of
Alex, went on the stand and corro-
borated the testimony of the younger
Robertson as to the two blood spots,
one several yards from the big pool
| near the stump.
Additional strength was given to
the defense's claim that Mrs. Henry
| Beattie had been murdered by a
bearder stranger, as told by Henry
Beattie, by the testimony of Donald
Richardson, who drove an automo-
bile party along the Midlothian turn
pike a year ago, and who told the
jury of being held up while on that
trip by highwayman.
Tell of Bearded Stranger
Other members of the party testi-
fed to the same effect, and also to
the fact that they took the gun which
the man carried away from him,
gave him seat in their auto, and
| after ride of a mile or so permitted
him to get out and go his way, for
fear that he would brighten some
women in another car that was ap-
preaching.
William Pemberton, a farmer, took
the stand and gave additional testi-
mony attacking the reputation of
Witness Talley for truthfulness, say
Ing that the neighbors did not think
well of Talley.
| Prosecutor Wendenburg here ask
| ed Pemberton if he were not
| "squatter" on the garbage hauler.
Pemberton said he was. "Didn't
you raise nine children in one
room?" Mr.. Wendenburg asked, to
which the witness replied: me sir.
in three" Didn't you chain your
cats to porch?" asked Wendenburg.
You are crazy, you are out of your
head" returned the witness.
Back in Chesterfield
Henry Beattie, on trial for murder
spent the night in the little Chester
field Jail, the second he has spent
in this Jail, and it was even more
weird than the first. While the big
gray rats that scampered around him
and poked their damp noses into his
face the first night of his incarcera-
ton had been eliminated by the Or
der of Judge Watson, the gloom was
deepened by the constant drip, drip
OF the rain that fell increasingly from
the ewes of the Jail roof. Outside in
pine tree tree toad sang in lugu-
brious measure, and these were the
only sounds that penetrated the cell
of the young man who is on trial for
his life for the murder of his wife.
The cell at the Chesterfield Jail
that has been prepared for BeuIah
Binford, but which has never yet
been occupied by her-a lighter, bet
ter furnished apartment than the
one set aside for young Beattie's o.
upancy, was turned over to him last
night. 1t is located over the first
floor of the little Jail and outside of
the building two guards with loaded
repeating rifles paced silently up and
down in the heavy downpour.
By Pickering light of small glass
lamp the prisoner read the evening
papers-all bbout the Beattie case
the gruesome testimony of the
young prisoners cousin who told of
Henry's alleged confession. Until