The Hattiesburg news., 1911-11-24
HENRY CLAY BEATTE. JR.
CONTINUED from Page One.)

gripped that of his brother.
But he recovered quickly. The for
titude Of the elder Beattie had more !
to do with the recovery than the
soothing offices of the Rev. Benjamin
Dennis, who had labored with the
doomed prisoner. With Spartan self
control, the father kept his emotions
in check, although the tears raced
down his cheeks and his lips twist
ed pathetically. No words were spok-
en-, but the young wife murderer must
have felt the stern repression of his
parent, for his sobs were strangled as
| he Strengthened up.
Goodbye" he said, and turned
away. Neither father nor brother
trusted to make reply but made their
way from the penitentiary. When they
enter it again it will be to claim the
body of their kinsman.
Hazel, the 1S-year-old sister of the
prisoner, and his two aunts drove to
the States prison in a closed carriage
in the middle of the afternoon. They
were in the death chamber a trihe
more than an hour. When they emerg-
ed Hazel was on the verge of collapse,
while all three were violently agitat-
ed and the eyes of each were red and
puffed with weeping.
The entrance and departure was OBJ
served by a morbid crowd of several
the rumored visit of Beulah Binford
to the prison. The report proved to
be untrue, the girl whose subtle pow
er over young Beattie is said to have
driven him to the killing of his wife,
having been discovered in New York.
Only one minister labored with
Beattie today, the Rev. Mr.. Dennis.
Rev. John ]. Fix, the young man s
former pastor, was so worn out by his
5 labor and the emotional strain he has
) undergone, he did not put in an ap
pearance. He is saving all his energy
I for tomorrow's dawn, when he fully
t expects the condemned man to con
l fess, provided he is guilty.
$ The day was spent in prayer, save
r for the time occupied by the fare
wells of the family. Beattie is SAID
to have declared his complete con
version and to have no fear but tha
:, his peace was made with God. He
told his spiritual adviser that he facet
= the hereafter with supreme conf
- dence.
= The sustained nerve of the con
admiration of his guards. Followint
the pathetic farewells between him
/ self and the members of his family il
q which he broke down completely h
3 disclosed such a quick and complet
n reversion to his placid demeanor tina
o it occasioned the utmost astonisl
ment. The death watch had locke
II forward to narrowing night. Whe
2. under the rules of the prison. light
e were ordered out at O'Clock, Beatti
Is showed every evidence of preparatio
IS to spend a quiet and restful period bt
a fore he is summoned to the deaf
D. chair
The prison authorities will insis
n upon the family removing the bod
.e within a few hours after it is laid OF
ly in the mortuary room, which adjoir
Is the death chamber. 1t was at fir!
s- believed that the body might be en-
IS balmed and kept in the penitentiaI
at until arrangements could be compile
ne ed for the funeral, but this beli
h. quickly was dispelled
While the funeral plans, if any hay
-, been made, have not yet been a
ia nounced, it is generally understoC
IL that Beattie's body will be buried
Tn the family lot in Maury cemeter
-, South Richmond. only space or ty
from the body of his wife. The buri
probably will be early in the mornil
by the wavering light of lanterns,
piuSl W OoSopC Tic CIOW
pa that are certain to gather at t
'eu grave.
us The crime for which Henry CT
Tie Beattie, Jr., was executed today W
hu one of the most sensational in t
we criminal history of Virginia. Int
or est in the murder was country-wi
Ihe owing to its unusual features and t
'hu swift movement of justice.
'hu On the night of July 49, last, Be
nat tie drove his automobile into Ri
De mond carrying with him the body
se- his wife which had a gaping shot G
eat wound in the head. He declared IL
OF tall bearded man had accosted h
lat, on the Midlothian turnpike, five mi