The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-08-29
BeattIe Told His Cousin How Sorry
He Was That He Had Done II
Soon After the
Murder.
COURT ROOM eAsps
Cousin Of Accused Wife Slayer Helps
Put the Moose Around the
Neck Of His ReIa-
tive.

Va, Aug. 29.-Paul d. Beattie, cousin
of Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., who stands
indicted on charge of wife murder,
testified that the accused had told him
twenty-four hours after the murder
how sorry he was "he had done it.
circumstance relating to the crime
that the witness hitherto had sup
pressed.
Coming as dramatically and as un-
expectedly as the pathetic tale of
Mrs. R. v Owen, mother of the dead
woman, as to the domestic infelicity
of her daughter, due to the husbands
physical ailment, the brief but thrill
ing testimony given by Paul Beattie
created a profound sensation.
Paul Beattie at the coroner's in
quest, a nervous wreck, but now
strong and determined, poured out a
tale which confessedly had troubled
his mind, not only because he bought
the shotgun for Henry, but because
he did not until now tell all of the
circumstances. With quivering lips he
set forth the story against which his
heart and sympathy had for days
been revolving.
81 hated to testify against my own
| flesh and KIM he murmured, as the
muscles of his throat pulsated, but
my wife, my child and the duty owe
/ to my city forced me to do So"
/ The gasp that arose simultaneously
/ from the throats of those in the STUFF.
] fly courtroom was strikingly audible,
and for moment the crowd held its
breath while Paul Beattie continued:
Henry himself told me that he
wanted me to stick by him, but
said to him: This looks mighty black
/ to me, and you've got me into lot OF
trouble. Henry told me: I wish to
God / had not done it. ! wouldn't have
! done it for million dollars, but she
i never loved me, she only married me
i for my money"
Paul Beattie paused and his plain
A tive tone sank lower, but he did moi
break down. hushed stiffness pre-
vailed in the room as his next words
I were awaited. but he said no more
and. bracing himself in the chair
! turned his sharp chin toward the
bench where the prisoner and counse
sat and looked fixedly at the latter II
preparation for the cross-examination
Harry Smith, Jr., one OF the law
vers for the defendant, arose from MI
seat. gazed at the witness, and iii
loud voice confronted Paul with tn
charge that at the coroner's lnques
he had not told he whole truth, as nj
/. oath required, when he omitted u
make the statement concerning Hen
rvs alleged confession to him.
Paul looked appealingly at tn
counsel. and hardly able to repres
his emotion, told how he had not pee
able to clear his mind at the Inquest
when he collapsed, or for some day
, later and that only recently had h
, heen able to force himself to Civ
damaging evidence against his oW
, kinsman.
II YVES a late hour when this stag
, of the trial was reached, and adjourn
, ment was taken until this morning
when cross-examination was contlnt
, ed.
In the meantime Henry G. Beattle
Ir. was taken back to Richmond I
: hermit of conference there VII
counsel. The prosecution let 1t D
known that it had practically tinishe
: it's case.
The possibility of an insanity a.
| fense to save Beattie from the ele'
tric chair, loomed large today Follow
ing Yesterdays sensational defens
the lawyers took up seriously the que
+,o,, of Beattie's sanity.
| Beattie will probably take tn
stand and make fight for his oW
life perhaps this afternoon. The eros
examination of Paul Beattle continue
to-day and at many times he was cor
nletely tangled up by the questions
| fha defense.