Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1911-09-12

UollD6TdUSu uodIly Oh AOuA oA0 -
lently one by one recorded unani-
nous verdict Of guilty.
After Weighing carefully the
meaning of their decision and once
more on Bonded knees beseeching
divine providence against possible
error, at the end of fifty-eight min
utes the jurors filed into the hushed
and crowded court room, and with
startling suddenness twelve voices
instead of the usual one Of the fore
man, spoke the word guilty, in
almost shout.
The spectre of death which stalk
ed Midlothian turnpike on July Is
last, when the life of Mrs. Louise
Owen Beattie was taken away with
the discharge of a single barrel
shotgun stared hard at the young
husband, ready to claim its victim
by decree of Judge Watson by elec-
trocution, on Friday, Nov. "a. But
the prisoner returned the gaze, I'M
swerving and unaffected.
The court of appeals will be ask
ed to grant a writ of error and q
new trial. Young Beattie, cogniz-
ant of the legal weapons yet at his
disposal, did not surrender. IL
stead, he consoled his broken faith
er, white haired and wrinkled and
comforted him is he whispered II
haven't lost yet, father"
Unusual as was the tragedy, the
jurymen did not hesitate to admit
to their friends that they stood in
judgment not only over the cold
blooded murder, but on Beattie's
matrimonial intidelity as well. 1t
perhaps was dramatic continue
ton of Virginia justice, which in
the last half century has swiftly
sent to death such similar murderers
as Cluveritus, Phillips and McCue.
At the close of powerful address
by L. o. Wendenourg, the voluntary
assistant of the commonwealth in
the case, the suspense was felt not
alone in the court room, but in
Richmond where thousands of peo-
pie awaited the outcome. The jury
had for eleven days heard evidence,
for two days speeches, but these
words of Wendenburg rang in their
ears as they left the court room to
find their verdict.
LET that man go free?" he cried.
what, let that man go free? Why,
the motherhood of Virginia, the
womanhood of this nation will shud-
der. in terror as the security OF its
life is threatened. Let this man go
free? This man who basked in the
degraded sunshine of another WON
an while at his home young wife
nursed his child? Gentlemen,
merely ask you in the name of JUS
tice to do your duty"
In vivid detail the prosecutor
pictured the wife as she started on
her innocent journey into the cool
air of summer night. To the jury
he portrayed the automobile in
which she rode beside her husband
how Beattie stepped into the dark.
ness of the thicket. found the shot
gun. which he had earlier conceal
ed, and deliberately slew his wife.
The desperate ride home with 9
bleeding and lifeless body, crushed
into the small space in the from
part of the machine and the hus
band eoldly sitting against tn
blood covered head of his wife were
graphically detailed to the jury. On
ly passing attention was given b!
Mr.. Wendenburg to the purchase o
the gun by Paul Beattie, cousin O
the accused. The defense had as
serted he said, that on Pauls stor!
alone was built the case of the pros
ecution, but he held aloft the bloc.
stained clothing of the prisoner "a
the mute evidence Of the crime" an
asked do you want any more ey
idence?"
Blood flecked the lower part o
the shirt in deep black blots; not
mark was on either sleeve of shirt o
coat The prisoner had declare
that he held his dead wife with on
hand and steered his car with tt
other, but the absence Of blood o
the arms, the prosecutor declared
4 gave the lie to his story. Not alon
with the clothing did the prosecute
disentangle what he termed 9Th
cheapest fabrication of the cheapes
murder" but he shouted shame a
the prisoner for his relations with
girl from the age of 13 to unit
within his own married life an
held her forth as the motive for tn
crime.
"And the prisoner admits that
was his passion" said Mr.. Wender