Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-09-09
Jury Returns Verdict in Virginia Murder
Case After So Minutes Deliberation
TO BE ELECTROCUTED NOVEMBER
Motion Ser Aside Verdict Promptly Overruled-Court
of [r ais W be Asked to Grant Writ of Error
e. tiles Inf ~ Had Some Influence Juy
ged Father OF Prisoner Bowed in Grief

began reading. Then he whispered a
few words to his father and brother.
it was for them he felt and to them he
counselled cheerfulness.
Nearly Dark When Jury Returned
1t was nearly dark in the court room
when the jury returned. Three oil
/ lamps gave meagre lustre to the scene
! Sunsets rays still streaked through
/ the windows. On every sill rested a
I telegraph instrument and operators,
tensely waiting for the announcement
/ of the verdict. A thick mass of faces
/ rising in an incline to the shabby CELL
! ing, stared at the jurymen. Famous
/ jurists looked down. too, from fly
/ specked paintings.
The Terrible Climax Of the Case.
The court asked the prisoner to rise.
He drew himself up calmly and wait
/ ed.
| Have you gentlemen agreed on
| verdict?'' asked Judge Watson.
We have" said Foreman Burgess.
The prisoner had confidently expect
ed hung jury not acquittal or
conviction. The court requested the
audience not to manifest it's approval
or disapproval, whatever the verdict
And what is your verdict ?'' asked
Judge Watson, turning again to Fore
man Burgess.
Guilty" answered Burgess, but to
I his coioe was added the voices of elev-
en- others.
Failed to Specify Degree.
Unyersed in law and the forms of a
murder trial, the jurymen had not spe-
Gifted what degree of murler Asked
what degree. Mr.. Burgess answered
simply, Guilty as indicted Under
Virginia practice murder is presumed
to be second degree unless otherwise
specified. 1t was incumbent upon tha
jury to fix the degree. so Judge Wat
son advised the jurymen to confer
again on the point, and seven minutes
later they conforrned, this time with
the verdict of Murder in the first de-
gree" "a
sestte Has Nothing to Say.
The prisoner stood nlotionless. His
face, in color yellowish green through
out the day. was inmobile. He fast
ened his eyes on the faces of the
twelve men who had pronounced his
punishment, as if to. penetrate their
minds and determine the reason why.
It was not resentful expression, how
ever, and when the court asked if he
had anything to say, he answered:
'I have nothing to say" and sat
down.
New Trial Denied.
The perfunctory motions for new
trial were made by counsel for the de-
fense. The usual permission even to
argue the point was denied. Judge
Watson in a stern voice declared that
all rulings of the court were On COM
paratively unimportant details and in
no way could have Influenced the ver-
dict. stay of execution was grant
ed. however, to give counsel an oppor
when the court of appeals meets in
November.
Judge Addresses the Prisoner
Tudr Io1;u a ir,or,
sive speech to the prisoner. He SAID
the young man had stained his own
life and that of the community in
which he lived by his sordid acts.
When the trial first began Judge Wat
son said he had hoped that Virginia
might be cleared of the crime, for
which not only the state felt shame,
but the entire country deprecated. He
mad hoped that counsel would prove
the defendant innocent but the evil
dence, he regretted to note, was all
convincing and overwhelming.
Death Sentence Passed.
You have had a fair and impartial
trial, Mr.. Beattie and the Jury has
done what it considers its duty. There
fore, you have been convicted of mur-
der in the first degree. and on Novem-
Der "a, between the hours of sunrise and
sunset, you must forfeit your life to
the community. May God have mercy
on your SOUL
Father and Brother Bowed With Grief.
A moment later by the side of his
father and his brother, Douglas their
heads bowed in grief, walked Beattie
in the darkness towards his cell, a
hundred yards away.
Breaks Down and Weeps.
The crowd fingered at the Jail and
peered into the cell, illuminated by a
single lamp. On the bed with his
head in his hands sat Beattie his faith
er and brother beside him. Jailer Cog
Dill sent the cruious away. Only 4
few saw the prisoner break down and
weep.
Case Ready for Jury at sos.
Mr.. Wendenburg concluded his two
and half hour arraignment at sos
p n., ending the argument ana the
case was then ready for the jury.
Jury Given an Airing.
Judge Watson thought it best to
have the jury to exercise in the open
air before beginning consideration of
thu case. He asked Sheriff Gill to take
the jury outside and bring them back
in Is minutes. The prisoner also was
given brief airing. but when he went
on the lawn a big crowd surged around
him and he asked to be taken to his
cell. Beattis seemed refreshed after
the prosecutors long address. He
smiled and took his seat in the bar.
Case Delivered to Jury.
The jury returned to the courthouse
after its respite and Judge Watson
briefly delivered the case into their
hands The jury entered their room
at 5.2S p. M They were informed by
Judge Watson that if they desired to
see any of the exhibits in the case,
namely the shotgun. the bloodstained
clothes or the letters of the Binford
girl. they would be brought to them
by Sheriff Gill
Prisoners and Father Pray.
The prisoner sat in the bar reading
Il newspaper. The crowd in the room
seemed excitediy nervous. After a few
minutes, however the fortitude of the
accused broke and he raised his news
paper oyer his eyes and those standing 1
close to him could observe his tWitch-
ing lips IS if ne were uttering a
prayer His ged father beside him
likewise bent forward reverently and
besought Divine aid. This action of
the prisoner vaA unnhSarvad hv naAst