Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-05
BEATTIE REPEATS
STORY DECLARING
HIMSELF INNOCENT

1ecuonate greeting which ne mas
brought to his imprisoned son since the
trial began
GOD KNOWS I'M l-,NoCENT."
Through the prison bars the accused
man reiterated his statement OF yester-
day that he was confident or acquit-
tai.
God knows 1 am innocent OF the
murder Of my dear wi.1," he said. de
spoke in q deep voice and his tone was
both firm and emphatic
I'm going to tell the jury and every
body just how 1t happened" he con-
tinued.
confident they will believe what / say
against the circumstantial evidence that
has been collected against me-"
A larger crowd than usual was count
ed upon to wend it's way over the IL
miles OF sandy roads to the historic
court house from Richmond and the
countryside.
The prisoner was expected to go on
the stand Immediately alter the con-
vening OF court and was ready to an
swer the questions of counsel carefully
rehearsed with him yesterday afternoon
on the lawn in front of the jail. After
the direct examination by Harry M.
Smith. Jr.. and Hill Carter. counsel for
the defense, lne accused was to be kept
on the stand all afternoon by the pros
ecution under rigid cross-examination.
Beulah Binford, the so-called "glri in
the case and Paul ID. Beattie, cousin
OF the accused. the two persons upon
whom the commonwealth has relied for
the foundation of its case, win not be
brought here from the Richmond Jail.
where they are confined until tomorrow
when the commonwealth will begin its
effort to impeach the testimony of the
prisoner.
END IN SIGHT.
Paul who said he bought the gun for
Henry with which Mrs. Beattie is al
legged to have been murdered and the
Binford girl, who Is alleged by the pros
ecution to have been the motive for the
crime, will be produced in the court room
only to controvert the statements OF
the accused and this is dependent on its
testimony today. The prosecution is ex-
pected to occupy tomorrow in rebuttal
and for Wednesday the argument of
counsel ! for both sides, including the
question OF instruction to the jury, is
scheduled, the case probably going to the
jury on Thursday.
COURT ROOM PACKED.
Every available seat in the court room
early today was occupied and a large
crowd had gathered on the lawn SUR
rounding the little red building.
1t was day of sunlight. one Of the
rare days OF clear skies during the trial
The crowd came in a constant stream
of automobiles, farm wagons and rigs of
every description, being loads OF people
from Richmond and vicinity In a vain
hope Of hearing the prisoners story.
Harry M. Smith, Jr.. and Hill Carter,
lawyers for the defendant, arrived at
800 and Immediately were closeted with
the prisoner In his cell.
Prosecutor Wedenburg reached the
court house a few moments later, accom-
panied by the other attorney for the COM
monwealth, L. M. Gregory.
was your statement to Tom Owen the
same as you made at the coroner's in
quest?'
Yes" y
why didn't you follow the man?'
SHOUTED FOR HELP.
well, after getting the gun and see-
ing him running UP the road, my next
thought was for my wife. She was
lying on the left hand side of the cart.
had to step on her dress TO get In. felt
Of her pulse, but / knew couldn't tell,
being excited, whether she was dead or
living. I hollered murder and help
and blew the horn. but, knowing there
was doctor at Tom Owens, seated
my wife on the left seat Her head
dropped forward, and holding her with
one hand, 1 ran the car with the other.
A little way down, the lights went out
fixed my wife in the seat and jumped
out to fix the lights. / realized then I
had no coat on. I then lit the lamps
and went on to Mr.. Owens home"
How fast did you run back?"
About 40 or 80 miles an hour"
Can you recall how near the belt
line II was that you stopped7'
mo. I remember though that the car
jumped nearly two feet when IL did
cross the belt line tracks. There was
one bad turn where l had to let go my
wife once to use both hands for the
turn. Mr.. owen and DIR. Mercer helped
me carry my wife into the library. I
asked If I should send for an ambulance
or take her to a hospital. but he said
she was dead / remember asking a
second time If she was dead
1.-THE detectives have testified that you
showed no signs of grief. How was
that?"
TRIED TO COMPOSE SELF.
well, there were several ladies at
the house and when the detectives came
they we're all strangers to me and I
tried to compose myself to give them all
the information could"
did you see Paul Beattie on Wed
nesday night?
Yes. He came over and told me that
Beulah said she was sorry for me-"
did you tell Paul Beattie that If she
bothered you you would kill her, IL 1t
took a hundred years7"
Il said 1 didn't want ner to bother
mer."
CONTRADICTED COUSIN.
Now, Paul Beattie has declared that
he said, this thing looks black to me-
and that you said. I wish to God
hadn't done 1t. though she never loved
me and only married me for my money"
Did you ever make that statementf"
No..
Paul Beattie said you remarked, how
In the hell did those detectives find out
there was number six shell In. that
gun"
Did you make any such statementT'
mo" N
sharp argument then ensued as 70
Beulah Binford's being produced in
court II
MAY CALL BINFORD GIRL.
The prosecution, intimated that it in
tended to call her later.
sheriff GIN brought to the court room