The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-08-29
WITNESS IS
Big SURPRISE
Man Put on by Prosecution,
Strengthens Defense
IN BEATTIE MURDER TRIAL
PAUL BEATTIE, COUSIN or DE-
PENDANT, TESTIFIED yEsTER-
DAY THAT HENRY CLAY BEAT
TIE HAD CONFESSED MURDER
TO HIM, PAUL.


Chesterfield. va, Aug. o. Paul d.
Beattie, cousin OF Henry Clay Beat
tie. 5r., indicted for wife murder, re-
manned unmoved today ~ ser a volley
Of questions from cot y n the de-
Tense who attempted AXE the
witness story OF yestery which
he introduced an alleget sssion
to him BY the prisoner ,ing
the tragedy.
Practically the entire cross9S q,
alton by the counsel for the d Y
was concentrated on an effof =
show that Paul Beattie recited an &
tirely different story yesterday from
the one which he related at the corr
oner's inquest and that he had on the
first occasion suppressed part of his
knowledge OF the case.
The witness maintained that this
was due to his nervous collapse at the
coroner's inquest and he was excused
without changing his startling testi-
mony of yesterday
John Sandifer, an intimate friend
OF the prisoner for several years, who
accompanied the latter to Harry M.
Smiths home two nights after the
murder, followed Paul Beattie on the
stand for the prosecution. He was
expected to confirm the testimony that
I Henry G.. Beattie, jr.. telephoned that
night to Paul to ask the latter to carry
a message to Beulah Binford.
He did not do so and failed to give
any light on the subject and practice
ally became a witness for the defense.
Harry NJ. Smith, Jr, counsel for the
defense took the witness on direct
examination and asked him concern
ing the character Of Henry Clay Beat
tie. jr.
The prosecution objected that this
kind of testimony could only be in
connection with testimony of the pris-
oner himself, Attorney Smith then am
nounced that it was intended to put
the accused on the stand.
Sandifer testified that the relations
Of Henry G. Beattie, jr., with his wife
pleasant as far as he knew. He said
he had visited Henry and members OF
his family since the murder and had
expressed his sympathy for the ac-
cused. His testimony was surprise
to the prosecution who summoned
him as it's witness.
Not an EpiIeptio.
Minute and intense cross exam
nation of Paul d. Beattie, a
cousin OF Henry Clay Beattie, in
dicted for murder, was planned by
counsel for the defense for today with
the purpose OF breaking down IL pos
sible the story Of the alleged con-
fession of the prisoner, related on the
stand yesterday by the common
wealths star witness.
Lawyers for the defense had con-
ferred at Richmond with Henry G..
Beattie, jr.. during the night and early
today and they determined to make a
general attack on the character OF
Paul Beattie, particularly as TO his
truthfulness.
Court reconvened at 10:30 o'clock
and Paul Beattie Immediately resum-
ed the witness chair for cross-exam-
ination by the defense. Little was
developed from the examination ex-
cept that the witness admitted buying
a gun for Henry c. Beattie at the lat
ter's request over the telephone.
He said he had not known Beulah
Binford except by sight when he car
ried the articles Of wearing apparel to
her from Henry Clay Beattie He
never ran around with her.
When suddenly asked If he was an
epileptic, the witness asked, what
does that mean, craxy?" The witness
raised hts voice and answered EN-
phatically, mo-"