The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-04
HENRY CLAY BEATT|E, JR.
TAKES STAND TO-DAY
Continued from First page.

PeuIan Binford described, and those
who gave this testimony generally
seemed TO be testifying in behalf of
the accused. Beattie has heard ex-
perts say II was not only possible for
blood TO have leaked through his ma
chine TO the ground, but that blood
stains on the gasoline tank show that
blood did drip through the Chauffeur's
seat TO the ground.
Beattie has heard a business man
OF Richmond admit he was not far
from the scene OF the murder lust
before the time of the murder with
woman standing on the running
board OF his machine while he poured
water in the radiator, The prisoner
also saw how his attorneys with this
evidence apparently shattered the
testimony of the boys who returned
from the dance at Bon Air that night.
Bit by bit, piece by pieces, witness
by witness. the prisoner has watched
MS defenders assail the Common
wealth, destroying bit Of evidence,
causing doubt of another piece of
evidence and discrediting a witness
as one with a bad reputation for
truth and veracity. He has seen his
defense built up piecemeal and whore
missing link may be found he will
strive to complete the chain.
Cannot Remove Gun.
There is one point In his story
which he vii find difficult to explain
and this one point seems 10 stand
between him and freedom. When all
has been said and done. Beattie knows
the jurors will ask themselves: why
dld the accused buy that shotgun p"
It has seemed the defense shattered
the motive of the crime by proving
Benttie lived happily and contented
with his wife.
1t has seemed that the defense
destroyed the theory Of the Com
monwealth that Mrs. Beattie was
killed In the road and not in the
automobile seat as her husband de-
scribed. But the defense. apparent
ly, has been unable 10 show why
Beattie bought a gun. or rather had
his cousin Paul purchase It for him.
The most that the defense has done
In this direction has been to dis
credit Paul
The story told by Paul and the
story told by Henry certainly will
conflict. In certain respects these
two stories surely will be direct con-
tradictions of each. WIN the jury
believe Paul or Henry? Paul evil
denty had no reason to tell false
hood Henry may save his life by
telling falsehood II he really killed
his wife.
II is true that the defense has en-
deavored to show Paul had a reason
for placing the guilt on Henry. The
defense has tried to prove Paul had
a grudge against Henry and the elder
Beattie. Witnesses have testified that
Paul said "Henrys father robbed
my father and mother of everything
they had. Henrys father locked my
mother in a room and made her sign
away everything she had
Many witnesses have testified that
Pauls reputation for truth and vera
city Is very bad" One witness said
| Paul was known as the biggest liar
in town" But Paul's story was un-
! shaken. He withstood cross
examination which would have hope
! lessly tangled many witnesses And
| Paul's story included among its other
| damaging assertion the statement that
| Henry confessed.
If at any time before the Jury re-
turns a verdict the trial should seem
to be turning in favor of the accused
1t Ia now when the defense is just
| concluding and when the Common
wealth has not begun 10 tear TO pieces
| the story woven by the defense II
! Beattie did not seem to have chance
of acquittal now all hopes of 1t would
be forever blasted.
To Corroborate Paul
| VIII the tide change eVerlastinglv
| when the Commonwealth begins It's
rehuttal9 Attorneys and lawyers for
the State who were asked the ques-
ton last night replied aif1rmatively
&c nil
| of witnesses In rebuttai. Most of
these vii he witnesses who viii cor
| rohorate Paus story. Once PauTa
| story Is believed to he true by the
Jurors and ther belief is not changed
there can he hut one verdict.
And Pauls story revolves about
the gun, that gun which seems to
be the greatest obstacle between
Henry and freedom If the State
succeeds In proving PauIs story true
beyond the shadow Of a doubt it prob
ably Will be q sorry day for the pris-
| oner. II was stated last night by rep
resentatives of the Commonwealth
that the witnesses who will he called
In rebuttal to c0rroborate Paul will
remove the last Vestige OF doubt con-
corning the truthfuiness Of his story.
May Call B4-triah. -
When the Commonwealth speaks Of
( tS Witness IN rehuttaI Beulah Bin
ford again steps forth into the lime
light, II seems probable that the girl
will he called TO the witness chair
The Commonwealth anticipates parts
Of Henry's story which can be de-
Mod only by Beulah. and II these parts
are included In the story by the al
cused to-day the only course open ia
the prosecution Will be to place the
girl on the stand,
Both defense and prosecution have
been a VT afraid Of the girl. II has
been believed that she held within
her testimony the power Of turning
the trial either way. This fear OF
both defense and prosecution was re-
yealed late Saturday afternoon when
Attorneys Wendenburg and Smith
practically dared each other to call
the girl to the witness chair
Mr.. Smith had Objected lie testl.
mony containing n remark said TO
have been made by Or. Mann Mr.
Smith objected on the ground that II
was hearsay testimony. Attorney
/ Wendenburg ashed out You sum
moned DR.. Mann. Why don't you put
him ON" why don't YOU put Beu-
Iah Binford on quickly replied At
torney Smith You have kept her In
TAIL for more than a month as n Wit
ness; why don't you put her on ."
DO YOU want her on asked At
torney Wendenburg.
You don't seem to be very anxious
to put her on replied MIR. Smith.
| Attorney Wendenhurg seemed to be on
the verge Of saying that he would call
the girl TO the witness chair. when
Judge Watson interrupted the argu-
meut Later Attorney Wendenburg