Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-11-28
EXECUTION OF .sEArTIE.


Richmond, November 24.-Henry
Clay Beattie, Jr., was electrocuted In
the state prison this morning at 1928
ttu.rfuck ene fninute-efter.athe -shoels-
he was pronounced dead. He went to
the chair unshaken.
In a torrential downpour Of rain.
the twelve witnesses to the execution
toiled through the murky dawn up
the hill to the penitentiary. They
were quickly marshaled and conduct
ed single file, through the gates OF
steel bars to the chamber where
Beattie was to o~er his atonement
There was no conversation.
The witnesses were seated six abreast
before the chair. They shuffied their
feet uneasily, and when one leaned
forward to speak to another, his ac-
ton was received with frowns.
Major Woods, with two deputy war;
dens, addressed the witnesses. going
through the formalities demanded by
law. Then, with the aid of two men
trooping behind, he passed, into the
building where Beattie awaited the
summons. The warden's voice could
plainly be heard reading to the DOOM
ed man the final summons, which
seemed to the witnesses interminable.
In reality, the compliance with the
law occupied only brief moment.
Then, with Beattie between them.
the deputy wardens began their prog
ress toward the chair, only few feet
away. Then the procession. followed
by Superintendent Woods. started. A
signal was given which plunged the
death chamber into darkness, save
for a single light Immediately over
the chair. This was so hooded that
it outlined the chair.
Encircling, blazing radiance was so
intense that the remainder Of the room
seemed in utter darkness. The wit
nesses scarce could see each other.
There was no delay i'm preparing for
the end.
Beattie took his place and the pris-
on surgeon and electricians adjusted
the straps. A half dozen clamps were
quickly thrown into place and snap
ped. The cap was adjusted and the
men stepped back. Raising his hand.
the warden gave the signal for the
electric current to be turned on.
Instantly Reattie's body stiffened
with such violence that the straps
creaked with a strain, and the clamps
ratified as though they were castanets
in the hands Of death. and then that
which had once been Henry Clay
Beattie, Jr., relaxed. 1t was just 7.2a
o'clock when the shock was applied.
One minute later Beattie was dead.
The surgeon went forward and with
stethescope listened for another
faint beating of the heart that less
than SIXTY seconds before had lived.
He stepped back and pronounced:
He is dead"
The witnesses solemnly filed out of
the death chamber. One or two were
ghastly pale as they stepped into the
early morning light.
Several hours after the execution.
two ministers who attended Beattie
In prison. gave out the following con-
fession that had been signed by the
doomed man shortly before he went
to tho electric chair:
II. Henry Clay Reattie. Jr.. desirous
of standing right before God and
man, do. on this 23rd day OF Novem-
er. 1911. confess my guilt of the
crime charged against me.
Much that was published concern
ing the details was not true. but the
awful fact, without the narrowing cir
cumstances, remains. For this action
l am truly sorry and, believing that
am at peace with God and am soon to
pass into His presence, this statement
In made"