The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-24
BEATTIE'S " E D D 1 N (
 ANNIVERSARY
Just a Year Ago, He Takes Stand Today and CoolIy Gives Testi- mony in Defence Against Charge that He Plotted Brutal Murder of His Bride = Dramatic Story Recited in Court.
Especial from United Press.)

Chesterfield Cour thouse, Va, Aug. 24-On the first anniversary of his marriage to Louise Welford Owen, Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., today began the real battle to avert expiatior for her murder, but if this circumstance caused the wife murderer the slightest emotion, he did not show it. Calm and smiling, he took his place in the dock as the first witness to tes- tify against him took the stand. The fact that the wife he married one year ago lies in her grave, the victim of a brutal murder, and that he is accused of the crime, seemed to touch no strings in the steel wired tempera- ment of the youth
 He sat beside his father, and the aged man kept his arm protectingly about his sons shoulders. They chat ted together quietly, the accused son talking with animation, while the grayhaired father, his face lined by care, appeared more like a man on trial than did the prisoner
 Detective Scherer had brought from Richmond the blood clotted auto in which Beattie took home the body of his wife from the ride that ended in S wheeled up beside the jail. As Beat tie and his father came from the jail to the courthouse, Prosecutor Wenden- burg had just finished an examlna- tion of the car. Beattie strolled over and while his father lifted the darkly bloodstained cushions on which Beat tie sat while he held the dead body of his wife the accused man looked with curious interest at the stains on the woodwork He pointed at the blood marked floor of the car and talked earnestly in a low tone with his fa- ther. They stood for probably five minutes gazing at the bloodstains, not the slightest trace of emotion showing on Beattie's face.
 In holiday garh, the plain farmers of Chesterfield county and surround ing towns were present for the real opening of Beattie's fight for life, to- day The keen lawyers who are de- termined to send Beattie to the elec- tric chair for the murder of his wife began building up the structure of cir cumstantial evidence upon which they depend
 The public was excited. Ever since Henry Beattie carried his wife's bloody body home from an automobile ride, the night of July IS, the public has been fed upon speculation and con- lecture. Today witnesses were to tell
 
 wanted to hear.
 Picturesque Sheriff Gill, the paint brush bearded Confederate veteran who policed Chesterfield county, had trouble controlling the outpouring of spectators.
 With the long weeks of maneuvering and skirmishing over, Henry Beattie, calmer than before. He arose this morning in Chesterfield county jail, a little brick box of a place, in the court house yard. Yesterday he ionged for his cell in Richmond jail, but today he was enthusiastic oyer the county jail
 ''This is much better" he said, with a smile, "a sort of country retreat. It will be good for my health.''
 Prosecutor Wendenburg had his wit nesses on hand, A in number, ready to keep the trial going until the end. Many witnesses will be held in reserve, to be used in rebuttal after the de- fense has made out it's case.
 When Judge Watson opened court, the tiny toy sized courtroom was jam med. Beattie was slightly more seri- ous and seemed a trifle anxious as he listened to the roll call of the wit nesses for the State.
 All 54 witnesses were called before Judge Watson Many of them were
 
 court house and relays of criers called the names from every window and door. They were brought in in patches of five or six, sworn and turned out into the yard again.
 Only Thomas Owen, scheduled as the first witness, was allowed to remain in the courtroom. Neither Paul Beat tie or Beulah Binford were brought from Henrico jail, as they would not be needed today.
 While the witnesses were being sworn Beattie divided his attention between those who will appear against him and the jury. He watched the jurymen closely, occasionally leaning over to discuss one or another of them with his father or counsel
 Thomas Owen, the murdered girls uncle, was the first witness. He told of the events of the night of the mur- der. Owen said that Beattie called his auto and that the two left together in the machine.
 Owen declared he was seated in a window when the automobile returned
 T heard a voice shouting from way down the road,' he said. T recog- nized it as Henry Beattie's. He was shouting My God, oh, my God! They the car I found her body in a heap on the floor at the bottom of the front seat. It was so badly cramped that we had trouble getting it out of the car.''
 A ghastly recital of the condition of the murdered woman's body followed Through it all, Beattie gazed steadily at the witness and listened with rapt attention to his testimony
 Attorney Gregory led the witness through lengthy description of Beat ties appearance when he brought his Wife'S body home.
 Would you recognize the clothing he wore?" asked Gregory. Yes"
 A big cardboard box was brought in and spectators craned their necks as Gregory produced the bloOdsoaked clothing worn by Beattie on the night of the murder which Owen promptly identified.
 Owen likewise identified the shot gun as the one which Paul Beattie said he purchased for his cousin and with which Henry Beattie said the murder was done
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