Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-08-14
HENRY c. bEATT|E JR.
INDICTED FOR MURDER
Trial Brings People to Chesterfield
Courthouse from all Directions
Beulah Attracts Attention.

VA, August Ia, The prologue of
Chesterfield county's great murder
trial show drew large and enthus-
iastic audience to-day. When the
grand jury took up the case of the
commemorative, of Virginia against
Henry Clay Beattie, jr., charged with
wife murder, hundreds of country
men from the surrounding farms,
and hundreds of the curious from the
city of Richmond surrounded the
little red brick court house. Not one
fifth Of them could find room within,
and the sheriff's force of the county,
aided by the Richmond police, drew
a Gordon of guards about the little
building, keeping the crowd in order
For Virginia was opening its most
famous and mysterious murder trial,
and Virginians were not be cheated
of their morbid fete. They came on
foot, on horseback and in every kind
of old and new vehicle that Virginia
has known since the war from "one-
horse-shay" to the latest high-power-
ed motor car They were of all colors
creeds and previous conditions of SER
vitude. Ancient gray-haired negroes
who knew Mars Beattie and Miss
Owens when they were knee high to
grasshopper" and proud represent
atiyes Of the first families of Virgin
ia, who were related more or less
distantly to the accused man or the
murdered woman were there to
watch the morbid drama in its open
ing scene Of the final act.
Chesterfield county farmers reap
ed a golden harvest. At Centralia,
the nearest trolley station, four miles
from the court house they were lined
up with their buggies, surreys and
even farm wagons, TO transport the
would be spectators, for good round
sums.
twelve miles from Richmond to Cen
tralia recognized the demand and put
on double service, crowding every
car TO the limit.
All this despite the fact that to-
days proceedings were purely form
al sort of curtain raiser 10 the
dread drama OF the, trial. But few
witnesses CT the half hundred OBJ
tanned by the prosecution were on
hand. and even before the grand jury
convened Beattie's Indictment was
certain.
The main matter Of speculation
was the date to be fixed for the trial
and up to the last minute Attorney
Harry NJ Smih, for the defense, de-
clared he would not press for
lengthy adjournment. Special pros
ecutor Wendenburg was planning on
an attempt to have Beattie placed on
trial on Thursday or Friday of this
week, in order that jury might he
secured for next Monday.
From early morning the crowd
had been coming to the inaccessible
little red brick court house set in
a little orchard Judge Watson. who
will preside at Beattie's trial, was
driven over from Centralia in ricke-
" farm buggy On his way 10 court
he was passed by high-powered
motor car carrying Beulah Blnford,
"the other woman" in the case, and
Paul Beattie, who confessed to buy
ing the gun with which Mrs. Beattie
was killed. These two star witnesses
of Special Prosecutor Lewis Wenden-
burg and their testimony before the
grand jury is depended on for the
Indictment Of Beattie. Out in the
courthouse yard gathered scores OF
Chesterfield county folk intent on
making a profit on the morbid fete,
and had taken out concessions at at
county fair. A lemonade stand, lunch
stand and other petty business ven
lures we're scattered along the snake
fence about the courthouse. A trio
of pretty Virginia girls did a thriv-
ing business at the lemonade stand.
Inside the court room score Of
news paper men were crowded on a
series of platforms about the judges
bench. About seventy-five spectators
we're able TO crowd into the little
court room.
Attired in a light summery gown,
and resplendent in brand new, bright
blue hat Of the umbrella type, Beulah
Biuford appeared withIthe same happy,
care -free-air, that ha characterized her
during her stay in Henry county Jail.
Harry Beattie, himself, was not
brought out from HeDrico jail. The
questionable temper Of the Chesterfield
farmers was in the mind OF the officials
His presence was not necessary and
special Prosecutor Wendenburg said
1--WE will take no risks until we have
to-" Paul Beattie, the star witness for
the prosecution, has fully recovered
from his attack of nerves that pros
trated him when his cousin was ar
rested. As he left the auto at the
courthouse be declared that he bad
composed what be called poem. I
think Henry Beattie might set this to
music and sing it in JAIL laughed
Paul. This is the poem. Take me
out OF Henrico Jail, take me back to
Lila Hha1ko~co1l .,,-o 40 fr,ol an