The Topeka state journal., 1911-08-24
BEATTIE CASE ON
First Witness Is Called in the
Trial for Murder.
He Is Thomas Owen, Uncle of
the Slain Woman.
PLANS OF DEFENSE
Will Rely Mainly on Breaking
Down Paul's Evidence
And the Fact That Nobody Saw
the Killing Done.
PLANS OF DEFENSE

Chesterfield Court House, Aug. "a
The blood stained automobile in which
Louise owen Beattie met her death
was driven into the yard of Chester
field court house early today just be-
fore the trial of Henry Clay Beattie,
jr., indicted for wife murder, was re
sumed. The prisoner was on the
lawn when the machine arrived and
he calmly inspected it. His father
raised the cushion of the front seat,
revealing mass of coagulated blood
on the woodwork.
The court convened at 1880 o'clock
and the prisoner took his seat prompt
~. Today was the first anniversary of
his marriage TO the woman he Is ac-
cused of numbering.
More than sixty witnesses sub
pOenaed by the commonwealth We're
called from the lawn, sworn in and
instructed to remain outside near the
court house but not near enough TO
hear testimony through the open Win
dOws. With a few exceptions botn
sides agreed to exclude all witnesses
from the room while not testifying.
Thomas Owen, uncle of Mrs. Beattie,
to whose home the prisoner brought
the body after the tragedy, took the
witness stand at 1920.
While the prisoner gazed fxedly at
him, Mr.. Owen told how Beattie drove
up to the house on the nigbt cf the
murder. took lis young wife into The
car and returned an hour Later with
the dead body beside him. He said
Beattie cried My God, my Cod" as
| he drove up and that Beattie sncuted,
''They have killed Louise" Briefly
and simply Mr.. Owen told how, the
body was lifted from the car, but said
he did not examine the body at the
! time. When it was prepared for
burial, however, he saw the wound in
the left cheek, which he described as
being ae big as half dollar AS the
witness said this Beattie mumbled
''half dollar loud enough for those
near to him to hear.
BIoodsoaked Clothes Shown.
Beattie's bloodsoaked clothes We're
unrolled before the jury and the %it-
ness identified them. The single bar
relied shotgun with which the common
wealth says the silo- Was fired was
then exhibited.
Mr. owen identified the gun as shown
at the coroner's inquest at which time
Paul Beattie swore that he had pur-
| chased it for his cousin. Then the
witness described the scene of the
crime on the night of the murder
Beattie watched his uncle-in-law like a
hawk as the testimony proceeded and
now and then shook his head as if in
contradiction.
Did you observe the conduct of the
accused at the house after the Hiur-
der2" owen was asked.
ne Seeuleu 70 De Sll6NSu anu OAiCN
to keep him out of the room where the
| body was" said the witness.
He asked me for some whisky and 7
sent out for some, and several times he
! inquired if his wife was dead. Te alsc
requested several times that 1 phone
for his father"
ITO what extent did Beattie use the
whisky?'' asked counsel for the COM
monwealth.
Il am pretty certain 7 saw him take
a drink" said Owen, "and later / Sound
a half pint bottle empty"
He could not swear. however, that
the prisoner had drank it all.
Describes Highwayman.
The witness described the ''bearde /
highwayman'' pictured to him by Reat-
tie as his Wife's murderer, repeated
Beattie's story of the alleged encounter
and told of a scratch on Beattie's face
which the prisoner had said the man in
the road inflicted.
Did the accused render you any aid