The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-08
fsnec,a, from United Press },

(Special from United PresS.)
Chesterfield County Courthouse, Va
Sept. S-Hoping to place the fate o.
Henry Clay Beattie before the jury
who hold the power Of life and deatf
over him, before nightfali, Judge Wat
SON today convened court full hou
ahead of the usual time.
This was the day for the final rouno
of the wordy warfare which will con
clude the case. Harry NJ Smith,, tne
keen-witted chief OF the defense, be-
gan the day, placing before the jury
the last words they wifi hear In favor
of the prisoner. Then came the mer-
cflees Wendenburg, the special prose
cutor. It was developed, when cour.
opened. that the arguments would pe
concluded early this evening, and una'
q verdict might be reached before the
i,rry was locked UP for the night.
I'VE are making good progress, oe-
<s1nre3 Beattie today, with his air OF
indifference unimpaired. Il have no,
the slightest fear that the jury VIII
bring In a verdict OF guilty.. Iney
may disaxree II they do, WIN Ger.
tainfv be acquitted at a second trial
Reettie maintained the same de-
meanor that has marked him since
the crime. Not quiver OF q muscie
showed the slightest fear OF the grum
death chair that today looms 50 near.
As tho lawyers, deep In their life and
death arguments, casually glanced as
Beattie. they smiled broadly at an at
fenpt he made at tears. which was
failure. and five minutes later ne was
smiling.
An Immense crowd gathered at the
courthouse to hear the last arguments
Judge Watson again barred women
from the courtroom but score Oh
them stood about beneath the open
windows listening eagerly.
Under the indictment charging 6eaI.
tae with the killing of his wife but
two verd1ots are possible. The jury
can either find him guilty OF murder
in the first degree as charged In the
Indictment, or mot guilty"
There can be no lesser verdict Tor
murder or manelaughter. Following
! verdict OF guilty, the Virginia law
nreerfbes the death penalty, although
fhe f1rrv. can recommend mercy
A thir6 possibility Is that of a cts-
when Beattis entered the courtroom
he he1d q hurried conference with At
torney Harry Smith. They went over
the notes of Smith together and Beat
tie suggested some changes.
men will bring in a verdict OF guilty,
said Smith. But we do fear you
may not bring In a verdict OF not
1ufBty. 1 shah endeavor to show you
today that we are entitled to q YER
diut of not guilty. Judge watson
instructed you that unless you are sat
isfied beyond a reasonable doubt, you
must acqtnt.
Never have the workings of cir
cumstantial evidence been so plainly
shown. as in this case. And Judge
watson has shown you how grave the
dangers may be-"
After a lengthy dispute as to the
"good character and intelligence" OF
Henry Beattie, Smith declared:
The theory of the Commonwealth
would make this intelligent, kind
hearted, affectionate youth a Ounce,
q fool, q fiend in human FORM
Smith, one of the most eloquent
members OF the Virginia bar. exerted
an Of his power of words to persuade
the jury.
"This IL not merely a question OF
th1s young mans hfe." he declared.
at b q question Of the ruin Of the
remaining years Of this poor old gray
haired father Of the fair little
seventeen-year-old sister and Of the
standing of the brother of the accused
man"
Step by step the lawyer followed the
.evidenoe carefully, pointing out and
emphasiEing the flows in the circum-
stantial case Of the State.
Wendenburg, special prosecutor, who
Will close the case for the State, today
appeared in great good humor. In
the Democratic primaries yesterday
Wendenburg was nominated for the
Virginia State Senate and that nomi-
nation is equivalent to an election.
xryx an L. -
Judge Gregory, Commonwealth attor-
ney for Chesterfield county, was bad
~ beaten for denomination.
Pounding continually on the question
OF reasonable doubt and the unrelia-
bi1ity Of circumstantial evidence
Smith reviewed the entire case as
made out by the prosecution. AS he
pointed out each alleged link in the
prosecutions chain of evidence, he re-
peated the law as to reasonable doubt
"Can you gentlemen believe that
Henry Beattie left the sweet, lovable
woman he had married, mother of his
child, and planned to murder her for
Beu1ah Binford?" he shouted. waving
i1is arms about his head. Can you be-
lieve this man is capable Of that?"
One point weakened Smiths argu-
ment. He passed over Henry's denial
that he had seen Paul the Thursday
night before the killing and the sub
seQuent strong corroboration of Paul's
story as immaterial-
After Smiths emotional tones rane
through the courtroom for over three
hours, the jury began to grow tired
In the course of one of his oratorical
flights, one of the jurors in the back
row nodded and slumbered peacefully
Judge Watson noticed him and whisp-
cred to Sheriff Gill. The Sheriff
seated at the end of the jurybox
nudged the Juror beside him. Down
thes line the nudge went until the nod
ding juror was prodded into conscious
ness by the elbow of his neighbor.