The Washington herald., 1911-09-01


they excused hewlett from the witness
stand after crOSS-eXamination had
failed TO shake him.
There were several character witnesses
to testify that hewlett was a respecta-
BILE, truthful man. There were some other
witnesses to swear that young Paul
Beattie (who the other day swore that
his cousin Henry, the defendant had
confessed TO him) was generally regarded
as a liar. Then the defendants father
made his plea for his boy.
Showed Grief for Wife.
He declared that Henry. jr., had shown
great grief upon the death of his wife:
in fact. that he feared the boy would
attempt suicide.
Alter telling first that he (the elder
Beattie), had led an unhappy life because
Of the death of several Of his children
and then that of his wife, and how Hen
ry. jr., had always been an especial pet
of his, after the death Of the wife, the
| old gentleman said:
| On this fatal night, after I raced over
! 10 the home of his uncle-in-law, Tom
| owen, in a taxicab, I met Henry in the
| parlOr. He had a bad scratch upon his
| nose. He told me he had had an en-
him if he was all right. Then I asked
| him about Louise.
"A woman neighbor came in and told
| me that Louise was dead. 1 spoke to
Henry about this, but he did not answer
me. Then noticed was he was DOING
And what was that?" inquired Harry
Smith, the defense's counsel.
| He was sort of fondlng one of the
| slippers his wife had worn when they
/ started out on that ride" said the elder
| Mr.. Beattie. He was crying and moan
ing. and was in a very pitiful way.
| soothed him as best I could. feared
What did you fear, Mr.. Beattie?"
! asked Attorney Smith
Il feared he might do something rash, {"
said the father. so I stayed with him
| every moment, watching his every move
ment."
Prisoner Breaks Down.
1t was just about at this point that the
boy defendant broke down and began to
weep. He looked to be in extremely bad
physical condition. Constantly he kept
gulping in his throat, which produced an
indrawing of his cheeks. Then the tears
came. His eyes were sunken as deeply
as those of a man who had been on a
fortnight's debauch. His hands quavered
Never once. while his father was on the
stand, did the youth look at him. He
kept his eyes directed either toward the
floor or toward a blank point on the front
Of the judges desk.
The rest of the elder Beattie's testi-
mony was triiing in a legal way. yet
perhaps quite impressive on the jury, and
certainly on the audience. He said that
Henry had been deprived of his mothers
nourishment when a mere infant, be-
cause, as afterward developed. there
were twins TO arrive in the Beattie fam
lily. When they arrived the father be-
came especially fond Of his little lad. and
always was young Henry his pet
The boy had grown up He had been
indiscreet with Beulah Binford. but had
completely confessed. He had married
TO the fathers great joy-and the proud
est moment of the old Southern gentle
mans life had been when he was per-
mitted TO carry his grandson, Henry Clay
Beattie III, in his arms.
He Cthe elder Beattie) had become as
devoted to Louise Owen, his sons wife
as to any Of his own daughters. When
the grandchild was born 1T was like
starting life over again to him. He (tbe
old man) had been an elder in the Pres
byterian church for twenty-five years:
had been a councilman in South Rich
mond for almost as long; his boy had
run his department store for six or seven
yearS-he could not, would not believe
that young Henry. his namesake, his pet.
could possibly do such a thing as shoot
his wife.
Not CrOss-examined. !
Gently was the elder Beattie dealt
with. He was allowed to fan himself
and TO have copious supplies of ice water
and to take his time about answering
questions. And when he was through
it was a bit of Virginia courtesy as well
as a pretty wise legal move-the LAWYERS
for the State did not cross-question him,
but simply said: That is all, Mr., Beat
tie
No Southern murder trial ever winds
up its daily session with .pathos. and so
Mary Jackson, a fat, black NANNY"
was called to say that she had seen a
stranger with a beard about the scene
OF the murder-to tally with young Hen
ry Beattie's story
Vas. sir; a big fellah. with whis-
kahs'
How long?" she was asked.
Black Mary walked placidly up TO the
judges bench. seized a foot ruler he had
been using as a gavel and. Indicating
about half OF its length for the whiskers,
The spectators then-and afterward
when she said she didn't know whether
this was week before or week after
the tragedy-roared with laughter. IN
which Henry Clay Beattie. jr., Joined !
with as much heartiness, apparently, as
any one.
going 70 gamble his lie upon the wit
81 2