Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-09-06
IsEATTIE TELLS HIS STORY.
Declares Young Wife Was Slain by n
Highwayman.

Clay Beattle, Jr, charged with muir
dering his young wife, Louise, took
the witness stand, confident and
hopeful, at 10.47 to-day to testify in
his own behalf and close the de-
fense's case.
An eager, expectant crowd, jammed
the little court room to overnowing,
and as soo,l as the prisoners name
was called there was a noisy rustic
and training Of necks. Beattie
walked calmly to the chail and faced
the twelve men who, before the
week ends, VIII pass Judgment on his
story about the bearded highw ay-
man."
Beattie's apparent GOODNESS eXci,-
ed comment. After kissing the Bible
Ind swearing to tell the whole
truth and nothing but the truth"
he gave his age as 26 and stated
that he was in the mercantile busi-
ness with his father
Then under the skilful guidance
of his counsel, Beattie began the mar
rative which he hopes will save him
from the electric chair. The first
questioning centered about Paul
Beattie.
Beattic then told of meeting Beu-
lah Binford, the "other woman" In
August, 1907, on Broad street in
Richmond. Asked about the girls
reputation, Henry said he was ad-
vised soon after meeting her not to
have anything to do with her. Henry
testified his improper relations with
Beulah were broken off in the fall Of
1908.
On the stand Beattie still held to
his story rs to the bearded highway,
man. declaring that the assailant evi-
IDENTIFY intended to shoot him (BeataE
tie), but that the load struck Iands
killed his wife. n%, sd I, :,
A Lone PFigure>. s
was young Beattie inNthe' crowd that
surrounded him on all sides-eyen
the windows and trees commanding.
the court room being thick with star,
Ing races, &c 3 ! 4 ! a le prlsonsr sat for;
unto ldins I lls ala
tTford, for whom; the + prosecU ion
charges, Beattie killed his bride of a
year. Not alone the orgies of the
four years, before his marriage and
those that preceded the tragedy, but
the gruesome tale Of the attack OF
the highwayman, the wild ride to the
Owen home at speed of 55 miles
an hour with the lifelcas body Of his
wife In the machine residc him, was
given to the jury in all it's horrible,
detail.
Donned Bloody Cont.
The prisoner, by request Of the
prosecution, even stood up to full
length and donned the blood-stained
coat that he wore the night of the
murder. and attempted to explain
why blood had not flecked certain
portions Of the garment If his wife
was reclined against him in the way
he described.
The clothes of the dead woman
had been burned just before the ar
rest Of Beattie, and as more than
once there was occasion to refer to
them, Prosecutor Wendenburg eX-
claimed: 81 wish to God we had
them here!"
1t was day Of extreme solemnity
In the court room. The accused sat
In an arm chair, his head often rest
Ing on one hand, while with the
other he rubbed knotted handker-
chief over his pale and perspiring
face. In the bar sat his brother,
Douglas, and his white-haired ia
ther, the latter at times covering his
wrinkled countenance with fan as
some particularly loathsome details
were recited by the son.
Showed Little Emotion.
Beattie answered questions in an
even voice and without emotion.
Except for the nervous lingering of
MS handkerchief and the characteris-
tic vibration of the muscles in his
cheek, he sat like school boy, eX-
pressionless, as he narrated the story
OF the crime. In no essential did the
prisoners version Of the affair to-day
differ from that which he gave at the
coroner's inquest or that to which
the defense, through it's witnesses,
hitherto has clung. The direct exam
ination lasted only two and a half
hours, while the cross examination
had proceeded three and a half hours
when court adjourned for the day.
The prosecution in its cross exami-
nation gave particular attention,
however, to two points in the previ-
Gus testimony Of the prisoner.
Two Main Questions.
If the accused had on the night of
the murder light fastened to the
rear OF the machine, why could he
not see the fleeing highwayman in
the rear Of the car, or if the prisoner
mad grappled with the man and sue
ceeded IN wrestling the shotgun from
him. falling TO the ground at the
same time, with the sudden release
OF the weapon from the highway
mans hand, why did the highway
man fee with Beattie at his feet on
the ground?
These and other questions the pris-
oner evaded in his testimony.
Denial after denial came from the
lips Of the prisoner as Prosecution
Wendenburs questioned him con
cerning the alleged purchase Of q
shotgun for him by his cousIn Pau