The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1911-11-24
.bEATT|E DIES IN
ELECTRIC CHAIR
Convicted Wife Murderer Elec-
trocuted After Acknowl-
edgine His Guilt.
NEVER LOST HIS NERVE
Condemned Man Walked Calmly
and mistaken 10 the Death
Chair-Executed Shortly
Alter Daylight.
Associated Press Special.

AS6OclAttQ fTe86 SpGCl2I.
Richmond, Va, Nov. 24.--Heury
Clay Beattie,. Jr.. was electrocuted In
the death chamber of the state penn.
Tertiary this morning at 7:23
o'clock. One minute after the shock
he was pronounced dead by the at
tending physicians.
After the execution OF Beattie it
was learned that he confessed to the
murder OF his wife. Although the
prison authorities who were present
at the execution said that Beattis
made no statements which might be
construed IS an admission OF guilt.
it was afterwards learned that he
left written statement with his
spiritual advisers In which he admit
ted his guilt. This statement Was
given out by the family some time
after young Beauties death.
The confession OF Beattie, which
bore his signature. IL n follows:
Il, Henry Clay Beattie. Jr.. desir,
Gus OF standing right before God and
man, do on this the twenty-third day
OF November. confess my guilt Of
the crime against me. Much that has
been published concerning the de-
tails was not true, but the awful
fact without narrowing circumstan-
ces remain. For this action ! am tru-
ly sorry, but believing that am At
peace with God and am soon to pass
into his presence. this statement Ia
made"
Beattie went to the death dealing
chair unshaken and displaying the
same remarkable nerve that charac-
terIzed him throughout tho entire
trial OF his case and his subsequent
fight to escape the chair
During his last night on earth
Beattie slept we'll. but tossed rest
lessly as though bad dreams had
been his companions throughout toe
long time. There were no signs OF a
breakdown when he arose this mora
ing, the prisoner dressing with the
same fastidious care that he has
taken ever since he entered the state
penitentiary and the death cell.
The death chamber is under
ground and the only light was above
the death chair where 1t seemed to
eliminate with q ghastly glare and
to leave the balance OF the room in
almost total darkness. The twelve
witnesses required by law wero
ranged along the sides OF the cham
Der hack In this grewsome darkness.
During the few moments Heattie
was alive after he entered the death
chamber he saw nothing but the
chair in which he was to be strapped
to receive the deadly current.
History of Crime.
The crime for which Henry Clay
Beattie, Jr., was executed today was
one OF the most sensational in the
criminal history of Virginia. Inter-
est In the murder was countrywide
owing to Its unusual features and
the swift movement OF justice.
On the night OF July 10. last.
Beattie drove his automobile into
Richmond, carrying with him the
body of his wife which had q gap
ing shotgun wound In the read He de
clared that tall bearded man had
accosted him on the Midlothian
turnpike, five miles from Richmond,
and when he had requested the man
| to make room for him in the road
| the stranger without warning had
fired the shot which killed Mrs.
Beattie. He added that he had
grappled with the man but was over