The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-01
Especial from United Press.)

IA mysterious, newly discovered sensation. today, interrupted the trial of Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., for wife murder.
 For nearly an hour the proceed ings were suspended while the law yers for the defense worked excited ly in an effort to verify some new in ! formation. A mysterious message re- ceived by H. M. Smith. Beattie's chief counsel, shortly after court convened, precipitated the excitement. After ! an agitated conference with Hill Car ter, his assistant, the prisoner and his father, Smith arose and said:
 T have just received a message which furnishes information of the greatest importance to our case. I must ask the court to allow me time , to telephone"
 excitement. Smith hurried out. Beat tie, his face lit up with agitation, talked in whispers to his father and read the message earnestly. The crowded courtroom settled with a tense. strained silence. Judge, jury Douglas Beattie, brother of the ac- cused man. who was on the stand, played nervousiy with a fan.
 After an hour of this intense ex- pectancy, Smith, who had been bust ling about the lawn and the clerk S office, returned and relieved the strain by announcing that he had been unable to complete his arrange ments. The examination of Douglas Beattie was resumed. Half an hour later, Smith dramatically called the sheriff. Writing a name on piece of paper he banded it to the officer and said. mysteriously:
 Have this witness summoned forthwith and keep his name secret You'n have no trouble finding him. Any policeman in Richmond can teil
 Dfsmisstng~ the mystery without further comment. Smith returned to Douglas Bea-tie and led him through his story of the tragedy.
 The mysterious message and it's more mysterious witness broke up the plans for the day and it now seems probable that Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., will not be called to the stand this aftsrnoon.
 Henry Clay Beattie. Jr., today, pre- pared for the supreme final effort in his struggle to avert the electric chair on the charge of murder. Trimly dressed. calm eyed, tense but collected he faced the ordeal with apparent composure.
 There was just a trace of anxiety in the well groomed figure that peered through the bars of Chesterfield Coun- tvs little brick jail where he awaited the ordeal
 'I'll be glad to take the stand and , do something in my own defense,'' he declared, earnestly. "I shall tell the truth and am certain that the truth will clear me. Despite the great pre- judice and ill-feeling that has been aroused against me since the tragedy believe can convince the jury of my innocence.'
 And the strange youth, who yester- day wept as his sOrrowing father testi- fled and 10 minutes later laughed heartily at the mental gyrations of a back country negro woman. smiled confidently. But the weeks of life behind iron bars showed their effect in the deep lines drawn on the hand some face.
 The lawyers striving with might and main to save the rich young man from the electric chair have staked all on the final card-his own story on the witness stand Beattie knew that on him alone will rest the respon- sibility for the outcome of his fight for life from the moment he faced the twelve solemn faced farmers who are to decide his fate. But he has thrown the deciding disc and he will fight to his last word to clear himself
 It will be a battle royal. The keen witted lawyers for the commonwealth know that if Beattie is to be convict ed, 1t must be on his own appearance on the stand and by words from his own hpA
 Another point still on the program was the scheduled visit of the jury to the scene of the crime Just when this will be taken is still undetermin- ed. Beattie's aged father, who yes- terday testified for him, spent two hours. this morning, planning the few remaining moves in his battle for life Attorneys Smith and Carter. Beattie's lawyers, joined the conference, which lasted until court convened. Smith declared that many of his witnesses had failed to appear and he delayed proceedings for half an hour. Then he began calling character witnesses.
 Captain Alexander Wright, of the Richmond police force, who worked on the case, was called. He gave Ernest Neblitt, who. yesterday. attacked the story of Paul Beattie, a good reputa- ton.
 R. C. Broadas, a Richmond mer- chant, gave both the prisoner and Nebiitt good characters. City Ser geant Sanders of South Richmond. Beattie. brother of the accused man, was called.
 Douglas described the household. de- claring that his cousin and two aunts lived there with his father, Henry Clay Beattie, Jr.. and his wife
 What were the relations between Henry Clay Beattie, Jr, and his wife prior to her deaths?' They were both apparently happy" said the witness
 They usually kissed when they met or parted"
 Did you ever see any lack of har- mony between them ?" No never"
 Now, the night of the murder what was v0r1r first iptimatiop Inf tbc traC edy?' "I received ,'phone call from Dr. Mercer at the Owen house. My father. my sister and I went to the Owen house. We had a bottle of whis- key. When we got there my father went in first. I saw Henry in my fathers arms sobbing and fondling a little slipper It was one of Louise's shoes. I knew then that Louise was dead I couldn't stand it any longer, so I went out''