The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-20
Reporters Not Permitted
to Witness Execution
of Beattie.
THOUSANDS ASK
FOR ADMITTANCE
Superintendent Wood Issues
Orders That Only Citizen-Jury
Will Be Called In as Wit
nesses-Denial of Report
That Beattie Family
Will Move Away.


Penitentiary. announced yesterday that
newspaper reporters would not be adj
mltted to the death chamber on Fri
day morning. when Henry Clay Beattie.
Jr'. is electEocuted for the murder II
his WIFE. Under the State law Virginia
newspapers are not permitted to pub
lish details of an execution, and while
there Is no penalty for violation. the
spirit of the law has been generally
observed. This Is doubtless due in
large measure TO the fact that no ia
nous or important criminals have been
sent TO the chair. Beattie being tho
hrst whose case attracted world wide
notoriety and attention.
The prisoners father and his law
yers were expected to protest against
the admission of reporters, although
inc ruling by Superintendent Wood will
make action on their part unnecessary.
ThonsnndH of the Morbid.
Thousands of requests and applica-
tions have been received By the super-
intendenr from people who are anxious
TO witness the CHASTITY exhibition.
These requests have come from Rich
mond. from Virginia and from various
states During the past week Mr..
Wood has received ten or more letters
day. all begging for cards. Not less
than six and not more than twelve wit
nesses can attend. They will be sum-
noned to-day, although their names
viii not be made public. II Is posi-
bic. however that their names will be
published. rs many OF these witnesses
VIII be recognized when they enter the
pen!tent!ary gates.
Discussed In Sermons.
Reference to the Beattie case was
made yesterday by several prominent
ministers who spoke from feeling
OF public duty, and without any at
temDt or desire to add to the sensa-
tiondl features which have been RAM
pant for the past few weeks. Rev.
Russell Cecil, ID. D.. pastor of tho E..:-
ond Presbyterian Charch. said tint he
had not interceded in the prisoners
behalf, and that he would not do SO.
Rev. VI. D. c. Maclnchlan, pastor OF
Seventh Street Christian Church. said
In his sermon yesterday morning that
while he believed Beattte was guilty.
he was of opinion that brief respite
should have been granted. SO that the
WASHINGTON affidavit OF Paul Beattic
could be investigated. DR.. Maclachlan
thought that II this affidavit had been
available before sentence was passed.
new trial would have been granted
BY Judge Watson. There was reference
TO the case In other churches, though
there were no sensational utterances.
Pnuis Affidavit.
The letter written by w. c. Balder-
u,
Jr.. which was published in The Times
Dispatch yesterday. concerning the
manner in which the Paul Reat,ie am
dav!t was made in Washington, pro-
vokcd much discussion. The opinion
was general that Paul had signed the
paper. despite his denial. though law
yers and others who followed the trial
closely recalled published statements
attributed to Jurors that they put no
faith in Paurs testimony that Ifsnry
Beattie had confessed to him
Indeed, Jurors seemed to think that
the so-called confession rather weak
ened the prosecutors case. FOR the
reason that there was sufficient evil.
dence to convict without It, The actual
purchase OF the gun by Paul Beattie
and the fact that II was the i/.nticai
weapon with which Mrs. Beattie was
killed was really the evidence upon
which verdict of guilty was based
No Effect on Jury.
The point was made. therefore. that
the confession was not essential.
Speaking generally. the public seems
to have accepted the fact without
question that the affidavit signed IN
washington was genuine. despite the
evident attempt at a disguised hand
writing. AS a matter OF fact. this
opinion Is due to the letter written
subsequently, by Paul to Mr. Bcat,Ie,
which was plainly his letter. and in
which he admitted that he had signed
the document while in Mr.. BaIderston's
Office.
Holding IIix Nerve.
According to reports from the PEN
itent'ary yesterday. Henry Beattie Is
bearing UP extremely we'll. His strong
nerve has not deserted him. He was
visited by members OF his family. ana
the apparent cheerfulness he displayed
was due in large measure 10 his de-
sire to comfort his old father, who Is
utterly broken in spirit and strength.
Never In the history OF tho city, per-
haps. has there been such a tremen-
dous wave of sympathy for any per-
son a is felt for Mr.. Beattie The
gray-haired man is absolutely convinced
of his boys Innocence, and even II he
Is as guilty as the courts have held 1t
Is not believed that he will ever con-
fess, simply on account of the old man.
who has stood by him with loyalty
which has been most Impressive.
False Reports Denounced.
Speaking last night for Mr.. Beattie.
Mr.. Smith Indignantly denied dispatch
from Richmond. printed in New York
newspapers yesterday. to the effect that
Mr. Beattie had disposed of his business
Friday with his sons body anr men,
bers of his family, never to return.
The story was denounced as cruel
and heartless fake. While the geattle
store has. been reorganized. Mr.. Beat
tie still owns the real estate and retains
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