The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-20
W0MAN'S SLAYER
STILL At LARGE
Detectives Spend Day in In
vestigating and Keep
Result Dark
DEVELOPMENTS ARE
LOOKED FOR SOON
Coroner's Investigation Sud-
denly Stopped and Con-
tinued-No Arrests
Yet Made

More like a fabrication OF fiction
than an actual fact, more battling
than any murder puzzle invented for
solution by mythical sleuths and more
sensational than any crime. perpetrat-
ed In this vicinity in years. the KILL
ing of Mrs. Louise Wexford Owen
Beattie In Midlothian turnpike Tues
day night while motoring with her
husband, Henry Clay Beattie. Jr..
yesterday developed into mystery
which has so far defeated all at
tempts TO unravel 1t and assumed the
aspect OF one of those dark deeds for
which no one is ever brought to JUS
tice by the hand of man.
Delving into the intricacies of a
maze OF theories, eagerly tracing and
abandoning innumerabie clues and
always returning to the starting point
In the investigation, city police, coun-
" authorities and amateur and pro-
fesstonal detectives labored uneeasiuR-
ly through the hot summer day while
the mystery grew as black as tha
pail of death over the old Owen
homestead when the cool, blue shades
OF evening gave way to the brilliant
rays Of the setting sun.
Like the bloodhounds which trotted
far and wide over the countryside
through meadow and cornneld In the
morning. eagerly but futileiy shifting
along the ground for scent of the per-
son whose hand sent Mrs Beattia
into eternity, but without success.
the men who In the course of their
duty or who had voluntarily assumed
the task of establishing the identity
OF the murderer and discovering his
Whereabouts. forsook the quest with
Inc knowledge that only some unex-
pected development will furnish
clue which may result In the solu-
ton of the mystery.
But as the strange cobwehs OF s1,vs-
terry woven by that genius brain OF
Sir A. Conan Doyle are fathomed by
the offspring of hts Imagination, Sher-
lock Holmes. SO may the we'll of
mystery hanging over the tragic death
OF Mrs. Beattie be lifted by master
hand in the detection of crime and
the apprehension of its perpetrator.
Whether such hand IL quietly and
unostentatfously untangiing the
skeins is a question which will NOT
be answered until an arrest Is made
and the charge lodged.
Halt In Proceedings
There was an unexpected and rath~
or strange twist In the chain Of events
late yesterday afternoon, when the
piocS Iittp tne uPdtn OF tne Young
and beautiful bride was abruptly halt
ed by the sudden pastponemeat es
tho inquest under direction OF Coro-
ner J. G. Loving, OF Chesterfield coun-
ty. The inquest was under way. tho
jurors were settling In their chairs In
anticipation OF long and tiresoma
inquiry and the spectators were lis
tening eagerly for what was to come
when DR.. Loving announced:
"Gentiem, n Of the Jury. this i'm
quest Is postponed until II o'clock
Friday morning. at which hour you
will assemble in my office at my homo
and proceed with the inquiry The
witnesses who have been summoned
will appear at that time to give such
testimony as may be required Special
Officer George T. FARRELL will take
charge of the automobile in which
Mrs. Beattie was killed and drive It
to my home, where it will remain AZ
evidence. The gun found this morn
ing and supposed to be the weapon
with which the Shooting was done.
will also be carried To my office and
LEFT there. The clothing worn by
Beattie at the time of the shooting
VIII go with the gun and be kept an
evidence
1t was in a loud and authoritative
voice that Coroner Loving made tho
announcement and his words pro-
duced sensation among the score
or more persons gathered in the front
yard of the home of Magistrate w.
A. Jacob. in North street a short dis
lance from the Owen residence. The
hands Of watch showed the hour
to be eight and preparations for the
inquest had been under way since
6 O'Clock.
At that hour the six jurors--Taylor
Robertson. p. c. VERIFY Jr., John A.
Morton, w. A. Jacob. p. c. VERIFY and
j. t. Cousins-had gathered at the
Jacob home The time for the open~
ing of the inquest had been set ~
Coroner Loving before daybreak when
the Jurors were sworn in by the light
of a stable lantern on the lawn before
the Owen house.. Vet the coroner did,
not appear at o'clock.
Gun Il Inspected
Magistrate Jacob invited the jurors
spectators and newspaper men to en-
ter his parlor while waiting and tho
invitation was accepted Special Po-
liceman FARRELL exhibited the shot
gun which had been in his possession
since II was found early in the morn
ing by negro near the intersection
OF the turnpike and the sIsslt Line
railroad tracks.
The gun passed from nand 10 mama
and finally went to Magistrate Jacob.
who showed disposition to retain
It. stating that he would keep the
gun in his possession.
II guess you won't keep It," said
Special Policeman farrell. You've
got the gun in your hands now but
1t Is in my possession and it is going
TO stay in my possession. That gun
Is the only clew We have to work on
and / say here and now that you are
not going to take II away from III
and stop this investigation"
This gun" replied Magistrata
Jacob, lingering the old-fashiened
weapon as he leaned forward beiiiger-
emily In his mahogany colored chair.
upholstered In red plush, is evidence
and a. such belongs to the court.
This case has not vet reached IT,
ffsnn ffnaanA ~ ThfEA ZRmn 81