The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-09-12
: ***+*++++++++
Cheetarfield Conrt House. Sept. b.


The case OF Henry Clay Beattie. Jr.
indicted for wife murder. went into
the hands OF the jury at sos o'clock
yesterday and having been given a
brief period OF exercise by Judge
watson's order, the jury retired to
their room at 5:2s p. m, to consider
the verdict.
After being out IS minutes the jury
returned a verdict of guilty. The Judge
sent the jury back TO determine the
degree Of guilt. as the foreman an
nounced that they found him guilty
as charged In the indictment.
Judge Watson said it was necessary
10 state what degree. Under the law
OF Virginia every murder is presumed
to be murder In the second degree.
unless otherwise specified, and 1t Is
incumbent upon the defense to re-
duce II 20 manslaughter.
The prisoner stood rigidly In the
bar as he listened to the verdict. his
face flushed and his cheeks twitched
neryously. He dug his fingers In his
cheek as he awaited the verdict OF
the foreman and when be heard the
conviction he sank 70 the chair and
buried his head In his hands For
several minutes he did not speak
and his father beside him also COW
cred his face with his hands. The
words Of the foreman rang forth In
the quiet courtroom, but simultane-
ously with him the other eleven men,
beers Of the jury fairly shouted gull
IT," Judge Watson thanked the jury
for their services. Hill Carter. coun-
sci for the defense. moved to set aside
the verdict. as he declared II contrary
TO law and evidence and for mIsdI-
rection BY the court and for various
rulings on the evidence that are the
subject Of exception BY the tqfense
The court asked Commonwealth at.
torney what Is his pleasure as to ar.
gument on this motion.
r
Judge Watson stated that the trIal
consisted almost entirely Of questions
OF fact. and that no questions 81 Law
entered materially Into the decision
OF the Jury. Mr.. Carter. for the de.
Tense. asks the court for 80 day.
within which to file a petition for
writ Of error from the Supreme
Court OF Appeals OF Virginia.
Wendenburg. for the State. ask,
that the defense b. restricted 10 with
10 a few days Of the meeting u ID.
supreme Court in November. Jndg,
+ Watson decided that. In view Of N.
fact that there has been little delal
IN The actual trial Of the case. the re-
guest Of counsel for the accused /
reasonable. and granted a stay OF q
ecution for 30 days.
Twelve Virginia farmers kneh a
dusk tonight In the obscurlty Of IN,
small Jury room of Chesterfield cour
house. praying ferrently that the,
might pass judgment Alright on Henri
Clay Beattle. Jr.. Indicted for III
murder Of his wife. GrimIy deer
mined they arose a moment later an
silently one By one recorded 4 unanl
nous verdict Of guilty"
Pauslng in solemn contemplate
for forty-eight min8iea. weIxhlnl
carefully the meaning OF their a.
cisIon and once more on bende
knees beseeching divine asslstaus
that they might not err, they file
Into the hushed Stiffness of 4 erowde
court room and with startling aud
denness twelve voices, Instead OF N
usual one Of the foreman. spoke m
single word guilty" II was almos
shout The spectre 81 death whlc
sialked Midlothian turnpike on JaI
~ last when the life Of Mrs. Louis
oven Beatiie. was taken away nj,
ne single report ~ shotgun. stare
hard At the young husband, ready !
claim It's victim BY electrocutIon n
friday November "a next. Bat IN
,, prisoner returned The gaze. nnsger,
Ing and unafraId.
Unusual a. has been the TRACED
ana the grnesOne stage where II q,
cured. the twelve jurymen aid ~
hesitate % admit TO their friend
mat they stood ID judgment, not opl
over The cold blooded murder, b.
upon MS martial Infdell,y az we'll
! perhaps was the dramatic Gilman !
virginia Justice, which 10 the IA
! nall century has swiftly sent 10 De-,
' such famous mnrderers az cIuserIu,
ylPhillips and Mccue.