Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-09
BEATTIE is GUILTY OF
FIRST degree MURDER,
Jury So Minutes in Finding Verdict an
Fairly Shout Guilty Sentenced
TO Be EIeCtr0Cuted Nov. a.
WIIAppea|-- DramatiCSCene.

Chesterfield Court House, Va, Sept
S-TWelve Virginia farmers knelt d
dusk tonight in the obscurity Of the
small jury room of Chesterfield cour
house, praying fcrvently that they
might pass Judgment Alright on Hen.
ry Ga" Beattie, Jr., indicted for ths
murder of his wife Grimly deter
mined they arose and moment later
and silently ono by one recorded a
unanimous verdict Of Guilty"
Pau5ing in solemn contemplation
Inr IS minutes. Weighing carefully
the meaning Of their decision and
once mere on Bonded knees beseech-
ing, seeking assistance thae they might
rot err they filed into the hushed
stiffness Of a crowded court room and
with startling suddenness - voices,
instead of the usual one eff the fore
man, spoke the single word Guilty
Il was almost shout.
The spectre of death Which staiked
Midlothian turnpike on July IS last
when the life of Mrs. Louise Owen
Beattie was taken away to claim it's
victim by eleetrocuti0n on Friday,
Nov, =. next. But the prisoner re-
turned the gaze, answering and un-
afraid.
The court Of appeals, to be sure,
viii h asked TO grant a writ of en-
sor aud new trial. Young Beattie,
eognizant OF the legal weapons yet
n his disposal, did not surrender In.
stead, he consoled his broken-down
father. white haired and wrinkled:
and cemforted him as lie whispered
4 haven't lost yet. father"
Unusual IS had been tie tragedy
and the gruesome stage where II oc-
CURED, the II jurymen did not hesi-
tate to admit to their friends that
they stood in judgement not only ov
er the cold olooded murder, out up
on his marital lnfideiity as we'll Il
perhaps was the dramatic climax o.
Virginia justice which i'll the last hall
century has swiftly sent to death such
famous murderers as Cluverius. Phil
lips and McC'ue.
At the close of a powerful address by
L. o. Wendenburg, the voluntary assist
ant OF the commonwealth in the case,
the suspense was felt not alone in the
court room, but in Richmond. where
thousands of people awaited the outcome.
The Jury had for IL days heard evil
dence, for two days speeches, but the
words of Wendenburg rang in their ears
as they left the court room to find their
verdict.
Let that man go free!" he cried.
what! Let that man so free?
''Why. the motherhood of Virginia, tht
womanhood of this nation will shudder ii
terror as the security of it's life is threat
ened. Let this man so free? The mar
who basked in the degraded sunshine O.
another woman while at his home {
young wife nursed his child! Gentlemen
merely ask you in the name of justic
to do your duty"
In vivid detail the prosecutor portraye,
the wife as she started ON her innocen
journey into the cool air of a summe
night. The jury saw again in their mind
the automobile in which she rode besid
her husband, how Beattle stepped int
the darkness of the thicket found the
shotgun which he had earlier concealed
and deliberately slew his wife
The desperate ride home with a
bleeding and lfeless body crushed into
the small space in the front part Of the
machine, the husband coldly sitting
against the blood covered head Of his
wife were graphically detailed to the
jury. Only passing attention was Civ
en- by Mr. Wendenburg to the purchase
OF the gun by Paul Beattie, a cousin
Of the accused The defence had claim
ed. he said. that on pauls story alone
was built the ease of the prosecution,
but he held aloft the blood stained
clothing of the prisoner las the mute
evidence Of the crime" and asked;
DO YOU want any other evidence
Elaaa hecked the lower fringe of the
shirt. deep black blots' not mark
was on either sleeve or shirt or coat.
Tie prisoner had said that he held his
wife with one hand and steered his
ear with the other but the absence of
blood OH the arms, the prosecutor de-
clared. gave the lie to his story. Not
alone with the clothing did the prose-