The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-10-03
GIVE PERMISSION
TO BURY bEA1TtE
CEMETERY COMMITTEE APPROVES
APPLICATION FOR INTERMENT
IN FAMILY SECTION.
ACTION WAS NECESSARY
IN SECRET SESSION, CITY COUNCIL
MEN, WITH UNDERTAKEN PRE-
SIDING, CLEARS AWAY LEGAL
OBSTACLES.

y person convicted of an offense
for which an infa nous punishment Is
denounced. shall not be inferred with
in the enclosure of the cemetery un-
less a majority of the committee as
sent thereto"
Because of this provision in the
city code with the reference to Gene
teries under control and direction of
the city. the Council Committee on
Cemeteries has given its tentative
permission for the burial OF the body
of Henry Clay Beattie. Jr.. in the
family section in Maury cemetery,
Washington ward after he Is cleo
uocuted for the murder of his wife
Louise Owen. Beattie. Although this
action was taken by the committee
nearly TWO weeks ago. the news did
not leak out until yesterday, when il
developed that Councilman r. l.. Pa
tram from Washington ward. speak
ing for Beattie's father. made the re-
quest for the permit. The meeting
was executive, and II is said that all
present pledged themselves to secrecy
in regard to the matter.
The regular burial permit must be
approved after death. 1t Is presumed
that the committees action. already
taken, means that it will not hest
tate to put its stamp OF approval upon
the permit.
Members of the committee are
Messrs. John r. Biiley. chairman:
Nielsen. Param, Boschen, Batkins.
Wiltshire, Gill. Burke, and Powers.
Calls on Mcdowell.
1t appears that the matter was first
brought up oticialiy when superin-
tendent S. J, Jones, of Maury Gene
terry. consulted Council Committee
Clerk Mcdowell as to whether Beat
tie could be legally buried in the
South Richmond cemetery. He was
referred to City Attorney Pollard.
VINO informed him that the burial
could be legally made provided ma
1ority Of the members OF the Gene
terry Committee assented to It. There
| was doubt In the mind Of the city at
torney that the offense of which Beat
tie stands convicted came within the
bounds Of the prohibitory clause in
the city code.
T II he IL finally electrocuted, Henry
Beattie will go to his long rest in
the same plot in which his murdered
wife lies buried. Whether his re-
mains viii! be placed alongside her in
the Beattie section Is doubtful. They
will probably rest alongside the grave
Of his mother. who died some years
ago.
Can Claim Body.
Under special act OF the Legisla-
ture Of 1908 when electrocution was
made the official mode of death in
Virginia, It was especially provided
that relatives or friends could claim
the body OF the condemned man.
Otherwise. 1t would 60 to the anatomi
cal board for dissecting purposes.
In view of this statute. the Beat
| te family will encounter no trouble
IN lot 5o oft ~ hac
passed beyond the Jurisdiction of the
courts.
Beattie was visited in jail yester
day for the first time by the Rev. j.
! j. FIX pastor of Porter-Street Pres
byterian church. in which his father
has been an elder for many years.
The minister came as Henry's spiritual
adviser. He remained with Henry
in his cell for nearly half an hour.
Henry was formerly an active mem
Der OF the Porter-Street church and
his name Is still on the church roll.
! 1t Is said.
May Get Reprieve.
/ IL the State supreme court denies
him new trial. and Governor Mann
declines to give him a reprieve, Beat
tie will die in the electric chair No
vember "a next. this being the date
| fixed by Judge Watson following the
| u ldi anu NSTU1Ct OF HTSC~ degree muir
| der returned at Chesterfield Court
! house.
| 1t is fully expected, however, that
Governor Mann will at least grant
him a reprieve to more fully prepare
| to meet his Maker.
The report has been In circulation
for several days that a petition ask
! ing that Beattte's death sentence be
commuted to life Imprisonment In in
| circulation.
| 1t was reported a day or two ago
that Mr.. Ben p. Owen. uncle OF the
murdered wife and secretary to the
Governor. had seen the petition and
had been asked to sign it, Asked
regarding the report. Mr.. Owen de-
clined to discuss the matter at all.