The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-07-25
BEATTlE CASE
Prisoner Unmoved Under Murder
Charge.
THE CRIME A TEXT FOR SERMONS

THE CRIME A TEXT FOR SERMONS
Henry Clay, Beattie. Jr., was COM
mltted to the Henrico county jail.
Saturday, charged with the murder
OF his wife. He will answer to the
charge at the next term of Chester
field county court on Aug IA.
His cousin, Paul Beattie, was com
mitted to Jail in default OF $4,000
bail as a witness, and the woman
I'm the case, Beulah Binford. was
Likewise held as a witness, her bond
being fixed at 81 900, which she was
unable TO furnish.
Not for a generation has murder
so stirred Virginia.
Beattie has not lost his composurel
When the corners jury brought in
its verdict and II was read TO him
he hardly fluttered an eyelid.
Undoubtedly the State has strong
case against him. far stronger than
that against McCue. who murdered
his wife at Charlottesville some years
ago, yet he has not had his day in
court.
Beattie is an abnormal man There
is something lacking about him.
His composure Is not the result OF
grit or nerve, it seems more like a.
lack OF sensibiliiy; the result Of in
difference. He has been noted
ever since he was boy for reckless
Lob ~ M mnTgl
responsibility. Yet he was popular
in q way.
Even II he did not kill his wife,
his conduct would be hard for any
normal man with a single spark Of
humanity or affection for his wife to
understand II he is guilty the
crime was that Of a monster, a crea-
ture without a soul or a single hui
man impulse.
II was sordid. unnecessary, clumsy,
yet relieved from being common
place by its horrible brutality.
Beattie married Miss Louise owen
II months ago. She was a pretty
girl of about 90 years, slender and
attractive In manner and disposition
and popular socially. Although she
had no money OF her own, and
young Beattie's father is consider
ed wealthy, she was regarded as
socially superior to her husband
and the match was considered a
good one for Beattie.
II was not relished by the Owens,
not because Of any snObbishness on
their part. but because the Owen
men knew Beattie's record II Is
said the girl knew II too, but said
she loved Beattie and would marry
him. It has been reported that Beu
lah Binford went to her before the
wedding and told the bride-to-be
the story OF their relations Miss
Owen stuck to Beattie on his state
ment. It is said, that he had broken
off his relations with Beulah long
before, and his promise never to re-
new them.
The Binford girl was Is when a
son was born to her, of which Beat
tie was said to be the father, and
they called him Henry c. Beattie
Trout The little one died on July
I 9 OF last year, more than month
before Beattie and Miss Owen were
married Then Beulah Binford went
away, and according to her own
testimony, became a woman of the
streets.
She appeared in Richmond. two
months ago, the time Mrs. Beattie
was about TO be confined. She and
Beattie resumed their old relations
and these continued until time Of
, the murder. Beattie was preparing
to furnish a flat for her. All thes,
things are known.
II Is hard to believe that any mar
could be such monster as to go tC
he wife who had but a few weeks
before borne him son. wait for hel
10 nurse the child and put II to bed
watching her at this sweet motherll
duty, then let her go trustingly will
| him to dark place on a lonely roaC
; and there with a shot gun bough
1 for the purpose murder her in coli
. blood
! The motive: Only that he pre-
ferred a common woman to his wifi
! and the mother OF his child.
1 Men have deserted wives for com
= mon women before. But IL Beatti
4 had deserted his wife for Beula
Binford. his father would probabl
q have cut off his allowance. The oil
s gentleman was very fond of hi
d daughter-in-law And Henry Beat
t tie. although employed by his fathe
n did little but ride around in tn
automobile the parent had bough
d for him. He probably could nc
@ have got a job that would hay
e paid him $40 a week If he had bee
= compelled to go to work.
If Beattie really murdered hi
o wife, the means, the method an
L the performance about indicates h
l. mental calibre.
h Beattie is a slightly built cha
lie OF 81 years. He is five feet eigl
4 inches tall and weighs 100 pound
Ills features are straight and he
ID nor a bad looking chap. His hea
II is rather small and its shape woul
es not indicate any especial mentalit
d. His ears are set too far forward.
His appearance would indicate sin
sc ply commonplace young man. lac
10 ing ambition and with no defini
er purpose. His eyes are his worst Il
ey ture. They are set somewh
at obliquely and seem shifty.
n As for Paul Beattie, he is a wea
u vain creature, somewhat young
at than his cousin, apparently Just
ne piece OF human driftwood. II W
a easy to see that Henry held a don
re mating influence over him. He, to
ut Is slightly built and commonplace.
IL And the girl. Beulah Blnford. S
CO Is a little thing, blonde with ligl
ng straw-colored hair, pretty after
weak fashion, but with a bad
ey shaped pouting mouth, with a ratf
IT thick and senuous under lip.
icy Her life has not left many mar
ed upon her as yet. just traces he
he and there. But she is only a 8
OF II. 1t Is hard to realize that
nd has been mother.
he Ministers Sunday mentioned
OF Reattie case in their sermons,
Try pressing no views as to the gu
The OF the accused. but pointing or
up. moral Lesson. The spoiled son OF