New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-09
Sentenced to Death November "a.

IUIsOlitI WIS NIobr'aN'l ~ h'N'k " 80
persons in the room because nc covered his
face.
Sentenced to Death November "a.
At 62s p. H. the jury returned to the
guilty OF murder. The court pointed out
guilt, as under the Virginia law every
murder is presumed to be in the second
degree unless otherwise specified
The jury again retired, and after being
out about nine minutes returned with a
verdict OF murder In the first degree.
The defence moved 10 set aside the
verdict, snd the court overrulcd the mo-
ton, saying that questions OF law did
not enter materially into the jurys Geci-
sion. The defence then asked for ninety
days TO file q petition for writ Of error
to the State Supreme Court OF Appeals.
Prosecutor WendenburR objected 10
what he termed the unnecessary delay IN
the administration of Justice In this case.
Mr.. Carter claimed the defence had al
ready been forced to an carly trial
Meantime H. g. Bcattie. sr.. had his
arm around the prisoner. and they were
MIR Wendcnburg read a section ~ the
code OF Virginia citing the law that q
person sentenced TO death may ask for
and obtain Il stay OF execution for not
longer than thirty days after the next
term Of the Court Of Appeals.
Judge Watson set November q ne TIE
day Ia which execution Of sentence would
no deferred
The Judge stated as Il preliminary to pass
ing sentence that he desired 10 add nothing
TO the anxiety OF the convicted man.
"The jury has found YOU guilty in the
first degree and therefore your Efe Is for
feitcd. and the judgment Of this court is
that on November q you he delivered into
the custody of the superintendent OF the
penitentiary. and that between the hours VI
sunrise and sunset your life shall he OK
tingrished. and may God have mercy on
your soul
Beatt!e's father buried his face In his
hands and appeared overcome. The prs
oner smilingly shook hands with several
acquaintsnces.
Tho court adjourned at 1:.3 =. m.
Ju,v IS last Mr. and Mira Henry Clay
BeAttiP, IT., OF hHllIHfSifi' 90 -
Of Richmond, went for a motor ride along
the Midlothian Pike, and an hour latci'
about II p. m. the husband returned 70
the home Of Tom" owen. all uncle OF MS
wife, with the body OF Mrs. Bcattie. say
ing she had been shot by a tail. bearded
man whom they encountered on the ROAD.
Beattie told Mr.. owen that he had nearly
run down the man, and that the latter
after few ugly remarks raised his gun
and fred into the automobile. The charge'
he said was intended for him, but he at
the moment was leaning over to change
tho gear of his machine and his wife re-
ceived the shot In her face. Beattie told
that after the shooting he jumped from
the machine. grappcd with the highway
man. and after struggle obtained the gun,
which nc threw into the hack Of the car
He also asserted that. holding his wife In
one arm and guiding his car with the
other. nc ran at a fifty-five-mile speed to
the owen home. a distance OF few miles
Detectives tried to get a clew TO the
murderer, using trained bloodhounds In an
effort TO find the trail The dogs were
taken to the scene OF the murder, but were
listless. running only from the pike to the
roadside and a hollow stump and back TO
the pike. Another effort was made with
bloodhounds, but they likewise failed TO
find trail further than the stump 10y the
roadside.
At the coroncr's inquest a few days later,
Paul Beattie. second cousin OF Henry Clay
Beattie, ir., confessed that he had pur-
chased a single barrcled shotgun for
Henry and subsequently, three cartridges
and had delivered them 10 his cousin a day
or two previous to the murder. The same
gun was picked up near a railroad cross
ing. where 1t was said to have been jolted
out OF the auto. the morning after the
shooting and identified by the husband as
the one he had taken out of the hands Of
the strange man in the struggle following
he