The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-08-10

Special Agent Luther Scherer, who.
with Detectives FARRELL. Wiltshire and
Wren, has been working upon the
murder mystery, is out OF town today
on private business, but expects to
return and resume the investigation
Thursday morning.
A yellow hair pin found on the
roadside a few feet from the blood
spot on the Midlothian Turnpike the
day after the murder. turned over to
n representative of The Journal and
by him given to Mr.. Scherer, is now
regarded, in the light of recent de-
velopments. as one of the most i'm
portant pieces OF evidence in the
hands Cf the detectives.
1t Will hc shown. the detectives de-
clare. tnaJ the pin belonged TO Mrs.
Louise Beattie. and the fact that the
pin was found in the road shows con-
clusively. the sleuthS point out, that
Mrs. Beattie was not in the car when
she was killed.
The detectives further believe that
the pin fell from the young woman S
head duri.g a struggle which took
place as she was trying to escape
from her husband when she realized
that he intended to kill her.
Scream Was Heard.
Several witnesses will testify when
the case is tried that they heard a
piercing scream just before the re-
port of the gun. The physicians who
examined the body Of the murdered
woman discovered a heavy bruiSe on
her right cheek. The gunshot wound
was under the left eye.
1t is consequently concluded that
when Beattie produced the gun and
declared his murderOuS intention his
young wife. terrified. attempted to es-
cape, but was struck in the face and
feiled to the ground. The detectives
believe that she was pinned to the
ground by Beatte. who held her down
with his foot. standing on her breast
or neck while he forced the muzzle
of the gun against her face and fired
Want Speedy Trial.
Commemorative Attorney James
NJ. Gregory, of Chesterfield county
who spent the morning in Richmond
looking over the evidence to be in
troduced in the Beattie case, declared
that he expected TO have the case
tried this month by the Chesterfield
Circuit Court.
Il see no reason for a continuance
the attorney said. though l am pref
ty sure the attorneys for the defense
will do all they can to delay the trial
IF the case is delayed until the
next term Beattie must remain in jail
until December. / will not consent &c
bail. and will do everything in my
power TO thwart any attempt to get
his case bailable. He should be kept
under lock and key until the jury has
passed sentence upon him.
Neither do l see why a change
OF venue is necessary. Beattie's coun-
sci will challenge every member OF
the Venire. We may have a little
trouble, but there are men in CheS-
terrified who will fulfill every require
ment, and ! would rather have the
case tried in that county, before Judge
Watson and a Chesterfield jury than
under any other conditions.
Prompt Trial Essential.
Mr.. Wendenburg and l are working
night and day 10 have the case ready
when the grand jury meets. AS soon
as the indictment is returned we Will
be in position 10 ask for an Immediate
trial AS Commonwealth Attorney OF
the county. ! Will ask that the Beattie
case be given precedence over all others
on the docket, and / am confident that
the request Will be granted. If Beattie
is innocent he should be tried and
liberated as soon a 5 possible; If he is
guilty the wheels OF justice should not
be clOgged, and besides, nothing can be
gained by delay Of the ultimate sen
tence."