The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-09-15
CONVICT BEATTIE
YOUNG viRGINiAN DOES NOT
FLINcH AS THE VERDICT
Is PRONOUNCED.
EXECUTION ON NOV. "a
Judge Denies Motion for a New Trial
Time Is Given to Carry Case
to High court-Prisoner's
Father Pathetic Figure.

Chesterfield County Court House,
Virginia-Iienry Clay Beattie, Jr., lis
tened unflinchingly to verdict that
doomed him TO death in the electric
chair. The twelve Virginia farmers
who held his fate in their hands took
only 81 minutes to find him guilty of
murder in the first degree.
The spectre of death which stalked
Midlothian turnpike on July IS last,
when the life of Mrs. Louise Owen
Beattie was taken away. stared hard
at the young husband, ready to claim
its victim by electrocution. The pris-
oner. however. stood motionless with
his hands at his sides. his shoulders
squared, his head thrown back, his
eyes directed straight forward. Not
a tremor, not a blink. betrayed fear
or regret A few moments later Judge
Watson. with a tremble in his voice,
solemnly sentenced him to be cleo.
trocuted on Friday, Nov. "a. lie was
actually smiling and trying to cheer
his white-haired father, as the old
man, with his arm about the boys
neck, walked across the lawn with
him after all was over, to the little
Jail in the rear.
The judge asked the foreman of the
jury, n. w. Burgess, II a verdict had
been reached. Burgess gulped and
nodded neryously. Then came the an.
cient formula:
Gentlemen, how find you. guilty or
not guilty?"
The unanimous chorus-the triple
chorus, Guilty, guilty, guilty." in a
dozen different voices. has perhaps
never been heard before in any Amer.
lean courthouse. Asked what degree,
Mr.. Burgess answered simply. Guilty
as indicted"
Under Virginia practice. murder is
presumed to be second degree unless
otherwise specified. IL was incumbent
upon the jury to fix the degree. so
Judge Watson advised the jurymen to
confer again on the point and seven
minutes later they returned with the
verdict of Murder in the first de-
gree" The usual motion to set aside
the verdict was made, and oyerruled.
The boy was led back to the little
prison. after listening in his stole
way. He stopped to light n cigaret as
he stepped out of the court Then
there was a rush of congratulating
friends to Prosecutor Wendenberg, and
to the jurymen. The battle of the
prosecutor and the verdict of the
twelve farmers was beyond all ques-
ton popular.
New Trial to Be Sought.
The court of appeals will be asked
10 grant a writ of error and a new
trial. Young Beattie. cognizant OF the
legal weapons yet at his disposal. did
not surrender. Instead. he consoled
his broken down father, white haired
and wrinkled, and comforted him as
he whispered. haven't lost yet, faith.
err"
Unusual as has been the tragedy.
the twelve jurymen did not hesitate
to admit to their friends that they
stood in judgment not only over the
cold-blooded murder. but upon his
marital infidelity as well. II perhaps
was the dramatic climax of Virginia
justice which in the last half century
has swiftly sent to death such famous
murderers as Cluverius, Phillips and
McCue.
The jury had for eleven days heard
evidence and for two days speeches,
but the words of Wendenberg rang in
their ears as they left the courtroom
to find their verdict.
Let that man go free?" he cried.
What, let that man go free? Why.
the motherhood Of Virginia, the wo-
manhood Of this nation, will shudder
in terror. as the security of its life Is
threatened. Let this man go free-a
mar who basked in the degraded sun.
shine of another woman while at his
home a young wife nursed his child?
Gentlemen, l merely ask you in the
name Of justice to do your duty"
6eulah Says eeattie Is Innocent.
New York.-Secluded in a boarding
house on Staten Island. Beulah Bin
ford, the 17-year-old girl mentioned
prominently in the Beattie murder
case, learned Of the verdict of the
jury at Chesterfield Court House. Va,
which means that her friend. Henry
Clay Beattie, Jr., whom she has known
since she was Is years old, will go
to the electric chair for the death OF
his wife. She displayed no emotion
and seemed little concerned over the
fate of the young man.
He is innocent" she said. Il am
sure he had nothing to do with the
death of his wife. It's easy to kick a
man when he is down. He has had
everything against him."