The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-16
GOVERNOR Mann
W|TAH0LDS HAND
IN BEATT|E CASE
Says Law Must Take Its
Course and Murderer
Pay Penalty
PRISONER RETAINS
HIS IRON NERVE
News Taken Him by Counsel
and Aged Father of
Condemned Man
Calls Upon Him

Governor Mann tolled the knell Oh
departing life yesterday when he re-.
used to interfere with the course OF
Jaw i'll the case of Henry c. Beatties
Jr
His decision quieted the unrest in
the public mind, which had BEEN
elevated to great pitch, because OF
the enormity Of the crime and the
general interest in the progress OF
affairs relating to 1t.
The decision Of the Governor was
not surprising to the vast majority
of those who had followed the deve1-
opments, from the morning after tha
on Midlothian turnpike up to
yesterday.
But many of them felt that possibly
the disclosure incidental to the alleged
affidavit OF Paul Beattie might make
some impression on the executive. Buc
this affidivit apparently did not al
feet the governor. Like all others.
he had followed the case from the
beginning. with its heart-rending and
details. He had evidently
made up his mind what action to take
when the case reached him. long ago.
Like the Supreme Court. he was in
no way touched by side issues and
deleterious matters.
SO that. when he announced his de>
cision yesterday morning at eleven
o clock. as he said he would. It quiet
ed all mental disturbances that may
have affected the general public. Hts
decision came as beam after the
storm raised by the publication OF
the Paul Bette affidavit. Calm and
dignifled, the governor told the world
the last chapter in the hopes OF the
prisoner and his counsel
Some Disappointment.
There was some disappointment.
and more than one heart IL now sore.
not at the action Of the governor. bur
at the result Of the strenuous e6orfs
or those who had fought for Beattiat
and for his life. Few there probably
were who had hoped the governor
would act differently. Public senti.
ment was almost unanimous
After Governor Mann had sent ont
his final word, the ever-faithful Rev.
Ben Dennis sped toward the prison.
1t was meet that he should carry tho
doleful tale He was ushered into
the presence of the young man. wh0
sat upon the iron bed. hoping ana
waiting Tor some encouraging word.
He received the reverend adviser and
lifelong friend.
While Mr.. Dennis would not saw "a
the world what happened between the
condemned man and himself holdine
reverently the confidence Of such =
situation, he looked as though he
might have said that young Beattio
accepted the final words with the
stoicism OF philosopher
No one in the State prison heard
the tones OF weeping and wailine.
There were no sombre sounds of soba.
nor were there any indications OF
fearful words OF regret
Holds Interview Sacred.
After fmparting the news to the
condemned man. Mr.. Dennis besouxht
him to look to his God for the rest.
and after short prayer he left. %
return again upon the morrow, and
again upon the morrow. to be with
him daily until the fateful hour.
MIR. Dennis was seen by a Virgin4
ian man soon after he left the PRES
ence Of Beattie. III
Il am afraid to meet you fellows.f -
he said. II know that you are after
information always, and 1t In your
duty. But in my position / must ho1d
all communication with the prisons
er sacred. l cannot say anythtaa.
except that l hope he will be- ready
to meet his Redeemer when he u
ushered before that Presence.
Hardly half an hour had passed
after Mr.. Dennis left the prison when
Mr.. II. NJ. Smith appeared. He alna
took thsa news to the prisoner. fssAssal
Had Hoped for Stay.
After the hard fight which he had
made in conjunction with Mr.. HIN
Carter. Mr.. Smith was greatly disan-
pointed. He had hoped that sonao-
thing might. appeal tor the Governoal
to create a stay. He had thouehk
that with . stay there might so1a1-
thing else happen that would gtv0
his client. himself and the others ~
terested some hope for the chance u
show the world that an awful mistaka
had been made, and that after al
Henry Beattie did not take the mr.
OF his beautiful wife
In imparting the news to BeatttGS
Mr.. Smith told him that there W.
nothing else that he could see r.
this time could be done.
We have exhausted our resourc0s.a
he said. You must now prepare
yourself for the inevitable. ~
sorry"
| Then he left. probably to retuI1S
to the door Of the cell no moro.
Father Secs Son. 3
Following Mr.. Smith came IT,
venerable father OF the condosnn6<
man. 1t la said that for moma&<
neather could speak. They slnnnl
elasped hands, and silently wept -
younger man recovered himself &111S
For an hour the father. who ~
placed so much store In hts ron. stu
at the door OF the cell. There 49,
not much conversation. Silent 8r1G
marked this interview.
There was q strange br4lllAncy~l
| the eyes OF the father ~ he WAl1
down Spring street. His step seo1AN
lighter than before, and NJ cax11
himself like man who had been
liayed Of . burden. IA
HAS his son prufeased reli9toa
lhas ~ relieved ~ 1atAex - =