Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-05
Prisoner Charged With Wife
Murder Tells Story to the
Men Before Whom He is
on Trial for Life.
DENIES HE HAD
COUSIN BUY GUN
Testimony in Direct Conflict
With That Given by Paul
Beattie on Stand; Tells Of
Relations With Girl.


4.-Henry Clay Beattie Jr., on the wit
ness stand today, categorically denied
that he took part in or knew anything
of the purchase of the shotgun by his
cousin, Paul Beattie, with which his
wife was killed. He linkewise flatly
contradicted almost the entire testi.
mony Of his cousin, particularly with
regard to the alleged confession In
which Henry Is supposed to have said
to Paul, II wish hadn't done it, He
showed a splendid memory in relating
the details of the manner in which the
alleged highwayman approached his
machine and intending to shoot at the
accused, murdered his wife who sat
beside him. When the court recessed
for luncheon the direct examination of
the prisoner was concluded, except for
q demonstration requested by counsel
for the prisoner, that the jury be
shown by the accused on the lawn
outside the courtroom the axact man
ner in which he says the murder oc-
Cured while he was seated in the car.
Confident and hopeful, Henry
Clay Beattie Jr., on trial for the mur-
der of his wife, took the witness stand
at 1O:47 o'clock today to testify in
his own behalf and close the case Tor
the defense.
An eager, expectant crowd jammed
the little court room to overflowing
and as soon as the prisoners name
was called there was a noisy rustic
behind the bar and straining Of
necks outside the windows where a
platform had been erected to catch a
glimpse of the accused and hear his
testimony.
Beattie walked calmly to the crude
witness chair and faced the twelve
men who before the. week Is ended
are to pass Judgment on his story.
After taking the oath, Beattie ans
wered the usual questions concerning
his age, occupation, etc. He said he is
q cousin of Paul Beattie, but never
had any confidential relations with
him; saw him only when he come to
the Beattie store ito get money or
something, and he was never left a
minute without being watched"
Tells Of Relations With Girl.
"How long have you known Beulah
Binford?"
II met her in August, 1907
"How did you meet her?'
'I was coming down Broad street
in machine with four or five others.
Some one attracted attention to two
girls. stopped the car and one Of the
girls asked me if she could take a
ride Beulah and the girl then got in.
The other girls name was Henriette
Pittman,' he said. He also said he
never had been introduced before, and
that later in the afternoon the rest of
the boys with the exception Of one
fellow told him not to have anything
to do with her (Beulah).
when did your improper relations
with Beulah Binford break OFF," wit
ness was asked.
''In the fall of 1905"
when Beulah's child was born
what did she do?'
"Her mother wrote to me-"
"Did they think you were respon-
siSlo''
II suppose so, as they thought
had more money than any one else and
next thing knew / was called to her
lawyers office, and as consequence
I saw nothing to do but fork up the
and was the laughing stock
Of the town. never for one min
ute thought was the father of the
child and Beulah Binford swore at
the coroner's inquest that she was
not its mother"
An effort was made by counsel for
the defense to interrupt the prisoners
testimony for few minutes to have
Charles H. Kestleberg testify as to
the number of his car but the prose-
cution objected.
How long before your marriage"
continued Mr.. Smith, was the meet
ing In the lawyers Officer"
About February, 1907
"Well, when were your relations
with her broken of?"
'Tn the fall of 1908, and was mar
ried nearly two years afterwards in
August, 191O.'
How long had you known your
wife?"
Nearly all my life."
How long had you been in love
with herr"
81 reckon about twelve or fourteen
months
How did ycu regard Beulah Bin
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