The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-09-12

against the blood-covered head OF MS
wife were graphically detailed to the
Jury. Only passing attention was CIV
en- by Wendenburg to the purchase OF
the gun by Paul Beattie, cousin OF
, the accused The defence had claim
ed, he said, that on Pall's story alone
was built the case of the prosecution.
"Do you want any other evidence?'
he asked.
Beattie's JnholE Passion.
Blood fecked the lower fringe Of the
sirt in deep black spots, no mark was
on either sleeve of the coat. The
prisoner had said that he held his wife
with one hand and motored his car
with the other, but the absence Of
blood on the arms, the prosecutor
declared, gave the lie to his story. Not
alone with the clothing did the prose-
cutor deal. He shouted shame at the
prisoner for his relations with a
mere slip of a girl, from the age of
thirteen until within his own married
life, and neld her forth as the motive
for the crime.
"And the prisoner admits that it
was his passion" said Mr.. Wenden-
burg. Eyes, it was passion, but pas
sion born of the devil, and passion
that sent to death his wife so that he
might continue his vicious pleasure. J"
Wendenburg concluded his address
a few minutes after o'clock, and a
brief was then given the jury.
Jurors Prayed
The ythen retired and for SO minutes
debated the evidence in the case. They
strove to forget the story Of dissipa-
ton. What had been generally pre-
dicted was :rue-their minds were
well made up before they left the
court room. ". L. Burgess, square
jawed man with an earnest face, was
elected foreman. They balloted and
il was no surprise, they afterwards
declared that all voted "guilty.''
They prayed that they might n.
take life in vain and they opened
their consciences to one another for
nearly an hour so that they might go
back to the court room firmly con-
vinced of their duty and of one mind.
And in the court room sat Henry
Clay Beattie, Jr., the sporting page of
a newspaper spread before him. But
he did not read long. He folded the
paper and concealed his face in it.
Those who sat near the boy of iron
nerve observed a move in the twitch-
ing of his lips as though moving a
prayer as he sat with closed eyes
awaiting the return of the jury. He
bowed his head for a moment, drop
ped the paper again and began read
ing. Then he Whispered few words
to his father and brother. It was for
them he felt and to them he counsell-
ed eheerfulness.
A Dreary Scene.
It was nearly dark in the court room
when the jury returned. Three oil
lamps gave meagre lustre to the
scene. Sunsets red rays still stream
ed through the windows. On every
sill rested a telegraph instrument and
operators were tensely awaiting the
verdict. Masses of upturned faces
stared at the jurymen. IN the minds
of the gaping crowd remained the
thought of the powerful speech Of the
prosecutor and his denunciation of the
man "who exchanged the glow Of yir-
tue for passions feeble tapers." The
court asked the prisoner to rise. He
drew himself up calmly and waited.
"Have you gentlemen agreed upon
a verdict" asked Judge. Watson.
Eve have" said Foreman Burgess.
The prisoner had confidently ex-
pected hung jury-not acquittal nor
conviction. The court required the
audience not to manifest its approval
or disapproval whatever the verdict.
'And what is your verdict" asked
Judge Watson, turning again to
Foreman Burgess. A
Jurors Shouted Verdict.
Guilty." answered. Burgess, but
his voice was swelled by the shout OF
eleven others. Cnversed in law or
the forms of murder trial, the jury
men had not decided what degree OF
murder had been done. It was in
cumbent upon the jury to fix the de-
gree, so Judge Watson addressed the