Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-08-25
.BEATT|E CONDUCTS
HIS OWN DEFENSE
Judge Watson Overrules Motion to
Strike Out Testimony as toWound
of Dead Woman.


the broad way to the cleo
trio chair for Henry Clay Beattie, sched.
uled to take the stand, the ca!n-eyed
prisoner today took charge OF his own
defense.
Seemingly confident that by direct
ing the energies OF lawyers, Harry NJ.
Smith and Hill Carter, he can improve
his chances in his fight for life, the
man accused OF numbering his young
wife assumed personal charge of the
details of the case. He relied on the
LAWYERS, two OF Virginia's most brill
liant legal lights for legal points, but
they settled no question of Importance
without referring it 10 him and when
his opinions clashed with theirs he pre-
vailed. For they argued that as it is his
life that must pay the penalty he should
be satisfied with the way things are
done.
With a block OF legal cap paper be-
fore him he sat between Smith and his
aged careworn father making brief
notes of the testimony aud suggesting
for cross-examination OF The
states witnesses.
Confident OF his power over the
geakling cousin whose confession as
10 the buying of the gun with which
Mrs. Beattie was killed, placed him on
rial for his life, Beattie planned to
the attack OF his lawyers
ID the vacillating Paul. Paul's story
s the keystone of the arch that bears
I'D the states case, and il it can be re-
moved or nullified the chances for de-
nolishing the entire structure will be
yood. With thi-.in mind, the defense
las planned magnificent attack on
he thin yelow-faced boylsh cousin
which will probably keep him under
ross examination for hours.
Paul, nervous and agitated, but look
ng extremely well after his months
confinement, was taken from Rich
nond Jail by Detective Scherer and
brought to Chesterfield in an automo-
,iIe. He chatted nervously with the
detectives who accompanied him. As
le dismounted from the automobile,
3eattie, who was wandering about the
,ourt house yard with Jailer Cogbill,
ixed his eyes on him, and his gaze
olIoWed him until he passed ont OF
light around the corner of the building.
d was the same baleful gaze that the
prisoner fixed on his cousin during the
,oroner's inquest, but not once did
Paul turn to meet the malevolent stare
IF his cousin.
Proceedings were delayed by the late
arrival Of Paul Beattie. The auto in
which he was brought out broke down
IN the way from Richmond and he did
not arrive until sometime after the
.egular hour Of convening Of court.
The lawyers on both sides we're ex-
,eedingly anxious today to obtain
Judge Watson's ruling on the point
.aised by the defense regarding the in
iictmeut. Smith holds that all evil
lence as to the wound !hlt killed Mrs.
Beattie extending back into the head
s inadmissible because the indictment
declares that a wound in the face"
cause her death. A ruling in favor OF
The defense would utterly demollsh the
case of The state so far presented. But the
lawyers are confident
that Judge Watson will not give the
defense the technical advantage OF
-,,l;,,r IN tl1air fpror
When court convened Counsel Smith
for the defense made another legal
objection. He moved to exclude all
testimony relating to the letter to Beat
tie to Beulah Binford, because Beattie's
admission at the coroner's inquest that
be had written the letter was privileged
by law and could not be used against
him. He argued that Beattle was
legally under examination at that time
although be volunteered the admls-
sion with Beulah Binford. Judge Wat
son declined to strike out the testimony.
Wendenburg declared that the state
would show that Beattle volunteered
the testimony to prevent Beulah Bin
ford evading the question to shield him.
Arguments on the exception to the
indictment were then made.
Carter argued the question at length
setting forth that wound in the face
could not cause death.
Judge Watson overruled the motion
to strike out all testimony as to the
wound.
The court is of the opinion, he
declared, that an indictment need not
describe the wound with great partlcu-
larity. That the wound penetrated
the face was specific enough description
even though the wound went further
and penetrated the BRAIN. y
Thus two finely drawn legal points
we're. lost to the defense in the first half
hour of today's session. Exceptions
were noted in both cases.
Despite these setbacks, Beattle smiled
aud chatted earnestly with smith,
keeping his pencil busy with notes.
The jury was brought in and George
FARRELL of Chesterfield county and police
man who assisted Coroner Loving IN
the investigation of the case, was called.
FARRELL related the story OF the
bearded man. as told him by Beatt'e
the night OF the murder at the Owen
home. Beattie told him that be
thought the man intended to shoot
over his head to frighten him. He
said Beattie told him the man ran into
the woods after be had taken the gun
from him. Several other witnesses
have declared that Beattie said the man
ran down the road.
FARRELL described the midnight visit