Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-11-25
|BEATTIE'S CRIME
WAS SENSATIONAL
MURDER OF YOUNG WIFE At
TRAcTED ATTENTION COUNTRY
OVER; SWIFT JUSTICE.

The crime for which Henry Clay
Beattie, Jr., was executed tolay was
one of the most sensational In the
criminal history Of Virginia. Interest
in the murder was countrywide owing
to it's unusual features and the swift
movement of Justice.
On the night Of July. 1S, last, Beattie
drove his automobile into Richmond
carrying with him the body of his wife
which had a gaping shot gun wound
in the head. He declared that a. tai
bearded man had accosted him on the
Midlothian turnpike. FIVE miles from
Richmond, and when he had requested
the man to make room for him in the
Iroad the stranger without warning had
fired the shot which killed Mrs. Feat
tie. He added that he had grapplet
with the man but was overpowered and
that the murderer had fed leaving the
gun behind. This story Of the crime
was maintained by Beattie to the end
For q brief time Beattie's story was
given some degree Of credence, but
within day or two suspicion began to
point to him and he was kept under the
closest surveillance. Bloodhounds,
taken to the scene of the crime, re.
fused to leave the place, cifcling
around the bloodspot on the road.
Gun Proves his Undoing s=
Beattie it evidently transpired had
thrown the shotgun into the tonneau
|of his automobile after the shooting
but in passing over some railroad
tracks not far from the scene 1t had
been jolted out and was picked up
later by negress. This gun, which
Beattie alleged had belonged to the
mysterious highwayman, proved the
means of sending the young man to the
electric chair. #
At the coroner's inquest the weapon
was identified by Paul Beattie, a sec.
ond cousin OF young Henry as the
weapon he had purchased for Henry
with money furnished by the latter.
Beattie was arrested Immediately after
the inquest. This was on July 21, and
on August 19. one month and day
from the time of the murder, the trial
was begun before Judge Walter A.
Watson, In the picturesque little Ches.
terfleld county courthouse, sixteen
miles from here. s@
Farmers Jury Convicted Him.
The jury was made up almost entire.
ly of farmers, and on this fact Beattie
based his claim that he had been con
victed, not for the murder OF his wife.
but because Of his relations with
Beulah Binford, notorious young
woman. He insisted to the last that a
jury composed of city men would have
freed him. Beattie was defended by
H. M. Smith, Jr., and Hill Carter. The
prosecution was conducted by L. o.
Wendenburg and L. M. Gregory.
The trial moved swiftly, though
many witnesses testified, and on Sep.
tember 8, after 58 minutes OF consider
alton and prayer the jury, In chorus
instead Of through its foreman, de.
clared Beattie to be guilty OF the muir
der Of his wife. Motion for new
trial was denied and November "a set
as the day for the execution.
On November 13 the Virginia su-
preme court of appeals refused to
grant an appeal on a writ Of error,
and two days later Governor Mann,
who had been appealed to for commu.
tation or reprieve, issued statement
declaring that the interests of the peo.
pie OF Virginia demanded that Beat
tie should die in the electric chair.
4 - . Il. .