New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-10
.bEAH|E IS BITTER
ABOUT D|NFORD GIRL
Asserts Her Being a Factor in
the Murder Case Caused
Conviction.
is HOPING FOR NEW TRIAL
Hints Given by Intimate Friend
That Wife Slayer Will
Commit Suicide if
Appeal Fails.

Chesterfield Courthouse. Va, Sept. g.
Thought of death in the electric chair on
November q did not break the composure
of Henry Clay Beattie. jr to-day. as he
spent his first day in cell here convicted
Of the murder of his wife. He discussed
the case quietly with friends who called
/ TO express sympathy. but to the news
paper men he bitterly denounced the YER
dict as unfair.
Expecting that Judge Watson would not
order his removal to the state penitentiary
for several days Beattie began TO make
his cell more habitable. His window faces
the country road and from II he can view
all Chesterfield. Newspapers. particularly
those which feature sports. were sent to
him to-day and on these he fingered he
did during those ifty-eght minutes yes
terday afternoon when twelve men were
deciding his fate.
Reulah Binford-his relations with whom
shocked the jurymen-was frequent name
on Beattie's lips to-day, but she probably
never before received from him such deep
condemnation. Time and again he COM
planned that the jury had tried him for his
relations with the girl Of the underworld
rather than on the circumstantial testi-
mOnN pertinent 10 the Tragedy.
"Fearfully unfair" he muttered in his
cell when asked his opinion OF the YER
dict.
"Beulah Binford." he added, figured
largely In the verdict-more largely than
the testimony Of the killing. These coun-
try folk cannot understand how woman
Of the underworld can be crazy about you
They don't know when that happens how
very hard it is TO get rid Of her
Il have drlfted along hoping against
hope that something would occur TO enable
me 70 rid myself Of that Binford girl
And once woman Of that kind feels that
YOU no longer take any interest in her
she usually seeks solace IN suicide. So l
drifted along. waiting for a chance to
break Off relations with her without hav-
ing her hurt herself l tried hard to
persuade her I'm the mean time to live
proper ne.
Had this case been tried in any court
where those things are not uncommon. this
morning / would have been a free man.
Interpreting Judge Watsons instructions TO
the jury, cannot see how the verdict could
have been other than not guilty. l believe
the fury was influenced by the one-sided
newspaper reports before / had a chance
10 present my side OF the case. l wanted
10 give out a statement soon as l was
arrested. but Air. Smith, my lawyer, ad-
vised against this. l have not given up
hope. because | cannot feel that an inno-
cent man Will be permitted 10 suffer for this
hideous crime
There were many rumors abroad to-day
that Beattie would never die in the electric
chair; that he would find some means of
committing suicide when all hope Of gain
ing his freedom was gone.
Billy" Simpson, his chum and one Of the
important witnesses at the trial, was quot
cd as saying
Henry Beattie will not die in the chair.
II will be some other way"
IF he is convicted he has nerve enough
70 XIII himself before the others DO sald
Beuah Binford Just before her departure
from Richmond.
Henry clay Beattie. sr, father OF the
young man visited his convicted son to-
day and kissed him on his forehead il was
al that moment, as in previous moments
In the trial that the fortitude of the boy
crumpled. his face flushed and tears forced
their way from his eyes over his pale
checks.
In the mind OF father and son still flick
ers one hope-the granting by the Court OF
Appeals Of a new trial through writ OF
error. But the prevailing opinion in Viz
ginla' 3 bar is that II is vain hope
Paul Beattie glad in his freedom from
the weary DAYS Of detention as the con-
monwealths principal witness, yet was
sympathetic for the man FOR whom he
bought the fatal gun.
What l did in testifying" said Paul. IT
did from a sense Of duty. 1t was hard at
first 10 nerve myself to telling all l knew,
but I am relieved since | have done IT.