The Detroit times., 1911-08-23
STAR WITNESS
MAY keep MUM
Love for Baby Of Murdered Daugh-
ter Likely To Keep Latter's
Mother From Beattie Trial.

CHESTERFIELD COURT HOUSE,
Va, Aug. 23.-The love OF n mother
less babe may save Henry Clay Beat
tie. Jr.. from dying in the electric
chair for the murder OF his wife.
Not since the July night. when he
rode home with his wife's dead body
has the stoicat youth made single
inquiry about the chlld-nis and the
dead womans-left motherless by the
crime. But the clasp OF the fingers
of that l0-weeks' old babe and Its
Whispering cry may keep from Ches-
terfield courthouse, a witness, upon
whom the prosecution based large
part OF the case that was planned TO
force the payment OF Beattie's life for
that of his young wife.
That witness is Mrs. r. V. Owen,
mother OF the dead woman. While
Beattie inhales his cigarettes and
reads his newspapers in indolent In
difference In his cell. she croons COM
forting lullabys at the cradle of the
little mite OF humanity, which Is TO
her the last bitter reminder OF her
murdered daughter.
And the love for the helpless In
FAINT, love that has developed since
the tragedy, may keep the stricken
grandmother from returning to Rich
mond to testify against the childs
father. Since the tragedy. Mrs. Owen
has returned to her home In Dover.
Del, beyond the jurisdiction OF the
court. IL she comes TO testify che
will come voluntarily, and the prose
cution learned today that II Is prob
able she will refuse.
In the mass of circumstantial evil
dence upon which the prosecution de-
ponds to send Henry Beattie to the
electric chair, Mrs. Owen Is an I'M
portant link. Upon what she was ex-
pected to tell of the domestic life OF
her daughter the prosecution con-
templated building motive-a hor-
rible motive-based on horrible physi-
cal facts.
The prosecution had planned the
story of a selfish, debauched hus-
band, bringing home to his young
wife, from his wild orgies. a loath-
some disease. They had planned TO
show that the husband feared his
wife's disclosure OF this infamy would
result In an arrangement with his
father, cutting down of his financial
resource, and consequent deprivation
OF his 17-year-old paramour, who was
held only by money.
Mrs. Owen, the prosecution he's
been informed, possesses letter from
her daughter, written shortly before
the killing, which bears out this story.
But both Mrs. Owen and the letter
are In Delaware, and without them
the lawyers for the commonwealth
believe that II will be almost impos-
sible to prove this phase OF their
case.
Lewis Robertson, "A, another farm
err, took the fourteenth seat In the
jury box. Judge Watson then adj
journed court for the noon recess.
Special Prosecutor Wendenburg an
nounced today that Thomas r. Owen,
uncle of the murdered woman. and
DR.. J. Wilbur Mercer, who were the
first to see the body OF Mrs. Beattie
when II was unloaded from Beattie's
automobile at the owen home on the
night of the murder. will be the first
witnesses. Wendenburg thought he
would be able to close his case by
the end of the week.
Beulah Binford and Paul Beattie
we're left in Henrico county jail again
today.
Ia ssman after talesman declared
today that he had decided that Beat
tie was guilty aid therefore could not
give him a fair trial. and one even
declared. Il just don't want to try
him."
Several escaped by having scruples
against the death penalty. II was
clear, however, when the noon recess
was taken, that the 16 men necessary
to allow the defense II four peremp-
tory challenges would be placed in
the box today.
Before today.s session ends, sixteen
jurymen will have been placed in the
box. Four will be eliminated by per-
emptory challenge and then the
twelve men who will settle Beatties
fate will be locked up until tomor-
row, when the taking of testimony,
will begin
Father Kisses Beattie.
The aged. gray-haired father Of the
prisoner was late In arriving and
wheE he finally entered the court.
room he threw his arms about his
son and kissed him.
As soous as court was opened, At.
torney Hill Carter, for the defense,