Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-08
DRAMATIC BATTLE
BEGUN BY LAWYERS;
JURY AWAITS CASE
Attorney Gregory, for ProseCu-
ton, DenounceS Defendant
in MerciIess Speech Garter
Starts Fight in Defense

CHESTERFIELD COURT HOUSE.
Sept 1-Casting aside 18th hour infor-
nation from an alleged witness. the com
monwealth of Virginia today began the
fnaI argument against Henry Clay Beat
tie. Jr., indicted for wife murder.
Two lawyers, j. NJ. Gregory for the
prosecution. and Hill Carter. for the de-
Tense, measured rhetoric IN the morning
session in the alternate scourging and
lauding of the character OF the accus-
ed. Mr. Gregory's speech took an hour
and a half and was a scathing denun-
citation of the prisoner. particularly in
his continued relations with girl Of
pre-nuptial fancy even in the subsequent
months Of his married life.
Appealing 70 the religious and moral
sense Of the jury. gathered from the
rustic community in this vicinity, Mr..
Gregory painted a picture Of revolving
immortality Then he emphasized the
cumulative evidence of the commons
wealth and pointed TO what be called the
salient. incontrovertfble fact in the
case, namely. the purchase OF shotgun
by Paul Beattie. which four days later
killed the wife OF his cousin, Henry
Clay Beattie. Jr.
~ CARTER BEGINS PLEA.
Hm Carter then began the plea for
the defense. pointing to the unsuiiied
character OF the father of the prisoner.
Mr.. Carter retold the testimony Of Hem
~ Clay Beattie. ST.. on the stand.
THAT father" said Mr.. Carter told
~
the death OF his wife. and know you
believe the parent closest to him as he
contradicts what other witnesses say of
the lack of manifestation OF grief on the
part OF the accused
He argued that there was no motive for
young Beattie to kill his wife as the
father had pictured the warm affection
between the couple. He arraigned the
detectives who ne declared had ''merci-
lessly worked up theories and cast I'M
supported suspicious"
Repeatedly pointing to the instructions
TO the jury as to circumstantial evidence
and as to reasonable doubt" Mr.. Car
ter assailed the veracity Of Paul Beat
tie.
Mr. Carter had not finished his re-
marks when the court at lilo p. m. took
a recess for luncheon.
Beulah Binford and Paul Beattie, de-
wealth in the.s Henry Clay Beattie. Jr-sd
murder case. were released from the Hen
rico county jail today by order Of Judge
Walter "A. aWtson, OF the Chesterfield
circuit court.
Paul Beattie went at once to his home,
and remained there all morning with his
family, greeting neighbors and friends
and enjoying his liberty to the fullest
degree He says he intends to do nothing
- Il l.
to New York to go into vaudeville, hav-
Ing received offers that he is too poor
TO refuse"
Beulah Binford remained In the prison
until later in the day, packing her cloth
ing and toilet accessories, and waiting
to decide Just what course she would
pursue when she actually walKs its por-
tails into the next chapter of her check
cred career
BEULAH GETS OFFER.
Shortly after IL O'Clock the cause Of
'BeuIah's delay was disclosed in the APP
pearance at the jail OF agents for a
New York film company They held a
private conference with the woman and
in a little while she announced that she
had signed a contract with them and
would leave with them for New York on
the 1901 p. m. train TO pose for their
moving picture products.
oONA1u DAhAOid iCAL Guilty
court house in an automobile at 1885
a. NJ. accompanied by an agent of the
film company. and was driven, with her
light luggage TO the Byrd street sta
ton. whence she left for New York.
GIRL LEAVES QUIETLY.
There was no demonstration what
ever. no one not Immediately concerned
having been aware of the girls plan.
She left her mother at the Jail, fretting
because the daghter angrily refused to
stay here and go into quiet retreat in
the country that had been prepared for
them.
INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN.
Twenty-one separate instructions were
given the jury In the Beattie case by
Judge Watson, this morning.
Eliminating the routine and customary
ones as to what is murder. the degrees
of murder. the presumption of innocence,
the weight to be given, pro and con. to
circumstantial evidence, and the neces-
sity for the conclusive establishment of
its case by the state. the court submits
a dozen paragraphs dealing with ''rea-
sonable doubt" all of which are con-
densed into the list and concluding and
most definite instruction las the lawyers
phrase it,, as follows: