The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-25
TAKES
 CHARGE OF HIS
 DEFENSE TODAY
Confronted by States Star Wit ness, His Own Cousin, Who Makes Damaging Confession StOical Prisoner Plans With Lawyers to Smash This Evi- dence That Might Send Him to Death Chair
Special from United Press

Chesterfield Courthouse Va, Aug 25-With Paul Beattie, the weaklins and star witness for the States attor neys who are fighting to send Henr! Clay Beattie, Jr., to the electric chair scheduled to take the stand, the calm eyed prisoner today took charge of hi own defense.
 Seemingly confident that, by direct ing the energies of Lawyers Harry M Smith and Hill Garter he can improve the chances in his fight for life. tht man accused Of murdering his young wife assumed personal control of the details of the case. He relied on the lawyers-two of Virginia's most bril- liant legal lights-for legal points But they settled no question of inn portance without referring to him and when his opinions clashed with theirs his prevailed. For they argued that as bas life is at stake, he should be satisfied with the way things are done.
 With a block of foolscap before him he sat between Smith and his aged careworn father, making brief notes of the testimony and suggesting ques- tions for cross-examination of the States witnesses
 Confident of his power over the weakling cousin, whose confession that he bought the gun with which Mrs. Beattie was killed and put Henry on trial for life, he planned to concen- trate the attack of his lawyers on Paul. His story is the keystone of the arch that bears up the States case, and if it can be broken in the least degree, the chances for demolish- ing the entire structure will be good. With this in mind, the defense planned a tremendous assault on the thin, vel low-faced, vacillating cousin.
 Paul, nervous and agitated, but look ing well after his months confine- ment, was taken from Richmond jail by Detective Scherer and brought to Chesterfield in an automobile. He chatted nervously with the detectives who accompaniedshfm.
 As Paul dismounted from the auto, Beattie, who was wandering about the courthouse yard with Jailer Coghill, fixed his eyes on him and his gaze followed him until he passed out of sight around the corner of the build ing. It was the same baleful gaze that the prisoner fixed on his cousin during the corOner's inquest. Not once did Paul turn to meet the mai evolent stare
 Paul was late in arriving at the courthouse today. The auto in which he was conveyed broke down and he did not arrive until after the regular hour of convening of court. Judge Watson today overruled the defense on an important point. Smith held that all evidence as to the wound that kill ed Mrs. Beattie, extending back into the head, was inadmissable because the indictment declares that wound lin the face'' caused her death. A ruling in favor of the defense would have demolished the present case.
 When court convened, Counsel Smith, for the defense made another legal ob- jection. He moved to exclude all tes- relating to the letter written by Beattie to Reulah Binford, because Beauties admission at the coroner'S inquest that he had written the letter was privileged by law and could not be used against him. He argued that Beattie was legally under examination at that time although he volunteered the admission. Judge Watson dec1dn- ed to strike ou the testimony.
 Prosecutor Wendenburg declared that the State would show that Beat tie volunteered the testimony to pre- vent Beulah Binford evading the ques- tion to shild him.
 These legal points were lost to the
 
 days session. Exceptions were noted in both cases. Despite these setbacks, Beattfe smiled and .chatted with his attorneys, keeping his pencil busy talk ing notes
 The jury was brought in and George farrell, a Chesterfield county deputy and policeman, who assisted Coroner Loving in the inquest, was called as the first witness of the day.
 farrell related the story of the bearded man." as told by him by Beattie at the Owen home on the night of the murder. He said the prisoner told him that he thought the man intended to shoot over his head to frighten him and that the assailant ran into the woods after he had tax en the gun from him. Several other witnesses have declared that Beattie said the man ran down the road.
 farrell described his midnight visit Othean Turnpike and told of the de- tective work that preceded the call ing in of the bloodhounds. He re- lated Beattie's driving the bloodsoak- ed automobile back to the scene of the crime and placing it on the exact spot where his wife was killed. At this point Wendenb nburg attempted to introduce testimony regarding the scene but was overruled.
 Wendenburg showed that, in the position in which Beattie placed the automobile, the bloodspots were to the left of the machine, 12 to inches from the runningbOard. From this the state will argue that Mrs. Beattie was killed in the road and the blood could not drip 12 inches away
 farrell described Beattie's conduct on the night of the murder as show ng no excitement. The prisoner talk ed earnestly with Smith and his brother, Douglas Beattie, and sug- sested questions.
 During the cross examination of farrell, Beattie grew excited and -alked volubly and at times audibly, 10 his attorneys. He suggested ques- ions and discussed answered with flushed face and dancing eyes Jar 'elPs testimony was coroborated by Major James Hatton, another Ches- erfield County officer, the next wit ness.
 Then came new sensation. w ". Snyder, deputy sheriff who took he bloodhounds to the scene of the ;rime, declared that he had found wo footprints on the south side Of he road opposite the bloodstains
 Where were they?" demanded Nendenburg. They were in sandy 'oil at the side of the road near the pushes. One was toward the bushes lnd one toward the road. It looked