The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-08-31
BAD FOR BEATTIE
Prisoner Admitted Staying Wife,
So Testified Paul Beattle.
VICTIMS MOTHER TELLS OF
lNFtLIClTY OF COUPLE

revealed on the witness stahu
at Chesterfield G. H. late Mon
day that the accused told him q
hours after the murder how sorry
he was che had done IT,
Paul Beattie poured out tale
which has troubled his mind not
only because he purchased the shot
gun for Henry, but because he ala
not until Monday tell all he knew
of the case. With quiyering lips
and tear-dimmed eyes he set forth
the story.
II hated to testify against my
own flesh and kim" he murmured,
but my wife, my child and my duty
forced mo to do so.
Paul Beattie continued:
Henry had told me that he
wanted me to stick by him, but !
said, This looks mighty black to
me, and you've got me into a lot OF
trouble Henry told me 1 wish to
God / had not done It. | would
not have done 1t for n million dol
lars. but she never loved me, she
only married me for my money
II. NJ. Smith, jr., for the dcfcn-
dant, gazed hard at the witness and
in loud voice confronted Paul with
the charge that at the coroner's in
quest he had not told the whole
truth as his oath required when he
omitted to make a statement con
corning Henry's alleged confession
to him.
Paul told how he had not been
able to clear his mind at the in
quest when he collapsed and that
he had only recently been able to
force himself to give damaging ey-
idence against his kinsman.
Through the testimony of Mrs.
r. V. Owen, mother of the dead
woman, the prosecution endeayored
to define the motive for the crime,
the fear that news OF the alleged
ailment might reach T. c. Beattie,
sr.. and cause a rupture between
the son and the father.
To reinforce its theory OF the
motive the prosecution put on the
stand also Mrs. j. Il. Binford, moth
er of Beulah.
Enough was told OF the Binford
girls connection with the case. in
the opinion OF the prosecution, to
make it unnecessary for the Com
monwealth to call Beulah to the
stand.
When Paul Beattic took the
stand at APO o'clock fluttcr OF
excitement ran through the court
room.
Many an eye was focused on II.
c. Beattie. jr., as well as Henry
/ Clay Beattie. ST., as Paul Beattic
poured forth his conscience. The
gray-halred father OF the prisoner.
beside whom he sat with lips press
ed tightly over clenched teeth, Of
ten shielding his features from view
by a palm leaf fan.
Besides him the prisoner fidget-
ed uneasily. perspiration on his
brow and an alternating flush OF
blood on his thin face.
Paul Beattie was cool and calm
in sharp contrast 10 his weakness al
the coroner's inquest. He told
with n slow drawl of his early oc-
cupatlon in life and spoke Of yari-
Gus positions he had held.
Look ut that gun and tell the
Jury when was the first time you
saw It," said Prosecutor Wenden
burg.
"The first time" answered Beat
/ tie. "was at the pawnshop when
/ I bought Il on a Saturday. the one
before the murder and the next
time was al the coroner's inquest.
what was the name OF the pawn
shop"
"Weinstein's"
How did you come to buy the
gun. ?"
at request Of II. c. Beattie. IT,"
The witness then described In
detail his purchase OF the weapon
and continued.
You say you bought some
shells?"
Eyes. I gave them to him"
did you know what he wanted
with them?"
"NO."
when did you first learn OF the
MURDER"
Next morning"
when after that did you see
Henry?"
THAT same day in the evening at
his house We stayed on the front
porch. Paul. he said. want
you to go to the house OF Mrs.
Fisher'-whO is Beulah Binford-
and tell her that IL she opens her
mouth or says anything about this
thing I'll kill her If It takes 100
years to do it.. l delivered the
message.
The witness told how he visited
Beulah Binford and gave her the
message.
"She said / recken Beattie will
marry me now " Paul continued.
Objection was made to this tes-
timony and sustained by the court.
Paul Beattie's startling testimony
came when Prosecutor Wendenburg
asked:
when did you see Henry Beat
tie again?"
ION Thursday night at his
house, | said. Henry. this thing
looks mighty black He said. J
wish to God I hadn't done it. /
wouldn't have done the thing for
100000. I'd like to know how
those detectives found out there
was a No. shot in that gum
L want you to stick to me,
Beattie. ir., said TO me-" Paul Beat
tie continued, but | told him ]
woul tell the detectives all l
knew about It,"
after leaving Henry l went
home. and later was called on the
telephone. 1t was Henry. He ask
ed II l had been summoned by the
coroner, and when I said no
he chuckled."
Cross-examination of Paul Beat
tic was taken up.
"Mr. Beattie," began Mr. Smith,
for the defense. you testified be-
fore the coroner's inquest?'
YES"
"You were on the stand a long
time them"
Eyes"
"You never then made such a
statement as you have just made
as to the conversation with II. c.
Beattie, jr.. when he said This looks
black to me; wish to God l had
not done it?"
NO"
when did you first make It and
to whom?"
ITO Mr.. Wendenburg at the
Jail few days afterwards"
"You knew that your testimony
was damaging to Beattie. jr., at
the coroner's inquest. Why didn't
you tell it all?"
Il wasn't asked to tell. l hated
30 ELL r,,aa in nretfv had cOndi-