The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-20
Rev. Mr.. Burrell Praises Gov
ernor Mann for Stand in
Beattie Case
DR.. CECIL ALSO SIDES
WITH CHIEF EXECUTIVE
; No Truth in Report That He
Favors Respite--Others
Fear for Condemned
Mans Soul

From the pulpit of Paramount
Avenue Baptist church last night, the
Rev. w. X. Burrell complinented
Governor Mann ON mis- firm stand III
the Beattie case.
In refusing to interfere with the
execution of the law in anyway" de-
eiared MIR. Burreli the Governor was
entirely right Nothing Is To be
gained by delay. Even II PAU Beat
tia s. testimony were-el eliminated a.
togethe, from the records. that would
not alter the situation. SO far as the
guilt OF henry Beattie is concerned.
The eye of the world are on Virginia.
and l am glad to know that we have
q chief executive who il determined
10 uphold the majesty of the law"
The minister made this statement
immediately prior to announcing his
text FOR his usual Sunday evening ser
mon. Ii was his first reference from
the pulpit to the Beattie case. though
he came very near delivering Il dis
course on the topic last summer, soon
after the Midlothian turnpike murder
vas committed.
On that occasion the remark Of
young lady. which he overheard on II
street car, caused him to foEego dis
cussinn Of the topic, the remark be-
irg tc the effect that she reckoned
the preachers would he talking Beat
tie from the pulpit when the papers
stopped setttAg out extras"
Cecil Enters Oeniai.
The Rev Dr. Russell, Cecil. pastor of
Second Pres byterian church, which
Governor Mann attends. took occasion
at the services yesterday morning to
announce that he WAS in no wise con-
Eecte1 with the movement To secure
u stay OF execution for Beattie, IA re-
ported. Personally. he said he WAS in
hearty sympathy with the Governors
determined stand In the matter
HE did not think the matter "A
proper one at all for ministerial inter
ference. believing that Governor Mann
was fully competent TO Judge the
value OF the affidavit in which Paul
Beat'ie in alleged to have repudiatcd
part of his testimony at the ceis-
hratei murder trial at Chesterfield
Courthouse.
Argues For Time.
Though he made no reference To
the subject from the pulpit. the Rev.
pr. H. -, Z. Asciachian, pastor of
oeNehtn-Sereet Christian church, stat
Ell last night that he was OF the
opinion that sufficient time should be
allowed for the Paul Reattie affidavit
10 be thoroughly weighed and sifted.
however. that was purely matter of
law. Personally, he believed Henry
Beattie To be guilty Of first degree
murder, regardless of the affidavit in
question.
While they are not talking for pub
itcation. spiritual advisers to Henry
Clay Beattie. Jr., who is under SEN
tence to be eiettrocuted next Friday
Tor wife-murder, do no; hesitate To
say To intimate friends of the Eeattie
family that they fear the soul Of the
cnndernnaH urtfl H.
he Is not given more time in which
TO prepare for his Maker 1t in true
that Beattie reads his Bible daily and
IL ever ready 10 discuss spiritual topics
with his advisers when they visit his
death cell, However he has so far
been unable 10 see the light" despite
the hopes OF salvation held out by
the reverend men.
Faith No Longer His.
As a youth. Reat,ie professed faith
and Joined Porter-Street Presbyterian
church, of which the Rev. j. J. Fix.
one of his advisers. is pastor In
recent Years. however. he has back
sided to such degree that the faith
Ii no longer his. though his name
still appears on the membership
records Of Porter-streef church
Beattie spent his last Sunday on
earth quietly and apparently free from
any fear of the dread electric chair
in the Virginia penitentiary. which
will claim him as its thirty-seventh
victim.
During the day he was visited by
members of his immediate family. i'm
Guiding his aged and te-haired
father, who brought him flowers and
other tokens of love and esteem. He
was also visited by the Rev. Ben
Jamin Dennis, his other spiritual add