The Washington herald., 1911-08-28
BY j. Il. O'NEILL.

Richmond, Va, Aug. 27.-To-morrow
the State will conclude the first part Of
its case against Henry Clay Beattie-the
establishing, circumstantially, that he
killed his young wife out on the Mid
lothian turnpike-and 1t will then devote
itself to placing the motive.
While this is being done, it was said
to-day, some interesting facts, hitherto
unknown, will be shown. chief Of which.
according to rumors, is that his bride
of year was about to institute divorce
proceedings against him.
Her father, Robert v. Owen, of Dover
Del. was on his way down to Richmond
to assist her in this. 1t will be shown,
at the very time she was slain. A long
letter which she,wrote to him, in which
she told all about Henry's relations with
Beulah Binford. will be put into evil
dence. The father himself may take the
witness stand.
Feared Result of Divorce.
The State will contend that young
Beattie feared his rich father would cut
him off after hearing the evidence upon
which the divorce claim would be based,
and that that was his motive in killing
his wife-so that his father might not
know of his unfaithfulness. The elder
Beattie. 1t will be shown, is a severely
religious man. abhorring divorces, bitter
against "affinities'' and the like, and
the State will contend that 1t was ex-
tremely likely he would have to cut the
boy off and ma" him shift for himself
had divorce action been begun
The story of Paul Beattie, the cousin
who bought the gun with which the
killing was done, will probably be told
to-porrow afternoon, following the
cross-examination OF Detective Luther L.
Scherer. Paurs narrative Will wind up
the first part Of the States case.
significant point in the cousins
story. which just became generally
known to-day. is that he will testify
that Henry first tried to have him pur-
chase a revolver. He endeavored to
buy one, but learned that pistols cannot
be sold in Richmond without the pur-
chaser having a permit from the police.
Then Henry decided TO buy a shotgun.
Paul Beattie's wife will swear that Paul
told her about both weapons at the time
he purchased the shotgun.
The State will use Beulah Binford's
mother-before the girl herself-to testi-
fy as to the love affairs of Beulah and
Henry. There is considerable fear that
Beulah, despite her remuneration the
other day. may still love the boy and in
trying to shield him may prove a poor
States witness.
Placed in Richmond Jail.
Henry spent to-day in a large. cool
comfortable cell in the Richmond City
Jail He was brought in from Chester
field last evening because a large num-
ber of rats, attracted by his food, both
cred him in the lookup out there He
got up early. read all the Sunday pa
pers. and later chatted with his father,
his cousins. Fred and Alice Beattie. and
with his lawyers. Harry Smith and Hill
Carter. He was cheerful and confident.
his visitors said.
Beulah Binford amused herself by
playing Jacks" frolicking about with a
little white kitten which some unknown
person sent her for a mascot, and by
sketching. She draws rather well, and
with training would perhaps make a
good illustrator. She is altogether un-
worried. and is waiting eagerly for the
automobile ride she will have when she
is taken out to Chesterfield within the
next couple of days, to tell her life
story on the witness stand. Prison life
has not taken away any Of her good
looks. Her complexion is just as pretty
as ever. She ever did make up" nor
need to.
Sabbath though it was, 1t was fear
fully hot, Richmond still blazed with
talk of the trial, with endless discus
sions about its probable result Most
people believe that the Jurors will take
but little time in deciding to send Beat
tie to the electric chair; but a growing
number seem to think that a hung
jury" may be the outcome.
That opinion is based on the pos
sibility that some hard-headed Chester
field farmer in the box may conceive
an aversion to sending a man to death
upon circumstantial evidence, which is
all there is in this case. No one can
be found who believes there is a pos
sibility Of acquittal.