The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-25

| Chesterfield county resumed its sit
| ting, with more than fifty witnesses
| present ready tn testify on behalf OF
the State in the trial of Henry Clay
Beattie, Jr.
Judge Watson made snort open
ing talk in the interest Of good order
aud quiet in the courtroom. said ths
Judge: ~
The life OF human being is at
stake. 1t Is desirable and necessary
Tor the jury and counsel to hear every
word OF the testimony of the wit
nesses clearly. The court has been
gratified at the good order which has
prevailed"
The Judge added that 1t was hard
ly necessary for the court TO remind
the citizens that 10 expression of
approval or disappr0val OF anything
that might occur In the courtroom
would be permitted, and that If there
should be any who might SO far for
get themselves as to make such a
demonstration, the court would find
1t necessary to deprive sue hpersons
Of the use of The courtroom.
The prisoner was then called. coming
IN with the same apparent calm that
has characterized his conduct
throughout the entire procedure
At 1o:40 O'Clock tho Commonwealth
announced it's readiness to proceed
with the case.
Witnesses Are Sworn.
The names of sixty-six witnesses
were called and they came into court
In installments, and we're duly sworn.
As they were sworn the court gave
them instructions to remain at such
distance from tho courtroom that they
could not hear what might be said
therein.
On the completion OF the admin
istering of the oaths. Mr.. Smith, Of
counsel for the defense, stated that
he would like to have 1t understood
that none of tina witnesses for the
Commonwealth stfutttrt be excused
without the knowledge Of counsel for
the defense, as many Of them, said
DIR. Smith, had ont been summoned
hy the defense fer The reason that it
was known that they were present
under the order Of the court.
Tn the suggestion Of Mr.. Wenden-
ourg, of counsel for the Common
wealth, a list Of the witnesses for
the defense was read and motive given
mat II there were any such present
that they should retire from the court
room.
AZ 1t:25 o'cloeE everything was in
readiness for the examination 10 be
gin. and MIR. Thomas owen. an uncle
of the late Mrs. Henry Clay Bcattfe.
Jr, at whose home she was a guest
when the TRAGEDY Of July * occurred.
was sw orn, Commonwealth Attorney
Gregory conducting the examination
Thomas Owen Testif9es.
In ans@ er to question put By Judge
Gregory, he described the location Of
his residence at the intersection of
the Midlothian turnpike and North
| street. about one and one~quarter
miles from South Richmond He had
known the accused from infancy The
dead girl had been guest Of his
/ home for someth 'Hg like n week he
fore the homicida Tie testified that
IN the night of July is Henry Clay
! Beattie left his home at about Seven-
teen minutes past ten O'Clock accom-
panied by Mrs. Beattie
The clothing which were worn by
the accused at the time Of the tragedy.
tha gain with which ii Is alleged
Mrs. Beattie was shot. ana a chair
/ cover from chair on which Beattie
sat in the parlor of Mr.. owen after
bringing the body of his dead wife
I home. were brought into court at
this point
Mr.. Owen explained how that the
accused had volunteerede to 20 70 4
drugstore ard have a prescription
filled for Mrs. owen, who WAS IN
disposed. he and Mrs. Beattie leaving
in the automobile and going pre-
sumably first to the drug store
Describing the terrible circum-
stances surrounding the return of
young Beattie with his dead Wife =
body he said that. owing to the great
excitement ~ that hour, he was not
( nrpnaraI a cav could ,rp O.,
their exact sequence the events Of
the night He did not know exactly
when he first asked Beattie as IT, the
details Of the crime. He did not a8-
anime the body closely when Il was
first brought home after .haying atls-
fed himself Of the fast that the gigl
was dead. and after giving the re-
mains such attention as was proper
he had turned his attention natura lily
10 the comforting of the Young man
$50 shockingly hereft He had seen
the body after it had been prepared
for burial There was a hole in the
cheek as hig as n half dollar and
blood had run down on her hair from
the wound while her head was hang
ing downward. His first impression.
he said. reVerting to his first view
or the body. had been that the top
of her head had been blown oft
Asked s ~ whether or not he had
observed any blood on Beatties ciotn
ing; he stated that he observed sew
eFal blood spots on his coat and in
order to make the young man com
Portable. he had loaned him one of his
own coats. He didn't notice enough
blood on HIS shirt 10 cause him to feel
II necessary for him to suggest that
he change that garment.
Identifies Coat.
Itna