The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1911-09-07
TESTIMONY ENDED
IN BEATT|E CASE
Accused Is Questioned on Tale
of Hold-Up.
OTHERS OPPOSE HIS STORY
Several Witnesses for State Uphold
Report Told by Cousin of De-
fendant-Beuiah Binford
Not Called.

Chesterfield Courthouse, Va, Sept 6.
Taking of testimony in the trial OF
Henry Clay Beattie, Jr, who is &C
cused of having killed his wife, is
closed.
Beattie was cross-examined by the
prosecutor on several points of his
story that a strange man shot Mrs.
Beattie when they passed him on the
Midlothian turnpike. No redirect ex-
animation was made.
Other witnesses delivered what
seemed to be telling blows against
the defense. Mrs. Paul Beattie, cousin
by marriage of the defendant and wife
of his chief accuser, upheld the story
of her husband that Henry Beattie
brought her husband to their house on
the Thursday preceding the murder.
She also told of an alleged telephone
message said to have come from Hen
ry Beattie to her husband making an
engagement to meet the sender on the
Saturday preceding the murder. Both
of these stories have been denied by
Henry Beattie.
Auto Experts Hurt Defense.
G. II. Oliver, who said he was IA
miliar with the construction of auto
mobiles, contradicted testimony for
the defense of automobile experts
that the Beattie car, by its construc-
ton was impervious to the dripping OF
blood through it to the ground except
IN al NIL vi
ible
r. b. Airport, an automobile expert,
who examined the Beattie car, cor
roborated divers statement. Airport
also said the steering gear of the Beat
tie car was such that it could not be
driven with one hand at forty or fifty
miles an hour, as the accused testified
he drove for aid after his wife was
shot.
There were half a dozen witnesses
summoned by the prosecution to con.
tradict the defenses story of Paul
Beattie's movements Immediately pre-
ceding and following the murder.
Beulah Binford Not Witness.
When court adjourned Beulah Bin
ford, the girl alleged by the prosecu-
ton to have been the motive for the
murder, was in Jail without having ut
tered word of testimony. Scarcely
an hour had passed in the eleven days
of testimony when her name was not
on the lips of the witnesses or coun-
sci or either side.
Admittedly fearing that she would
scrupulously avoid injuring the case
of her former companion at any cost,
though statements and interviews
galore had fortified the prosecution
with what it regarded as unnecessary
! Information, the commonwealth did
not put her on the stand.
we have proved she was the mo-
tive for the crime" said Prosecutor
| Wendenberg, without hearing her tes-
timony as our witness and the admis-
sions of the prisoner himself have told
the jury enough"
Testimony by Henry Beattie.
When Henry Clay Beattie was re-
called to the stand Prosecutor Wen
denberg said he only intended to ask
one or two questions.
"Mr. Beattie," he began, will you
explain how the same gun which your
cousin bought on Saturday night was
in the woods on the Midlothian turn,
pike that night?"
Il didn't know anything about the
gun. didn't see it till the highway.
man raised It,"
And will you admit that if your
wife hadn't suggested the ride you
would not have been there"
mo. My mind wasn't made up as
to the ride when my wife suggested
it."
We'll, how did the man with the gun
know that you and your wife were
going up the road that night"
We protest" said counsel for the
defense, and the judge sustained them
The prisoner walked back to the bal
surprised at the brevity of his exam
nation.