The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-09-09
the DElTT|E TRIAL.
HENRY CLAY BEATTIE CROSS
EXAMINED.
Prsoner Vigorously Questioned by
Commonwealth, Ordeal Being Tem-
porarily Ended by Adjournment.


cd and stuffy court room, Henry
Clay Beattie. Jr.. indicted for the
murder Of his wife. battled for his
life today. Evening shadows alone
interrupted a vigorous cross-examina-
ton by the commonwealth. Judge
Watson ending the ordeal by adjourn
Ing court to an earlier hour than
usual tomorrow-9:15 a. m.-when
prosecutor L. o. wendenburg will
continue his rapid fire OF questions.
A lone figure was young Beattie
In the crowd that surrounded him on
all sides-even the windows and trees
commanding the court room being
thick with staring faces. The pris-
oner sat for hours. unfolding the
sordid details of his relations with
Beulah Binford. the 17-year-old girl
for whom. the prosecution charges
Beattie killed his bride Of a year.
Not alone the orgies Of the four years.
before his marriage and those that
preceded the tragedy. but the grue-
some tale Of the attack Of the high
wayman. the wild ride to the owen
nome at q speed OF SIS miles an hour
with the iifelcss body o. his wife In
The machine beside him. was given to
the jury In all It's horrible detail
The prisoner. by request of the
prosecution. even stood up to full
length and donned the bloodstained
coat that ne wore the night Of the
murder and attempted to explain why
blood bad not fecked certain portions
OF the garment IL his wife was re-
clining against him In the way he de-
scrtbsd.
The clothes Of the dead woman
lad been burned just before the ar
rsst OF Beattie and as more than once
thcrs Was occasion to refer to them,
Prosecutor wendenburg exclaimed:
'r wish to God we had them here"
II was q day Of extreme solemnity
In the court room. The accused sat
IN an arm chair. his head often rest
ING ON one hand. while with the 9TH
or Ne rubbed n knotted handker-
nhief over his pale and perspiring
ace In the bar sat his brother,
Douglas. and his white-haired father.
he latter a, times covering his
vrinkied eountenance with a fan as
some particularly loathsome details
we're recited by the son. hut when
tho end OF the day came. the father.
A usual. bent over the prisoner af-
';ectionately and kissed him.
Beattie answered questions In an
Except for the nervous lingering Of
his handkerchief and the character
istic vibration Of the muscles in his
cheek. he sat like school boy ex-
pressionless as he narrated the story
OF the crime. In no essential did the
prisoners version of the affair today
differ from that which he gave at
the coroner's inquest or that to which
the defense. through its witnesses.
hitherto has clung. The direct exam
inaiion lasted only two and a half
hours. while the cross-exmaination
had proceeded three and a half hours
when court adjourned for the day.
The prosecution In It's cross-exami.
nation save particular attention. how.
ever. TO two points In the previous
testimony of the prisoner.
IL the accused had on the night OF
the murder n light fastened to the
rear OF the machine. why could he
not see the fleeing highwayman In
the rear OF the car. or II the prisoner
had grappled with the man and sue
ceeded I'm wrestling the shotgun from
him. falling 20 the ground at the same
time. with the sudden release Of the
wsapon from tho highwaymans hand.
why did the highwayman dee with
Beat:ie at his feet on the ground?
These questions the prisoner evaded
In his testimony but tomorrow the
prosecution will hammer away at
them anew.
Denial after denial came from the
lips VI the prisoner as Prosecutor
wenienburg questioned him concern
Ing the alleged purchase of shotgun
for him by his cousin. Paul Beattie.
on the Saturday before the murder
and the testimony Of the latter as to
the confession In which Henry is
alleged 10 have exclaimed; II wish
TO God i had not done 1t. I wouldn't
do n again for a million dollars"
Beattie disclaimed any connection
with the purchase Of the gun and any
knowledge OF the transfer of any gun