Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-11-24
wife Muid defe Eleciloeuted
At 7'23ge'lsei y ! II. hls /:
nolnllgf :.
60 49,, ~ ~. . y :. 49, HAY - .s,Egr
Maintains glaiat;t llI|l t;tellstee I ! | Con; N!
posure During naffONlBg
Scene 4 !. y.

,'jt- <s@g$Igf %'| "I%1,"
RICHMOND, Va, Nov. 24.-Henry
Clay Beattie, Jr., before his death II
the electric chair at 1928 a. m today
confessed to the murder of his wife
The statement, which was given ou
in the rotunda Of d downtown hotel
follows: 2I[@ ~
Il Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., desirous
Of standing right before God and man
do, on this twenty-third day tof No.
vembsr, 1911, confess my guilt of the
crime charged against me. Much that
was published concerning the details
was not true, but the awful fact
without any narrowing circumstances,
remains. For this action l am truly
sorry, and believing that am at peace
with God, and am soon to pass into
his presence, this statement isjnade.''''
Beattie's confession was followed by
the following statement by the at
tending minister. >4t@%.
This statement was signed in the
presence of two. attending ministers,
and is the only statement that can
and will be made public by them:
-Beattie desired to thank his many
r. ENDS for their kind letters and ,ex-
pressions Of interest and the; public
for whatever sympathy was felt or
expressed" ,,,....
~e>> Family Allows Publication.
The Beattie family has consented
to allow Rev. Ben Dennis to make q
statement which Henry. Clay Beattte.
Jr., gave TO- the preacher before bis
death Douglas Beattle lays tho state
ment is brief, and at tie request of
Henry will be made public just as it
was written. Douglas Iefuses to otin-
dicate If 1t is.;a contention. Luther
Scherer. detective dtesa3fed 1T is an
admission of guilt.
Many Rumors Current.
Throughout the forenoon the city
has been rent with rumors that Beat
ttsj confessed. These were denied at
the penitentiary, where, in connection
with the announcement of the death,
it was said the condemned man made
no statement The attending minis.
ters would not discuss the case In
any way until they had visited Beat
ties family in South Richmond and
secured permission to make the con-
fession public.
Confessed at Eleventh Hour.
The confession evidently was made
at thu eleventh hour, when Beattie
became finally convinced that all hope
Of escaping the electric chair had
passed. Two days ago Rev. Fix an
that Beattie said he would
not confess. This was ascribed to
the fact, that Beattie desired to spare
his father the blow of admitting his
guilt after the many protestations OF
innocence to his aged parent. 1t was
a fight between filial devotion and
q desire not to 60 to his death with
q lie on his lips. He vas urged to
confess by his spiritual advisers and
at last broke down.
Passed Peaceful Night.
Beattie passed fairly peaceful
night, although his sleep was broken.
When he arose this morning ne
dressed with his usual care and ate
sparingly. He did not appear either
nervous and apprehensive, although
he was necessarily under the eyes OF
the guards, who had redoubled their
vigilance in the final moments so the
aw might not be cheated. During
he reading of the death warrant the
loomed man maintained his compo'
sure. He stood without tremor. AS
;he superintendent finished he
,wayed, but 80 imperceptibly that ne
night have been shifting his weight
rom one foot to the other. When
he deputy wardens fell In on either
Iide of him he bowed his head mo-
nent.
Il am ready, gentlemen" he said,
imply, and the death march was be-
,un,
Just before Superintendent Wood
md his men appeared, Rev. DR.. FIX
melt in prayer with the condemned
nan.
He prayed for divine forgiveness
or him. Beattie appeared affected,
Family Not Present.
No member of the Beattie family
vas present at the execution nor at ,, ,
he penitentiary when the death
march was begun. Preparations for
he reception of Douglas Beattie, q
rother of the doomed man, had been
made in the superintendent's office,
ut the young man did not appear.
he failure of any member of the
amily to be present was Welcomed
y the. prison authorities, for they
cared their charge might break down
t the last moment.
Owen Family Hears News,
DOVER, Del. Nov. A.-The execu-
on today of Henry Clay Beattie, Jr.,
,und the Owen family going about /
,e, usual routine as though NO trag' /,
iy ever had entered their quiet lives. :
Il am glad he made q clean breast !
it" he said, when told that ,Beattie !:
1niessea his crime and asked for-l
e Continued On 'sse a'':