Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-09-01
AGED FATHER TAKES
STAND IN DEFENSE
Of bEATT|E
PATHETIC SCENE IN
VIRGINIA MURDER TRIAL
Prisoner WeepS As Parent Tells
of Great Love For Himself
and Dead Wife Testimony
Of Cousin Attacked,
NY Morning JournaI spss-ai t.a.sd Wire.

hN MORNING Jonrn1i >netVa leased Wire.
Chesterfield Court House. Va. Aug.
Henry Clay Beattie. Jr., indicted
for the murder OF his Wife, sohbed
like a child today when his gray hair
ed father, in low. trembling voice,
told of the domestic Felicity OF his son
and the slain women, Louise owen
bcattic. It was the first time that the
Stoieal calm OF the prisoners counten-
ance had given way during the trial.
The testimony of the father on be-
half of his son came as the dramatic
close of long days battle by the de-
Tense against the evidence heaped
mp by the prosecution. Tomorrow the
accused himself will 80 on the stand
and the defense will rest its case.
Battering constantly against the
testimony of Paul Bcattle. cousin of
the prisoner. as 10 the purchase of
the sun. his delivery OF II to Henry
and his subsequent conversations with
the accused, the defense introduced
several witnesses TO cast doubt upon
the veracity of Paul
1t emphasized the point when it
produced David u. Beattie. Pauls'
grandfather, and the uncle of Henry,
who testified that Paurs character
was not good 1t was another intense
period in the trial, for, with apparent
regret, the aged man told OF his
grandsons shortcomings
The most surprising refutation of
the day against Paul. testimony came
when Ernest II. Neblitt said that ON
sunday july l6. he saw Paul Deattie
on the bridge where he worked, hand
ling a single barreled shotgun. Paul
had maintained ever since the coron-
er's inquest that he disposed Of the
gun the same day he bought 1t, Sat
urday. July 6. by giving 1t TO Henry.
subsequently the defense brought
many witnesses tell of Mr.. Nehlitt's
good character nd brought others 20
attack Pauis NeracitN
e. H. Lewis, an cmpIoye OF The
Beattie store In South Richmond
declared that people spoke OF Paul
Deattie as the biggest liar In town"
Henry Clay Beattie, Sr., father of
the accused was interrogated Tor an
hour just before court adjourned. AS
he stepped to the witness stand the
prisoners face flushed. The white
haired man wrinkled and pale, spoke
in voice scarcely above a whisper.
Counsel leaned forward over the
bench to listen to him.
lie talked with great effort, reprcs-
sing an ever recurrcnt emotion. He
told how his life had been saddened
by the death of some Of his children.
how Henry in his infancy had been
neglected because twins came into the
family during his boyhood and de-
scribed how on this account and tho
death of his own wife, he had gr0wr
closely attached TO his son. He de-
scribed the strong love that had ex-
listed between Henry and the Inflated
wife, testifyine that he himself grew
to love his daughter law as one of
his own children.
"When her baby was born said
Bcattie, speaking of the dead woman.
lit was like starting life over for me
to see the granGchild It drew us all
together very much.
The father spoke highly of his sons
character and controyerted the testi-
mony of many witnesses for the pros
ccution that Henry showed no signs OF
grief after his wifes' murder. He de-
clared Henry had sobbed and moaned
almost all night after the tragedy.
When Beattie had finished and was
ready for cross examination by the
prosecution, Mr.. Wondenburg waived
the opportunity. II was the first time
during the trial that this had oc-
Cured.
After few minutes testimony by
Mary Jackson, col0red woman, to
the effect that she saw a bearded
man in tho vicinity Of the murder
on the Sunday before 1t happened,
which on cross examination she was
unable to maintain, especially as she
declared she could not fix the exact
date court adjourned until tomorrow.