Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-08-31
BEULAH b|NFORD
IS AN ENIGMA.
The Other Woman in the Case Pos
sesses Important Evidence.
New Witness.

A mysterious witness surprised the
prosecution with the declaration that
on the Sunday before the killing Paul
Beattie was at his post as bridge
watchman carrying single barreled
shotgun, Paul Beattie had insisted
that he gave the gun to his cousin
Henry the accused man, on Saturday
night.
The witness who threw bomb into
the camp of the prosecution was Ernest
H. Neblitt, paper mill superintend.
ent. He declared that at s o'clock Sum
day evening before the opening be saw
Paul Beattie standing in the doorway
OF little building at the end of the
bridge with single barreled shotgun
in his hand.
when he saw me be put the gun
inside the doorway" said Neblitt.
Neblitt's story accepted as true one
of the principal features of Paul's testi-
mony upon which the prosecution has
founded its whole case would be abso-
lutely contradicted. In brief Cross
examination Special Prosecutor Wen
denburg was unable to shake Neblitt's
story in the slightest degree.
After springing this sensation the
defense settled down to examine halt a
dozen character witnesses to prepare
the way for the placing of Henry Clay
Beattie, jr., himself on the stand.
Chesterfield Courthouse, Aug. 81.
Locked in the bosom OF slim seven
teen-year-old girl, feminine enigma,
today lay the story that would settle
the fight for tho life OF Henry Clay
Beattie, jr., on trial for the murder Of
his wife.
The youthful breast OF Beular Bin
ford, sweetheart of the accused man
since she was thirteen years old, held
the secret that would condemn or clear
Henry Beattie. But neither the astute
lawyers who seek to send Beattie to
the electric chair, or the keen-witted
men who are seeking to save bis life,
would admit today that they will place
the gray-eyed girl on the witness stand
to either prove or disproye the tale on
which depends the life of the young
imam aroused of wife murder.
Both prosecution aud defeuse are
afraid of the beautiful sweetheart.
Despite a serious of vicious third de-
gree examinations, her real attitude was
| jus. as much in doubt today as it was
on the day Henry Beattie vas arrested
for the murder of his wife. And she
langhingly admitted it today.
IF they place me on the stand l
will tell the truth" said Beulah, with a
tinkling childish laugh that echoed
through the iron walled jail in Rich
mond where she is confined. I can't
tell you what my testimony will be, but
it will be the truth. !"
Down the corridor, negro prisoner
lifted his voice in an old camp meeting
hymn, and the tinkling laugh was
hushed for a moment as the full bari
tone resounded in praise OF the al
mighty. But the harsh admonition of
iailer stopped the song of the church,
and the spell passed. The slim. 1.-THE
little child woman threw back her bead,
cast her wealth of golden hair out of
her eyes and with an outburst OF the
Joy of living seated herself on the edge
of the plain deal table, that with her
bed makes up the plain furnishing Of
her cell. Swinging her silk: clad ank'
les to and fro she answered questions.
Evidently not thought as to the fate
Of the Indifferent calm-eyed prisoner
who faces the electric chair crossed her
mind.
DO you love Henrv Beattie p she
was asked.
Il like him awfulIy we'll, /" came the
smiling reply. He and I were awfully
good chums. Maybe we were too good
chums. But he and 1 had been pals
for four years." and there was just 9
trace OF resentment in her voice. Three
years after Henry Beattie fell beneath
the spell Of the gray-eyed golden haired
girl, he married the woman who was
toully murdered on the Midlothian
turnpike FIVE weeks ago.
The slken ankles moved slower and
the silvery voice grew softer.
! never had chance" she COM
planned. Il was too young. I didn't
know what it all meant. But Henry
was my friend; he took care of me
when everything looked dark and
drearY. ] wont forget that. It's hard
for girl to make her way in this
world when everything is against her. !"
A short silence pregnant with
thought followed and then:
What is poor girl to do?" and the
beautiful little child woman threw her
slender arms above her head in despair.
It's hard world on the woman"
she declared with a worldly sigh and
then, Frightening, but We get through
it some way"
I tried to be straight" she said,
but everything was against me.
Whenever l tried to get honest work
some one would point at me and say
that girl is no good, and then / had
no chance. l know what is right and
what is wrong, but never had a
chance to do the right thing"
a question brought the philosophical
soliquoy to close.
What will you tell about Henry
Beattie and his wife if you are placed
on the witness stand?"
The tinkling girlish laugh rang true
and clear.
Il can't tell you that. Wait tell
take the stand" and the enigma was in
evidence again.