The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-11-28
STORY OF THE CRIME
FOR WHICH YOUNG H. G. BEAT
TIE WAS PUT TO DEATH.
Murdered His Young Wife While
Riding With Her in an Automo"
bile Near Richmond. -z-~

The crime for which Henry Clay
Beattie, Jr., was legally put to death
at Richmond on last Friday morn
ing was one of the most sensational
in the criminal history of Virginia.
Interest in the murder was country
wide owing to it's unusual features
and the swift movement of justice.
On the night Of July Is, last, Beat
tie drove his automobile into Rich
mond, carrying with him the body of
his wife which had a gaping shotgun
wound in the head. He declared that
a tall, bearded man had accosted him
on the Midlothian turnpike, five miles
from Richmond and when he had re-
quested the man to make room for
him in the road the stranger without
warning had fired the shot which
killed Mrs. Beattie. He added that
|>he had grappled with the man but
was oyerpowered and that the MUIR
derer had fled, leaving the gun be-
hind. This story Of the crime was
maintained by Beattie to the end.
For a brief time Beattie's story
was given some degree Of credence,
but within a day or two suspicion
began to point to him and he was
kept under the closest surveillance.
Bloodhounds, taken to the scene OF
the crime, refused to leave the place,
circling around the bloodspot on the
road.
Beattie, 1t eventually transpired,
had thrown the shotgun into the tom
neau Of his automobile after the
shooting but in passing over some
railroad tracks not far from the
scene it had been jolted out and was
picked up later by a negress: This
gun, which 'Beattie alleged had be-
longed to the mysterious highway
man, proved the means Of sending
the young man to the electric chair.
At the coroner's inquest the weap-
On was identified by Paul Beattie, a
second cousin Of young Henry, as
the weapon he had purchased for
Henry with money furnished by the
latter. Beattie was arrested immed-
lately after the inquest. This was
on July 81, and on August 10, one
month and a day after the day of
the murder, the trial was begun be-
fore Judge Walter A. Watson, in the
picturesque little Chesterfield coun-
ty court house, 16 miles from Rich
mond.
The jury was made up almost en-
tirely of farmers, and on this fact
Beattie based his claim that he had
been convicted, not for the murder of
his wife, but because of his relations
with Beulah Binford, notorious
young woman. He insisted to the
last that a jury composed Of city
men would have freed him. Beattie
was defended by H. NJ. Smith, Jr.,
and Hill Carter. The prosecution
was conducted by l.. O. WendeIburg
and L. M. Gregory.
The trial moved swiftly, though
many witnesses testified, and on Sep
tember s, after SIS minutes Of con-
sideration and prayer, the jury, in
chorus instead Of through its fore
nan, declared Beattie to be guilty o!
the murder Of his wife. Motion for
new trial was denied and Novem-
Der set as the day for the execution,
On November 13 the Virginia su-
preme court Of appeals refused to
grant an appeal or writ Of error
ard two days later Governor Manu.
who had been appealed to for COM
mutation or reprievn, Issued state
ment declaring thar the interests OF
the people of Virginia demanded that
Reattie should die In the electric
chair.