The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-11-17
BEATTIE'S LAST HOPE YANISHES.
Governor Declines Even to Grant Brief
Respite-Nust Die in Electric
Chair November 24.

Richmond, Va, Nov. 15.-With the
frank and emphatic statement that he
believed in the prisoners guilt, Gov
ernor Mann today declined to grant
a respite to Henry Clay beatie, Jr,
convicted in Chesrertiell COUNTY, Sep
tember s, of wife inurdet. The refusal
of the governor to interfere with t :,
sentence, which the supreme court de-
clared on Monday to be plainly right,
means that Beattie will die in the
electric chair at the State penitentiary
on Friday, November "a.
Being aware that a final decision
would be reached in his case today,
Beattie, in the death cell, waited eX-
pectantly for some word from the gov
ernor's office. His gray-haired father,
utterly broken in spirit and strength,
who notified him on Monday that an
appeal had been denied, was spared
the ordeal Of conveying a second mes
sage that all nope was lost.
Hears Fate in Silence.
The Rev. Benjamin Dennis, al Epis-
copal minister, who had jnterceded in
the young mans behalf, went quickly
and quietly to the prison to inform
him that every possible effort to save
GO ~ NJ
nouncement in silence, though he was
visibly affected. Later in the afternoon
his father, brother and young sister
called to see him.
Unlike the supreme court, which fl
ed no written opinion in refusing a
writ of error, Governor Mann gave
out a statement, in which he said that
Beattie's appeal was made with 'the
purpose, if possible, of avoiding the
consequences of a crime of which he
. knows he is guilty.
Not Worth Considering.
TIE governor also stated that the
so-called affidavit of Paul Beattie was
not worthy of consideration as evi-
dence.
In signed statement to Beattie's
lawyers and the public, Governor
Mann said:
while sympathize very profound
" with the father of H. G. Beattie, Jr.,
and would be glad to help him if 1
could do so with proper regard for the
public interests I cannot with any
consideration for those interests in
terfere with the due execution OF
sentence of the court in the Beattle
case. - '' - 'V''
Followed Trial Closely.
: 81 followed that case during the
trial, and as it's horrible facts we:
developed regretted that crime so
cruel and malicious should have occur
red within the confines of this State.
In the decision Of every questlt
which was presented to the able and
impartial judge who presided at the
srial, he was careful to give the bene-
.ft of every reasonable doubt to the
prisoner. his instructions were as IA
voratle as counsel for the prisoner
*eoYA, eoYA,daa dhaEAa Ea expsssed:: Il that he did notl
" oi
err. In the admission or exclusion OF
evidence or in his instructions given
to the jury, is shown in the refusal of
the supreme court of appeals to grant
a writ of error.
Defendants Rights Protected.
There is no question of the honesty
and fairness of the jurors trying the
case, nor is there any question that
the defence made by lawyers of char
acter and ability obtained for H. G.
Beattie, Jr., every advantage guaran-
teed by law to persons charged with
crime.
'sThat Beattie is guilty Of the wilful,
deliberate and cruel murder of his
young wife I have not the slightest
doubt, nor is it insisted that there
shall be any greater relief offered than
the communication of his sentence to
IMPRISONMENT for life.
"I do not think the afidaVits of Paul
Beattie, printed in the papers, or any
other evidence, or consideration
brought to my attention, sufficient for
that purpose, nor do I question the
wisdom, I might add, the necessity of
capital punishment in cases where hu-
man life has been quickly and deliber-
ately taken.
"Life For Life"
z1S hot