The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-09-01

29.-Paul Beattie, cousin OF Henr!
CLAY Beattie, Jr., who stands charged
with the murder of his wife, testified
late yesterday that the accused mad
told him twenty-four hours after the
murder of how sorrowful he was that
he had done it; together with another
circumstance in which he related the
crime from a different angle, bring
ing out some things which he had
hitherto suppressed.
Coming as dramatically and uneX-
pectedly as the prophetic talk an hour
before by Mrs. r. B. Owen, mother OF
the dead woman, as to the domestic IN
felicities of her daughter, due to the
husbands actions, the brief but thrill
ing testimony of Paul Beattie created
a profound sensation.
Paul Beattie at the inquest a ner-
vous wreck, yesterday strong and de-
termined. poured out tale which con-
fessedly troubled his mind, not only
because he purchased the shotgun for
Henry, but because he did not until
Monday tell all he knew of the case.
With quivering lips and tear-dimmed
eyes. he gave the story against which
his heart and sympathy had fought for
days before.
81 hated to testify against my own
cousin he said, as the muscles of his
throat pulsated like a child, but the
duty I owed my citizenship forced me
to do so"
The courtroom spectators gasped
with open mouths as he said:
Henry himself told me that he
wanted me to stick by him; but I said
to him, This looks mighty black to
me, and Henry told me, wish to God
l had not done it-I would not have
done it for a million dollars, but she
never loved me. She only married
me for my money"
Paul Beattie paused and his plain
tive tones sank lower but he did not
break down. A hushed stiffness pre-
vailed in the room as his next words
were awaited. But he said no more,
and bracing himself in his chair, he
turned his chin toward the bench
where the prisoner and counsel sat
and looked fixedly at the witness in
preparation for the cross-examination.
Harry Smith, Jr, one of the lawyers
for the defendant, arose from his seat
and gave Paul a searching glance, at
the same time, in a loud tone of voice,
confronted Paul with the charge that
at the coroner's inquest he hadn't told
the whole truth as his oath required
when he omitted to make the state
ment concerning the alleged confes-
sion.
Paul Beattie appealingly looked at
the front row, and, hardly able to
suppress his emotion, told how he had
been ready to tell his story when he
collapsed at the inquest and had only
been recently able to force himself to
give damaging evidence against his
own kinsman. 1t was a late hour
when this stage of the trial was reach
ed and adjournment was taken until
today, when the cross-examination
will continue. In the meantime, Henry
c. Beattie, Jr., was taken back TO
Richmond to permit of a conference
with his counsel.
The prosecution let it be known yes.
terday that it had practically finished
its case.
The testimony of Mrs. Binford,
mother of Beulah and Henry Clay
Beattie. Enough was told of the Bin
ford girls connection to cause the
commonwealth to call Beulah to the
stand.
Paul Beattie, when he took the
stand, started off with matter of fact
story of his life, and nothing in the
nature of the sensational was expect
ed. when suddenly he turned an earn
est and determined face to the jury
and began his story.
The prosecution sprung a surprise
on the defense yesterday when Mrs. r.
V. Owen, mother of the slain woman.
who was supposed to be at Dover.
Del. outside the jurisdiction of the
court, was Unexpectedly produced as
witness. Taking the stand she testi.
fed that her daughter was unhappy
in her married life with Beattie.
The defense plainly showed it's sur
prise when Mrs. Owen was called and
took the stand, heavily draped in
black, the mourning garb put on when
her daughter was killed
Her nephew, Ben Owen, assisted
her to the chair She lifted her veil
and showed the face of patrician
lady of middle age.
She swore that she had visited her
daughter just prior to her murder
She was with her when her child was