Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-11-10
Maintains Iron Nerve.

Maintains Iron Nerve.
Beattie was as calm and unruf-
fed when he left the Jail for the
coroner's inquest and his trial. He
greeted Major Wood pleasantly and
commented on the beauty of the
morning and the crispness of the at
mosphere. He said it felt lawfully
good to be out sin the fresh air
again" During the trip to the "Big
Top" Beattie chatted with the sup
erintendent and Jail guard, and
seemed the most unconcerned person
in the vehicle.
Upon their arrival at the peniten-
tiary, the superintendent and guard
declared that Beattie's nerve never
failed him for an instant as he near
ed the death chamber. His ANNA
ton and cheeriness seemed to in
crease as he drew closer to his posi-
BILE doom in the big institution on
Oregon Hill. Both Major Woods
and Guard Mullins said they had
never seen a condemned man more
bright and unconcerned as to his
fate.
At the penitentiary Beattie was es-
corted into the superintendent Of
flee, where a record was made of
his name, age, color, birthplace,
crime and day of execution. He was
then searched as matter of pre-
caution, and taken at once to the
death chamber, which is but few
steps to the electric chair, where
the young condemned man may ex-
plate one of the most shocking and
mysterious crimes ever committed in
the criminal annals of the State.
A guard was Immediately placed
over the prisoner, who now is con-
fined in a cell smaller than the ones
he occupied at Henrico, Chesterfield,
and Richmond jails. The guard at
once took a seat in front of the
barred door of the prisoners cell.
Beattie Immediately began con-
versation with the guard, and con-
tinued it while arranging the few
simple articles he was permitted to
take to his cramped quarters.
Beattie is the only man now in
the death chamber in the peniten.
tiary. There are eleven cells at the
institution for condemned men. Al
times there have been as many as
seven slayers in the cells, but unit
Beattie was locked in one of then
today all of them had been empty
for several weeks. Beattie seemed
| to feel his solitude and lack of com
partnership. Shortly after he wa!
| locked in his cell he began to in
| quire as to the occupants of thu
other cells for condemned men, ant
| seemed somewhat disappointed whel
| told that no one else but himsel
was in the row of horrors.
Immediately after Beattie was in
formed yesterday of his transfer to
day, he communicated with his ia
Their in Manchester, telling his pa
rents of the turn of events.
Within a short time Henry Cla
Beattie, ST., the condemned youn
mans aged father, and Miss Haze
Beattie, the doomed prisoners de
voted sister, arrived at the jail. The
remained at the door of his ce
about an hour and half. TIL
parting of the relatives at dusk wa
most fearful, and the guard VIII
stood near while the prisoners XIII
folk babe his goodbye was deepl
touched by the pathos of the inc
dent.
I Still Hopeful.
Although Beattie is now cOnfine
in the death chamber and occupyln
position which would naturally /
expected to take most OF the splr
out of any man, he is still brave an
hopeful and almost confident tn;
the supreme court will grant him
new trial. He declared to tt
penitentiary and Jail officials that
; believed he would get new trl
and that the next jury which tri'
him would acquit him.
The supreme court, with Whlt
Beattie's appeal from the verdict
the Chesterfield jury was filed la
/ Saturday, convenes today. 1t m;
: act on his appeal this week or with
: the next ten days.
: Should the supreme court declil
r to grant an appeal, Beattie's on
hope lies with Governor Mann,
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