The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-09
TRANSFER MADE
QUIETLY BY WOOD
Prisoner Cheerful as He Left
City Jail, Though Is Reported
to Have Collapsed When
Notified of Order on
Tuesday-Appeal Be-
fore Court.

Ato!n the CITY jail to the death cham
Der In the State Penitentiary, 10 await
the vengeance OF the Jaw, which has
heefecd that no shall die on the morn
ing OF November "a for the murder of
Ills wife. But while he saw the street.
OF inc city for the last time. perhaps. as
re travelled under guard. there is q
chance that he will no, be executed on
tne cate named by the Circuit Court OF
Chesterfield county
Tho prisoners appeal is now before
inc supreme Court OF Virginia, which
may decide to-day, tomorrow or more
p'opaoly week hence, whether or not
writ OF error will be granted II the
writ is denied. Beattie's hope will be
slim, for the only agent of the law
VINO can then save him from death is
me Governor of tho State. But II Is
regarded aH extremely likely that the
Governor will grant reprieve. In that
event. however, the regulation STAY of
thirty days would hardly bc given,
Tor that would send the young man to
mis- death On Christmas Eve.
Driven Through Quiet Streets.
Ihere are conflicting reports AS to
how Beattie received the news that he
mus, leave the City jail for the more
gloomy quarters in the big State prison.
noon The matter was kept secret,
and properly SO. because there might
nave been tremendous crowd around
Inc jail yesterday morning had it been
Known that the convicted wite-rnur-
carer wax to be transferred. AS il hap
pened. nobody outside was aware of the
order.
superintendent James b. Wood, of the
peniten;iary. accompanied by James T.
IA o. ~ ..s q no. t,gI %
tie IN surrey, the curtains OF which
were closely drawn. and drove him
through pafreeuented streets to the.
gray building near the river The
transfer was made before the face be-
came public.
fearful Scene in Jail.
While Beattie was quito cheerful yes
terday, II was said By men around the
jail that nc almos, collapsed on Tues
day when notified that he would have
10 leave his cell Within a few hours
for the death chamber. His father and
other relatives called 70 see him. and
the parting was fearful. the GRIEF of the
old man being pathetic in the extreme
But the boy showed no signs OF horror
when he said good-by to those IN the
Jail and departed with Superintendent
Wood. After he had been placed in his
new quarters he said there was nothing
special that he desired. and he pre-
pared himself for such comfort as his
SURROUNDINGS might provide.
Under the Law, q prisoner sentenced
to death must be placed in the death
chamber within fifteen days OF the
date set for his execution. Had any
delay arisen II would have served au-
tomatcally to upset the verdict of the
rourt. In view OF this fact the author
'ues were anxious TO comply strictly
with the law.
Always Under Guard.
IBeattic was not shaved or forced 10
don prison stripes. He was carefully
searched and then locked behind steel
bars. Every minute OF the night ana
day he is constantly under the eye or
guard. which is the most nerve-rack-
ing experience OF a mans life. SupN'-
tntoadcnt Wood has always been most
considerable in dealing with death
chamber prisoners. Beettie may smoke.
ne may have such literature as he fan
cies, and he is given such food as he
may desire, but no meals can be sent
him now from his fathers home.
Under the prison regulations his
immediate relatives, his lawyers ana
his minister arc permitted to see him
lie will be shaved daily, If he likes,
by the prison barber, but once a man
Is placed in the death chamber there
Is no chance or hope or possibility Of
self-destruction. The only thing that
can save Beattie from his doom is
the Supreme Court or the Governor.
Gnined Fifteen Pounds.
Beattic remarked yesterday morning
to one of the prison officials that he
had gained fifteen pounds while In
Jail. HIc is Il bit pale. due to the close
confinement and lack of exercise, bn5
those who saw him marveled at mis-
nerve. as they looked at him they
could not believe the report that ne
had collapsed on Tuesday yet 1t IS
known that he had set his heart IN
the idea of remaining in the city Jail
until his last hope had failed in me
courts.
With the case now in the hands ct
The highest court. there is no way,
OF course, of telling what 1t might
do. The general opinion. however is
that the writ will be denied, just rr
the opinion is general that Governor
Mann will grant brief respite
While the Beattie case will live in
criminal history as the most inn
portant murder trial in Virginia, It
moved with swiftness which was
marvel in these days Of the laws
delay Mrs. Beattic was murdered on
the night of July is. On September s
Beattie was convicted and sentenced
to die on November "a.
Wren and Wiltshire Praised,
Letters highly commendatory of the
work nf Detectives Sergeants Wren
and Wiltshire. who We're the nam
stays in the gathering OF evidence
against Henry Clay Beattie. Jr., we.
received by the Board OF Police Cow
missioners yesterday afternoon. Let
ters came from Luther T.. Scherer who
was In charge of the case, and from
y. o. Wcndenburg. assistant .prosccu-
tnr, and from Judge Gregory. FORMER
CONTINUED on Second Page.)