The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-07-22
THE BEATTIE MURDER
Husband of Dead Woman SuS-
pected.
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CASE

Henry Clay Beattie, Jr.
For two hours Thursday Beattie
was forced to repeat his story Of
the murder several times
The cross-eXamination of Beatue
followed a severe examination Of
Rulah Binford. a beautiful girl Of
about Is. who was dragged into the
mystery Thursday.
Her detention 10y the detectives
was subsequent to their discovery
that she has played a prominent
part in Beatties life and was the
mother of his son who died at the
age OF one year
Beatties arrest. il is said. will fol
low tho inquest set Tor Friday
That Bulah Binford was the moth
er of Beattie's son was revealed by
records i'm the Health Office. These
records show that son was born
TO II. c. Beattie. Jr. of Manchester.
and Bulah Binford. of Richmond. on
July "A. 1909
The birthplace is given as North
Carolina and the child's name is
shown as II C. Beattie Trout 1t is
also revealed that the babe was
adopted by Molie r. Trout, OF Rich
mond The date of the child's death
is given as July 9. 1910.
Cholera infantum was given as
On cause of death and Or. H. NJ.
RIOS bro. formerly of Fredericksburg
the attending physician. Dr Rose
bro stated that n recalled the death
of tho infant He said he was sum
moned 10 the house of MOllie Trout
the morning of the day the child
die l. He found the babe in a criti-
"ai ON litiol DR. Roscbro visited
th, child i'm IA. afternoon and found
the little patient dying
When the foster mother was told
that the infant was dying Catholic
priest was summoned and adminis'c
IA the rites o. extreme JUNCTION Fu-
neral services were held ON July IL.
two days after the death and the
cody was inferred in Shockoe Hill
Cemetery
After these discoveries in the
health office ID teciiye Wiltshire.
who has had Bulah Binford under
for two days. went TO
the girl and told hsr 10 accompany
him to the Office of Detective Scher-
er
According TO friends Of Bulah
Einford she has ben living with
her sister. a Mrs Powers Friends
oi The girl also state she is nov Mrs
K. c. Fisher. having ben married
some time ago 20 a professional ball
player VINO is now with his team i'm
Michisan Her friends also stated
that she was S on on the porch of
he Main sire house with Beattic
on Monday NIGHT last
shercd into tho office of Detec-
tive Schercr. the Girl was face 10
fac with several detectives who have
been revealing her past and who
had learn Il her every movement for
several days prior 10 The mur-
der and after the preparation Of
The crime n was trying ordeal
through which tine girl pass d and
She WAS questioned from noon until
about > o'clock.
Leaving tine girl in the custody of
detectives. Schcrcr left with Wilt
shire. Wren and FARRELL and drove i'm
an automobile 10 the home of Cor
)nCr Loving Word was sent to
Beatiic ar his home. that ho was
az the coroner's home and
no short limo the suspected man
appeared in an automobile I'm com
Dany OF friends
The news that Beattio was 10 be
questioned spread like Wildfire and
automobiles soon appeared al the
LOVING home from every direction
" heh Beatiie stepped FROM the au-
'omobile he was escorted 10 a shady
spot beneath large tree in cor
ler of the hedgcd lawn and
by Detectives Scharer.
Wren. Loving and Wiltshire.
In The view Of a group Of nalf
iozen men not twenty yards away.
5'atue was STONED t~o hours
lie bore the strain with steel-like
nerve. Bcattie toyed with a cigarette
Will, talking. looking the detectives
In the eye. seldom hesitating before
answering and repeating the story
Of the shooting.
w nile the examination was i'm
Chief Of Police Werner and
apt Wright. in civilian clothes.
stood under tree and cOnversed
In low tones Ben Owen and Judge
Gregor, Commonwealth attorney,
were talking in low voices.
Friends of Beattie formed another
group Newspaper men strOlled
about
Beattie could be seen talking earn
estly, first to one detective and then
Occasionally he gesticulatod
as though pointing direction. and
then he would inhale deeply on
The cigarette 1t was nearly 6
o clock when Beattie and the four
men arose
ComOnwcalth's Attorney Gregory
stepped forward and consulted in
whispers with Detective Scherer.
Wren, Wiltshire and Loving held a
whispered conference Beattid stroll
ed off few steps Nearly all the
spectators and most of the news
paper men believed an arrest would
be made. Suddenly the conference
between Judge Gregory and SchNrer
grew more animated
Scherer slapped Judge Gregory on
the shoulder and turned. walking
to Beattie and, placing an arm
around the young mans shoulder.
said something to Beattie and the
suspect smiled. Scherer turned and
signaled to the other detectives and
by the expression on their faces it
was seen that no arrest was to be
made then.
Beattie and several friends in an
auto disappeared 1t was whispered
that thepolice were anxious to make
the arrest without further delay. but
We're halted by Judge Gregory.
Judge Gregory is quoted as say
ing that he wished the arrest delay
ed until after the inquest. The Com
monwealth's attorney is also quoted
as saying that the evidence in his
possession against Beattie is suffici-
ent to warrant the arrest Of the
suspect
Scherer was overheard asking
hA l..