Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-08-25
Guilty Relations with Bintord
CIR! Being Shown.
Shed No Tears After Murder
OF Wife Was Announced.
Automobile, in Which Deed Was
Committed, Gruesome Exhibit.

Chesterfield Court House Va, Aug
24-On this, the anniversary of his
marriage 70 the woman he stands ac-
cused OF numbering. Henry Clay Beat
tie Jr., sat in the stuffy court room
today and heard seven witnesses call
ed By the commonwealth give testi-
mony on which the prosecution hopes
10 send him 10 the electric chair.
ON the court house lawn only a few
feel away stood tie blood-soaked au-
tomohile in which the Young wife met
her death. Beattie himself calmly in
speeted the car when it arrived today
and not once during the proceedings
did he show any signs Of banching.
Twice during the discrimination
Of the two detectives he flushed with
amusement ana struggled To hold back
his laughter.
OF the seven witnesses examined two
were physicians. Or. Mann and DR..
Wilbur Mercer who examined Louise
Beattie's body on the night of the mhr-
der TIE others We're Thomas Owen,
a court stenagrapher. and uncle of Mrs.
Beattle; Detectives Vein and Wilt
Shire Of Richmond who investigated
the case; Coroner Loving of Chester
field county: and May stuart. 4 stout.
middla-aged woman. VIA told Of Beat
ties associations with. Reulah Bintard
None OF the witnesses except Mr.
Owen recalled that xattie mad dis
played any grief over the tragedy.
With the first witnesses called merely
to establish the death of Mrs. Beat
tie. todays testimony was largely q
review OF what came ont ~ the inquest
and it vas not until the stuart woman
took the stand that the prosecution be-
gan its attempts 10 disclose the motive
Tor the crime She sWore 10 being the
proprietor u a resort In Richmond
and that Beattie had appeared there
with the Binford Girl four times within
the t~o months preceding the murder.
the last time on July l.. the night be-
FORE the crime Beulah Binford, she
testified. she had known for several
years
After having the witness describe
how Beat1ie and his lIyear- old COM
panion had visited her place, the CONF
monwealth introduced in evidence 2
letter written by the defendant to the
Bnford girl and identified as such AZ
the inquest ~Penned on his fathers
business stationery. Reattie wrote in
part:
Dear Kid-PaY this on the furni-
ture and make him give you an item
lied account of what you must pay
each week. Well, be good. With
oceans of love. trimming With kisses,
yours,
HON"
The boy showed no emotion when
the letter was read. but the elder
Beattie held palm leaf fan in front
of his face
Doctors Mann and Mercer described
the wound in Mrs. Beattie's head and
both said that in their opinion death
was instantaneous
DR.. Mann described the wound
which the defendant says the high
wayman inflicted on him as "A super
fetal scratch"
When Or. Mann dressed the scratch
on Beattie's nose he asked Beattie if
white man or n Negro had fired the
shot and the boy had replied "a white
man."
Did you see him shed any tears
while YOU were there the physician
was asked
7 did not" he replied. lie was
very composed under the circum-
stances"
The women spectators who We're in
tho rear of the room unnoticed were
asked 10 leave as the doctors testi-
mony was given.
Trying to show that Mrs Beattic
had been shot not as she sat in the
car, hut while lying PROSTATE in the
roadway, DIR. Mann was asked if there
was any grit in the hair when he eX-
amined the body.
There was gritty feeling" he said.
''hut the hair was very much soaked
with blood and | did not PARTICULARS
look for grit al the time
The court sustained the defence in
objections to questions concerning Dr..
Mann treating the prisoner for a dis
ease some time before the murder. At
torney smith, oss-eEamining, asked
DR. Mann just one question-if it were
not possible that all the compression
in Louise Beattie's skull was due sole
" to the gunshot wound. The witness
said.
Yes. that is possible"
DIR. J. G. Loving. the coroner. testl-
fled that he inspected the car the
the night of the murder and found a
bloody gauntlet glove on the bottom.
-. ~