The Monroe journal. [volume] (Monroe, N.C.) 189?-1965, 1911-11-28
BEATTIE CoNFEssEs CRIME.
Signed Statement Before Going
TO the Death Chair, After Ev-
cry Hope Had Been Exhaust
ed.-The Bravado Till the
Tast

derer. whose ease has attraeked
the attention of the whole colm-
try, died in the electric chair at
Richmond at dawn last Friday
morning. After his death the
ministers who were his advisers,
published the following signed
statement, written by Beattie s
own hand and kept secret until
after his death:
Il, Henry Clay Beattie, Jr.,
DESTROYS of standing right be-
fore God and man, do on this,
the twenty-third day of NOvem-
Der, 1911, confess my guilt of the
crimc charged against me. Much
that was published concerning
the details was not true, but the
awful fact, without the harrow
ing circumstances, remains. For
tins action. | am truly sorrow.
and believing that | am at peace
with God. and | am to soon pass
into His presence, this statement
Is made. ;"
The secret of his confession was
held inviolate by the ministers
until after the execution. Not
even the broken hearted father
knew Of its existence, friends OF
the family declare. Not four
hours after he had been declar-
ed dead in the death chamber in
the States prison, We're the muir
derer's attorneys cognizant that
he had made Il clean breast OF
his guilt. With the same intre-
pidity that had marked his con-
duet from the beginning, Beattic
went to the chair and brought
the sorlid story to dramatlc
end. That was his sole satlsfac-
tion.
The shock which killed Beat
tie was turned on at I:l9, and
death was instantaneous.
In addition to the two physl-
ctans there were gathered IN the
death chamber when Beattie ap-
peared, the twelve witnesses to
the clectrocution, as required by
law. the Reys. John j. Fix and
Benjamin Dennis, Maj James b.
Woods, superintendent of the
penitentiary, the electrician and
foam deputy wardens.
When the performances were
over Superintendent Woods, ac'
companied by two deputies
threw back an hon-studded door
and started for the death cell
Instantly the death chamber was
plunged into darkness with the
exception of vivid circle OF
lights from the hooded and pow
erful lamp above the chair. The
chair, an oaken bit of furniture
which except for its straps and
steel bands might grace any IL
brary, was ON "a rubber mat. All
but 1t was obScured, the lamp
throwing everything else into
darkness so dense as almost tC
be felt.
The little party in the cham
ber heard the superintendent a
few feet away droning out the
death warrant. Beattie listened
TO ii with intensity, burt did not
flmch. He stood during tn,
reading, as ii is the custom and
when il was ended he swayed d
trifle but quickly recovered
Then. without assistance he took
his place between the guards
and began his march to the nm.
known.
His entrance into the death
chamber was as dramatic as any.
thing he had done since he first
commanded the public eye. liz
halted for a brief moment on the
threshold, looked OH the chain
with an inSnutable smile that
had in it the hint of sneer and
then walked briskly forward
Not once did he deign to strive
to pierce the blackness outsid,
his circle of glowing light.
1t had been feared that the
prisoner would finch when Tho
dreadful moment came to seal
himself in the chair. There was
no repidation and not a hint
of hesitation in Beattie S atti
tude. Still wearing his peculiar
smile, half amused and half cy
meal, he stepped lightly in thu
seat, settled himself as though
he had been looking forward {.
the rest and assisted the atten
danis in adjusting the straps ana
clamps by putting his arms il
the proper positions. The only