Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-11-22
BEATTIE'S LAST HOPE FAILED.
Virginia Governor Declines to Grant
Respite to Wife Murderer.


day declined to grant a respite to
Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., convicted in
Chesterfield county, September 8, of
wife murder. The refusal Of the Gov
ernor to interfere with the sentence,
which the Supreme Court declared on
Monday to be plainly right, means
that Beattie will die in the electric
chair at the State penitentiary on Fri
day, November oath.
Being aware that final decision
would be reached in his case to-day,
Beattie, in the death cell, waited ex-
pectanty for some word from the
Governors office. His gray haired
father, utterly broken In spirit and
strength, who notified him on Mon
day that an appeal had ben denied,
was spared the ordeal Of conveying a
second message that all hope was
lost.
Rev. Benz. Dennis, an Episcopal
minister, who had interceded in the
young mans be ,lf, went quickly and
quietly to the prison to inform him
that every possible effort to save him
had failed. Beattie heard the an
nouncement in silence, though he was
visibly affected. Later in the after
noon his father, his brother and his
young sister called to see him.
Unlike the Supreme Court, which
filed no written opinion in refusing
writ or error, Governor Mann gave
out statement in which he said
that Beattie's appeal was made "with
the purpose, If possible. Of avoiding
the consequence Of crime, Of which
he knows he is guilty.
The Governors Statement.
The Governor also stated that the
so-called affidavit OF Paul Beattie was
not worthy Of consideration as evil
dence.
In signed statement to Beattie's
lawyers and the public. Governor
Mann said:
while I sympathize very pro-
foundly with the father Of II. G.
Beattie, Jr., and would be glad to
help him, if could do so with proper
regard for the public interests, can
not, with any consideration for those
interests, interfere with due execu-
ton Of the sentence of the court in
the Beattie case.
II followed that case during the
trial, and as It's horrible facts were
developed regretted that crime so
cruel and malicious should have oc-
CURED within the confines Of this
State. In the decision Of every ques-
ton which was presented to the able
and impartial Judge, who presided at
the trial, he was careful to give the
benefit Of every reasonable doubt to
the prisoner; his instructions were
as favorable as counsel for the pris-
oner could have expected; that he
did not err in the admission or cx-
clusion Of evidence, or in his instruc-
tions given to the jury, is shown in
the refusal Of the Supreme Court Of
Appeals to grant a writ of error.
''There is no question OF the hon
csty and fairness of the jurors try
ing the case, nor is there any ques-
tiOn that the defense made by law
yers Of character and ability obtained
for II. G. Beattie, Jr., every advant-
age guaranteed by law to persons
charged with crime.
THAT Beattie is guilty Of the will
full, deliberate and cruel murder of
his young wife | have not the slight
est doubt, nor is it insisted that there
shall be any greater relief offered
than the commutation OF his sentence
to Imprisonment for life.
II do not think the afiidavits Of
Paul Beattie, printed IN the papers,
or any other evidence or considera-
ton brought to my attention, sufn-
cient for that purpose. Nor do
question the wisiom--I might add,
the nccessity--of capital punishment
in cases where human life has been
quickly and deliberately taken. On
the contrary, | believe that this pun
lShmcnt is necessary for the prOtec-
non or society, and, If on jury,
would not hesitate in proper case to
agree to verdict requiring life for
life.
To grant a respite i'm so plain
case you'd be to set precedent.
would be to temporiZe with the law
and to encourage appeals TO the Su-
prcne Court with the sole purpose Of
gaming time. believe the best way
TO prevent such crimes as this is to
nMnlSh lhCm AdcuuatnlN- cnrl ainlv