Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-09-08

Chesterfield Courthouse, a.,Sept.
5.-After asking Henry Clay Beattie,
Jr., indicted for wife murder, the one
question as to how he could account
for the translation of the same shot
gun from the hands of Paul Beattie,
his cousin, on Saturday night, to the
hands of the alleged highwayman on
The following Tuesday night, the pro-
,ecution ended it's crOss-examination
If the prisoner today. The accused
ienied that he knew his cousin Paul
had a gun on the Saturday night in
question or that he was with him
turing that week.
The commonwealth thereupon be-
gan it's attack upon the prisoners
story.
Together Thursday Night
The rebuttal was practically an at
tempt to corroborate Paul Beattie as to
ais alleged meeting with Henry
Thursday night to arrange for the de-
livery of shotgun to his cousin the
Saturday following.
Several witnesses testified that
hey saw the two cousins together
Thursday, and Mrs. e. J. Houchens,
',other-in-law of Paul, stated that
ienry brought Paul home in a ma
chine that same evening.
A second point taken up by the
commonwealth was an assault on
!. H. Neblitt's testimony that Paul
1ad shotgun on the bridge where
e worked Sunday following the
Night of The alleged transfer of the
;un to Henry. Witnesses sustained
Paul that he had no gun at the bridge
hat day. and one man said he was
here during the time of Neblitt's
visit and saw the gun.
Prisoner Again on Stand
Beattie at $50 o'clock today again
-ook the witness stand, and Prosecu-
or l.. o. Wendenburg resumed his
Continued from page 1
cross-examination, court converting
at an earlier hour than usual so as
20 complete the prisoners testimony
today.
Judge Watson announced that 1t
'eemed to the court that the case
long its main lines had been de-
'eloped carefully and at great length
md that it had reached the stage
where the court would be justified in
placing some limit on counsel.
He added that owing to the two
and half hours of direct examina-
ton and cross-examination of three
and half hours yesterday the ex-
animation of the prisoner should not
be test of physical endurance and
that the court would permit an hour
more of cross-examination and only
4 half hour of redirect examination.
Mr.. Wendenburg said he only in
tended to ask one or two questions.
"Mr. Beattie," he began, Twill you
yplain how the same gun which
your cousin bought on Saturday
night was in the woods on the Mid
lothian turnpike that night?"
81 didn't know anything about the
gun. l didn't see it till the highway
nan raised it,"
"And will you admit that if your
wife hadn't suggested the ride you
wouldn't have been there"
mo. My mind wasn't made up
IS to the ride when my wife suggest
ed it,
"Well, how did the man with the
5un know that you and your wife
we're going up the road that night?"
I'VE protest." said counsel for the
lefense, and the judge sustained
them.
Mr. Wendenburg here concluded
his cross-examination Mr. Smith said
10 redirect examination was intend
I'd. and the prisoner was excused
1t 9:37 O'Clock, just seven minutes
after he took the stand.
Despite his escape from severe
ross-examination by the prosecution
his was trying day for Henry Beat
lie. Through witnesses whose testi-
mony was introduced in rebuttal the
commonwealth shattered Beattie's
own story, while reputable citizens
swore to the good character and re-
}utation of his cousin Paul who told
the damaging story about the gun.
Through it all though the prisoner
continued in his usual calm way,
evincing no fear of what the final
outcome will be, showing no mental
wOrriment as things seemed to go
against him.
Wife'S Brother on Stand
The commonwealth finished its re-
buttal evidence at sos p. M, after
Henry Owen, brother of the MUIR
dered woman, had testified that his
sister and her husband, the accused,
were angry at each other about two
weeks before the tragedy and that
Henry left the house without kissing
her. This was in contradiction of
Beattie's testimony to the effect that
he and Louise had never quarrelled.
The States rebuttal witnesses rid
died the testimony given by the
accused on Monday to the effect that