The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-11-24
(National News Association

RICHMOND. Va. Nov. A.-After
making a brief confession, 80 as to
stand Alright before God and man."
Henry Clay Beattie, jr.. was electro
cuted at 1923 this morning as q penal.
ty for numbering his young wife, He
maintained his steel nerve to the end,
one shock of one minute sufficing to
put him to death. His confession. con-
tanning about fifty words. was made
pubic four hours after the execution.
following a conference between tho
aged father and the two spiritual ad-
visors. Beattie admitted committing
the crime himself, nearly as proved
during the trial, but declared some OF
the narrowing details brought. out were
untrue. A large crowd stood In the
drizzling rain from five o'clock until
after the execution. which was wit
messed only by those delegated by laws
=. All VIII soon be over were the con-
soling words repeated to him as he
was buckled into the electric chair
but he never quivered. A lack Of ap-
petite for breakfast was the only evil
dence Of his realization that his doom
was at hand.
Gather At Prison Gate.
Despite heavy rain which had fal-
len a big crowd gathered outside the
gates of the penitentiary, surging with
solemn intentness up to the very
doors. So unruiy became the multi
tude of curious, In which there were
many women, that q Gordon of po-
lice had to disperse them.
The dark lowering skies and the i'm
cessant patter of raindrops added to
| the solemnfty and In some instances
there was resistance when the police
tried to shove hack the men and wo.
men.
Long after daybreak. persons be-
gan assembling before the prison
gates. Some had umbrellas while
others unmindful of the downpour
stood dripping and waiting intently
for the slightest whisper from the
death-house which might tell Of the
| young wife slayer's death. At times
| whispers of resentment against the
severity of the penalty ran through
the crowd. Officers had difficult time
making their way through the jam to
the prison gates.
Life Went Quickly.
Just one minute was required to
snuff out the life OF the condemned
man. The current was applied at
1928. Beattie did not utter q sound AZ
he entered the chamber accompanied
by two guards and the two ministers.
! The arrangements were such that not
the least hitch marked the grewsome
affair.
Beattie's great nerve did not desert
him even when he reached the instru.
ment of death He did not falter. He
walked with firm step. took the seat
and seemed the least excited of the
attendants and officers.
| The body was takn in charge by an
undertaken and was taken away from
the prison within an hour after tho
execution.
| Shortly after Z o'clock the death pro-
| cession was ready to leave Beattie's
cell. The last words Of hope had been
spoken, the last prayer uttered and
the final earthly goodbyes spoken.
ne pTlSOu uOCCOI EAu A1ICaut C8k60
his place behind the chair to pro-
nounce when life was extinct.
There was a muffled clatter of feet
in the corridor. The procession pass.
ed into the chamber Of death. Without
revulsion against death Beattie seat
ed himself in the chAir. There was .
| quick movement among the atten-
dants but there Was no loud noise to
break the silence OF the scene. In
| a moment all was ready The current
| was turned on. In one minute the
thread of life had snapped and tho
commonwealth had taken fts toll Of
!, human life In penalty for . cruel aud
| heartless murder.
| As soon a. the prison physician de-
cIared Beattie dead, the straps were
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