The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1911-08-25
GIRLS UNCLE IS
FIRST ON STAND
VIRGINIA COURT ROOM CROWDED
WITH PEOPLE ANXIOUS
TO HEAR CASE.
First Witness Tells How Beattie
Brought His Wife's Body Home,
With Story of Man Shooting Her
in Roadway.

Chesterfield Courthouse, Va, Aug.
24.-Henry Clay Beattie's trial for
wife murder began today in earnest
with the opening of the prosecution
case for the first time since the ar
rest, over month ago.
Beattie slept away from the Rich
mond jail last night, occupying cot
in the brick lookup, near the court
house.
Woman's Uncle Called.
One OF the first witnesses called by
the commonwealth this morning after
court preliminaries were concluded,
was Thomas Owen, the murdered
young wife's uncle, who was sum-
moned to testify how Beattie brought
the body of his wife to the Owen
home with the story of man in the
roadway firing into his automobile,
killing his wife.
BeuIah Binford's Testimony.
Beulah Binford, the 17year- old girl
who is said to have come between the
prisoner and his wife, remains in Jail
at Richmond as material witness.
Her testimony probably will not be
introduced until tomorrow or next
day. %sH
The prosecution. at the convening
of court, had ready it's list Of more
than seventy witnesses. The defense
will call more than score.
Anniversary of Marriage.
Court opened promptly at 1890 this
morning. The prisoner took his seat
promptly. Today was the first ami
versary of his marriage to the woman
he is accused of numbering. Shortly
before court opened the blood-stained
automobile in which Beattie's wife
met death was driven into the court
house yard.
Inspects the Auto.
The prisoner was on the lawn when
the machine arrived. Beattie calmly
inspected it. His father raised the
cushion of the front seat, revealing
blood spots on the wooden work.
With a few exceptions council ex-
cluded all witnesses when not testi
flying.
Owen Tells Story.
Thomas Owen took the stand at
1120 o'clock. The prisoner gazed
fixedly at him. Owen told how Beattie
drove up to his house on the night of
the murder and took his young wife
into the car, returning an hour later
with the dead body beside him.
Reatrie's PitifuI Cry.
Beattie shouted: MY God, my God;
they have killed Louise!"
Beatties blood soaked clothing was
unrolled before the jury, witness iden-
tifying them. The single barreled
shotgun with which, the common
wealth says, the shot was fired, then
was exhibited.
Describes Crime Scene.
Owen described the scene of the
crime on the night Of the murder.
Beattie watched his uncle-in-law like
a hawk as the testimony was given.
He occasionally shook his head, as
if in contradiction.
Did you observe the conduct of the
accused at the house after the mur-
der?" Owen was asked.
"He seemed grieved, and several
times he inquired if his wife were
dead"
Bearded Highwaymen."
The witness described the bearded
highwayman' pictured to him by Be-
attic as his wife's murderer; repeated
Beattie's story of the alleged encoun-
ter and told of the scratch on Beat
ties face which, the prisoner said,
the man on the road inflicted.
did the accused render you aid in
attempting to identify the assassin"
Owen was asked,
His description of the man was his
only aid," replied the witness.
Attorney Smith, for the defense,
opened the cross-examination of
Owen. The witness became confused
regarding several incidents on the
night Of the murder. To show that if
Beattie had murder in his heart he
would not have selected the Midloth-
ian turnpike, Owen was asked to de-
scribe the highway, which, he admit
ted. was popular with automobilists.
who first suggested bloodhounds