The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-07
BEATT|E WILL KNOW
FATE IN FEW HOURS
Continued from First Page.

Judge Wat son VIII specify the time
within which Attorneys Smith and
Carter may prepare their bin of ex-
o"Qtons 10 his rulings. These ex-
cepuons seem innumerabls. AS many
as a dozen hayes been noted in one
session Of the court. Whether these
exceptions ars sufficient To gain for
Beattie ID writ OF error. or in other
words. "a hearing before the supreme
court OF Virginia Is problenatieaL
Those versed in legal PROCEDURE all
over the laad say Beatfia need not
expect hearing before the highest
court IN the State II the lower court
finds him guilty, II Is recalled that
AcCue sent a bill Of thirty-fve ex-
eeptions 70 The supreme Court with
o4t avail
Judge Wstsons rulings have awak-
eHed wide comment. Since the be-
ginning OF the Beattfe trial he has
gained the eminent distinction OF being
one Of the most capable 3uris,S In
Virginia,
Judge Makes impression.
From his crude little bench IN my
Chesterfield Courthouse he has directed
/ the Beatie case with a master hand
Not once has ne been seen to refer
+ 10 q book OF law. His rulings have
/ COME without the shadow OF nes1ta-
'i@n. They have been delivered with
+ the confidence born OF the knowledge
OF right.
And though attorneys for the pris-
oner have noted many exceptions to
the decisions OF the court, these ex-
captions have seemingly been mere
teehnicaltt'es 81 law. for to the an
biased spectator Judge Watson has
dealt fairly, and always dealth right
~. To the Imaginative he has APP
peared the Decentralization oe the
thought expressed IN the balancing
scales IMPLYING justice
And In his instructions to the Jury
th3s morning Judge Watson VIII ceal
+ f'ttf1 that fr5paTriaiIty and justice
which has characterized his attitude
ever since the FIRST day that Beattie
stood prisoner in the dock to face q
trial for tbs life. Judge Watson de-
ciined 70 make public these instruc-
tons last night IN accordance with a
long established precedent The In
/ strncrions viii not be given to ths pub
lie until they have been given to the
Jury.
instructions Are Argued.
Judge Watson heard the arguments
pt Instructions yesterday at noon IN
the office OF Attorney Smith IN the
Travellers INSURANCE. Ruilding in Main
street The session WAS informal and
/ brief. Cigars were enjoyed. Politics
were discussed. Compliments were
exchanged Typewriter sheets CON
staining the instructions that the Gem
+ inQnwealth wished delivered were pre-
sented 10 Judge Watson. Other type
written sheets bearing the instruc-
lions desired by the defense were
given him. lie took them home with
him. From both ne viii choose the
instructions he deems Just.
( II the Jurors beliaya tha a+nry ~n
lated by Paul d. Beattie, that story
which included the narration OF the
purchase or the gun by Paul for Hen
ry and the sensational chapter con-
tanning the confession OF the murder
to Paul by Henry. and If the jurors
are convinced that Mrs. Beattie met
her death In the road instead of while
seated beside her husband, as he
claims, then the attorneys for the
! Comm oslwealth argue that nothing
but verdict OF first degree murder
should be returned
Counsel for the prisoner contend
that II the jury believes Henrys story.
! the story OF the crime which he told
himself when he took the witness
chair in an attempt to save his life.
and IL the Jury also believes the sto-
ries told by witnesses of bearded
stranger seen in the vicinity of the
2
quitting Beattie should be returned.
vast importance Is attached to the
instructions Of Judge Watson. Those
twelve Chesterfield citizens who have
sat silently and patiently through the
long trial Will adhere without cues
ton TO the instructions of their Judge.
In him they have implicit confidence.
and his words will carry weight
/ Prepare for Emergency.
In the event that the Jury IL I'M
able to reach verdict and another
1 trial Is necessary. attorneys and de-
Electives VIII at once renew their fight
to prove Beattie killed his wife. These
attorneys and detectives have already
gathered new evidence against the ar
cused. evidence which was not found
until TOO late TO be introduced at this
trial.
/ Counsel for the Commonwealth Il
confident that verdict holding Beat
tie guilty will be returned, but they
say that II by some chance there is
] a 4.ststr4al y-2aAtt4a- aHtt-f, crsfhty-
escape conviction at second trial,
However, a mistrial Ia not anticipated
by the prosecution. for the attorneys
for the State think each OF the twelve
jurors believes Beattie murdered hIs
wife.
1t is difficult for anyone to pro-
! dict the probable outcome OF an ac-
quittai of Beattie. BY some he would
! be lionized and raised to the eieva-
ton OF 81 hero, but still there would
Turk within the mind of the pubisa