The Washington times., 1911-08-21
MOTLEY CROWD At
COURT HOUSE WATTS
SIGHT Of BEATT|E
His White-Haired Father
Treated With Difference
by the Onlookers.
BY JULIA MURDOCH.
Over Times Leased Wire From Ches-
terfieId Court House,


CHESTERFIELD COURT HOUSE
Aug. H.-"Here he comes, here he
comes" was the excited exclamation
from several hundred throats as the
big red touring car in which sat Henry
Clay Beattie, jr, manacled to two dep
uty sheriffs. came honking UT the sandy
road that leads to the little red brick
court house OF Chesterfield county
Since early morning, in fact even before
daylight, the crowd had been gathering
and when the August sun showed its rim
above the horizon, in a cloudless blue
SKY the little yard overgrown of lux
uriant foliaged maple trees began to
give evidence of the scene that was to
be enacted there.
l. was a motley crowd Of black and
white humanity that thrust each other
aside to catch a glimpse of the unfor-
tunate object OF the trial as he should
pass from the car to the little room
In which his fate is to be determined.
Curiosity Dominates.
One thing that is observable is the
apathy with which the curious gaze
upon scenes of this nature, and have
seldom. unless when their sympathleS
are called forth by some striking and
extraordinary circumstance, the crowd
evlnces any interest deeper than that
of callous. unthinking. brutal curiosity.
The crowd outside the little courthouse
lOked, jUstled, engaged in little discus
sonS with the same unfeelng indif-
ference as if they were assembled to
see some holiday sports or a parade.
Occasionally this behavior was eX
changed for a touch of human tender
ness, and this Chanced when the gray
haired father of the prisoner made his
appearance.
If ever there was picture of dlgniied
melancholy the sorrow bowed, white
haired man whose best-loved son is fight
ing for his life in the tiny Chester
field county courthouse presents one
today, and whatever resentment the
populace may feel against the young
man, there is a universal feeling of
kindness for the aristocratic featured
old man. whose face suggests a hope
less today, and tomorrow that holds
no promise.
Difference for Beattie, Sr.
Tall, slender, with bowed shoulders
and a pathetic droop of the figure, there
was much that was pitiful in his ap-
pearance as he slowly made his way
across the green sward of the lawn sur
rounding the court house, while the
shutters of countless cameras clicked.
Even the chatter from the fringe of
small, tanned legged, barefoot boys was
hushed as the old man made his way
across the green sward to the clerk s
office, where he posed for his photo
graph, seating himself wearily on the
lowest step of the granite staircase.
Henry Clay Beattie. jr.. came in grin
ming through a double lane of tostling,
pushing humanity. He is a type of the
good fellow who blows in his money for
a good time. There was a slight trace
of terror in his unblinking blue eyes
that contracted strangely with the air
Of bravadO that was undoubtedly as
sumed for the occasion. His appearance
was that of the youths that occupy the
clothing advertisements in the back of
the magazines. His high, white collar
showed in relief against the tan face
and neck that even his five weeks Of
Imprisonment has not entirely eradi-
Gated. navy blue crochet necktfo was
in perfect harmony with the pepper and
salt colcr of his well-fitting suit. He
swayed a little as he entered the court
room, as though he were dizzy. He
seemed weak. and asked for glass of
water and Immediately afterward he
engaged in conversation with the news
paper correspondents, who seemed to
fill, and overflow the court room.