The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-22
I VEL v { NAMES
ALREADY PICKED
Witnesses to Beattic Execution
Will Be Formally Summoned
by Major Wood To-Day.
MANY SEEKING ADMISSION
Final Chapter in Virginia Muir
der Will BE Closed on
Friday Morning.

Invitations to twelve respectable
citizens" to witness the electrocution
Of Henry Clay Beattie, Jr.. between the
hours of and 1890 O'clock on Friday
morning. will be sent out to-day from
the State 1'enitentiary. Their names
VIII not be made public, according to
inc plan now contemplated by Super
'htehdent James b. Wood. OF course,
any witness sees ut to publish the
iact mat he was present when the
sentence OF the court was carried out,
nc Is at liberty to do SO.
The names of these twelve men will
be selected from among those who
nave applied for admission, SO that
those who state that they saw the final
Tragedy VIII have previously sought
PERMISSION to be witnesses. Major
wood has favored no personal friends
but has chosen men who he believes
VIII be discreet in what they say re-
| Sarding the electrocution
No Reporters Present
As previously announced. no news
paper man Will be invited While In
the past representatives OF the local
press nave been summoned" they
nave seen singled out as citizens.
aud not because they have been asso.
ciatcd with newspapers. This rule mas
been followed during the incumbency
Oh MAJOR Wood. although II did not
btain previously, for reporters were
admitted as such for some time afte,
the electric chair at the State prison
was substituted for the gallows in tho
county jails
During the past year or two the APP
plications have been in most instances
To
Der. ana 1t has been found necessary
10 send out invitations. or technically
suInfnonses." In view of this diff
Guilty. which frequently arose, the last
General Assembly. at Major woods
request, reduced the minimum OF wit
nesses from twelve TO SIX. the maxi
mum remaining at dozen.
In the few cases when the demand
has exceeded the total required, Major
wood has placed the requests In box
ana drawn at random until twelve
names were secured these being sum
moned
Governor Without Jurisdiction.
IL Is recalled that just after Gov
ernor Mann Went into office he issued
three permits to view an execution
1t happened that Major Wood was
short OF witnesses that morning, and
thcY were admitted. Later the super
intendcnt and the Governor went into
the law together and the executive
agreed that he had no rights In the
matter, and has Issued no permits
since. Consequently. any attempt 10
get admission through Governor Mann
would be futile, for he is without au-
thority in the premises
The statute SO plainly places the SUI
nerintendent in complete control that
the directors have declined to have
anything to say. and Major Wood Is
conducting the preparations accord
ing To his own wishes.
In Prnycrful Mood.
The prisoner has far made 40
definite profession of religion. although
he is devotinS n great deal of his
time in preparation for the sudden
ending of his life. He prays repeated
lN. and Is In an attitude OF mental
suppl'cation and contrition. Rev Ben
jhmi!- Dennis, the Episcopal minister,
who took him the final news OF the
Governors refusal TO interfere with
the sentence of the court. calls on
Beattie at least once every day in his
cell. and on most days he sees him
two or three times. Rev j. J. Fix. OF
Porter Street Presbyterian Church
the home congregation of II. C. Beat
tic. ST., calls less frequently. his visits
not averaging as many as one each
day.
Members of the prisoners immediate
family see him every day. They went
to the penitentiary yesterday after
noon, remaining for some time. His
attorneys have conversed with him
at times since the final Judgment was
rendered and since all hope fled.
Prisoner Rcmnins Well
Bcattie's appetite is good and no
change has been noted in his physical
condition. lie reads the daily papers,
spends good deal OF time with his
Bible. and has two or three magazines
in his cell, which he has read caro-
fully. Such privileges as these are
given him without question. follow
ing the rule in the treatment OF con
demned criminals. He uses tobacco
according to his own inclination, hay
ing carried supply of cigarettes into
the prison when taken there on No
vcmber S.
Governor Mann continues 10 receive
letters regarding the case. the writer's
as before, taking different views of
the executives action No one has
approached him in Realities behalf In
person. since the final appeal was made
by II. NJ. Smith. Jr.. and Hill Carter,
the attorneys for the defense