The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-09-09

commonwealth and the defense in
the trial Of Henry Clay Beattie, Jr.,
indicted for the murder Of his wife,
closed the evidence in the case short
ly after s o'clock tonight. Judge Wat
son stretched his arms wearily, yawn-
ed audibly and with sigh Of relief
announced that court would adjourn
until Thursday morning. tomorrow, to
be devoted to argument Of counsel
with the court as to the instructions
to be given the jury before the argu-
ment proper is begun on Thursday.
When court adjourned tonight Beu-
lah Binford. the girl in the case"
alleged by the prosecution to have
been the motive for the murder by
Beattie Of his young wife. still was
In jail without having uttered a sim
gle word Of testimony. Scarcely an
hour had passed in the IL days OF
testimony when her name was not
on the lips Of witnesses or counsel,
for either side.
Admittedly fearing that she would
scrupulously avoid injuring the case
OF her former companion at any cost,
though statements and interviewers
galore had fortified the prosecution
with what ii regarded as all necessary
information. the commonwealth did
not put her on the stand.
We have proved that she was the
motive for the crime" said Prosecu-
tor Wendenburg tonight, without
hearing her testimony as our witness,
and the admissions Of the prisoner
himself have told the jury enough"
Another figure, Paul Beattie. cousin
OF the accused. whose confession con-
corning the purchase Of a shotgun for
Henri four days before the homicide
led &. the building of the case FOR
Tho 1secution. hkewise was kept in
jail. out both ne and the Btnford eirl
are likely To be released tomorrow.
Judge Watson explained his attitude
toward her continued Imprisonment
by saying in the court room yesterday
that unless the girl was to be put on
the witness stand he wished 'to turn
her loose"
The closing of the case was sudden.
Harry NJ. Smith and Hill Carter, at
torneys for the defense. first an
nounced that they had few witnesses
for the sur-rebuttal. but IL the COM
monwealth would agree to rest its
case they would do likewise. The
agreement was accepted. and Judge
Watson arranged to meet counsel for
both sides in Richmond tomorrow In
a conference concerning instructions
to be given to the jury. The prisoner
will be kept in confinement in the
Jail at Chesterfield and the Jury also
will remain In the hamlet.
The taking of evidence today was
along no we'll connected line, the
prosecution. after completing its
short cross-examination Of the pris-
oner. taking up scattered points in the
evidence. From one feature of the
case to another the prosecution skim
med in its efforts to corroborate GER
tain points In the case IL had built I'D
previously. but most conspicuous was
the direct attack on the testimony of
the prisoner.
The single question Of importance
that the prosecution put to the ac-
cused in its brief cross-examination
early today was the one on which the
commonwealth has been basing prac-
ticaliy It's whole case against him. The
prosecution wanted to know how it
happened that a gun. admittedly pur-
chased by cousin of Henry CLAW
Beattie. Jr. and identified by wit
nesses for the defense as having been
purchased on the Saturday before the
murder. came TO be In the hands OF
Beattie on the Midlothian turnpike
four days later.
The prisoner answered simply tina,
he knew nothing OF the purchase OF
any gun by Paul and did not see the
weapon till 1t was raised by the lone
highwayman. The prosecution here
rested the examination and thereupon
began the introduction Of witnesses
to discredit the testimony OF the ac.
cused.
The attack. II was evident. was con.
Quoted by the prosecution on the
theory that N one or two important
points in the story Of the prisoner
could be dscredited the case would
b. established.
The commonwealth introduced sew