The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-07-27

took witness in hand and asked him to
| relate what happened the fatal ride of
Coroner Loving suggested that wit
ness hrst state his name, age and resi-
Replying. witness said that his name
was Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., that his
age was twenty-siX and that his resi-
Richmond.
Here Beattie's statement began. I
left Mr.. Thomas +. Owens home, on
North Road, 70 go downtown to get a
That was about 10 o'clock. went to
W aShington * Early's, at head OF
Hull Street; store was closed. but
door and clerk opened it, Clerk took
prescription. Witness stood on step OF
auto talking to Wife. She wanted
some candy, Got IT for her. They re-
turned up Midloth Road and Mrs.
bSSGa d suggested that they so for
r riI9; A a 5iiei, auto passed them,
Inc two kicked up much dust En-
countered a third one. Wife Suggest
of the dust.
Give them some Of what they
nave been giving US" she said. ac-
cording to witness. Went up road
considerable distance and retuned.
About one-half mile Of turning poinI
T T ne saw object ahead of car.
Object in road. a man. to left Of
car, demanded, What in the h are
YOU trying to do-run over me9"
witness staretd car, when the man
IN the road raised a gun he held i'm
his hand and fired Car had ierI,ad
forward. The man fired Doint Mani
ihe charge striking Mrs. Beattie. who
was seated at his side. Witness lean
ed from machine and grappled win
ms ms asSalIant- After a struggle, dur
ing when witness was struck over
mead by the man with the gun. he
secured the weapon and the force
threw him to the ground. Returned
10 car and looked after his wife.
was excited and didn't know
Whether my wife was dead or not"
Mi.ness SAID. Lifted her TO seat and
returned to Thomas Owens home.
stopped once to fix lights
IN answer to question from Com
monwealth's Attorney, witness said
Ihat the man was about q couple OF
yards from car.
Witness was asked to state exact
position OF himself when the gun was
Ired. Replied that he was Ieanin~
forward over the wheel.
Commonwealth's Attorney wanted
20 Know now Tar witness back was
About fourteen inches" witness
replied. a tape measure was obtain
cd and the distance, as indicated nv
witness, was determined to be nine
teen inches. Witness head was
tHo inches from his head and
the small of the back six inches
IheSe questions seemed trivial hut
may nave a direct bearing on subse-
Quent events
The elder Beattie is now seated nv
the side of his son.
In reply TO question. witness said
he had hold of brake and wheel
Witness was sitting in right hand
front seat. manu-
road. Tic
stopped only when he got but 70
lN !lghts; then only few seconds.
About two minutes had elansad
from the time of shooting and when
s0t out. Was about half way home
or 1. h. owens house, when this oc.
CURED. witness visited scene later
and was shown blood stains. DID not
know OF blood stain until next daV
Does not know whether shooting TOOK
pace where stains were found or MOI
TOOK 1t for granted. Douglas Beattie
and number of others accompanied
witness to scene Wednesday morning.
w. a. Jacob and man with dogs''
was in car. Could not recall names
or others. Several other cars were
on scene. Deputy Sheriff Webb Svd-
nor was on the scene. Common
Wealths Attorney wanted to know If
any SIlOIC was mdue TO place car i'm
exact spot where it stood when shoot
ing occurred, that the dogs might he
led to the spot where the man who
fired had stood. This was not done
until Wednesday afternoon.
why was that done?" the Com
monwealth's Attorney asked.
TO incriminate me-" witness re-
3hed. When they couldn't hit upon
some one else. / knew 10y their (de-
tectives) questions that they were try
ing TO incriminate me-"
Remarked upon returning home
that a number Of fool questions"
were asked him that had no hearing
on the case"
Asked why he thought thew were |
trying to incriminate him, witness re-
peated number of the fool oues-
lions asked him such as at what point
ne alighted, etc.
About five minutes elapsed between
The time OF his scuf1e with the man
ana the moment he returned to his
wire. The whole occurrence took y
ttIe over five minutes
Felt Wife's pulse and heart. Some
II witness answers were regarded
~ some as impertinent Witness
made no secret OF the fact that he
NEW from the first time he was oues-
Toned by the detectives that thew were
rylng to implicate him.
Going over ground already coverad
he Commemorative Attorney asked
witness went home with medicine
OF Mrs owen. Said that he did not.
3 Dr. Mercer, who prescribed, said