The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-19
SING HYMNS As
BEATT|E RET|REs
STRONG VOICED DARKIES MAKE
CITY PRISON RING WITH
REAL MELODY.
HENRY ENJOYS MUSIC
FATHER AND BROTHER VISIT
CONDEMNED MAN IN GELD.
CRANK LETTERS AMUsE
PRISONER.
HENRY ENJOYS MUSIC

Lusty lunged negroes, in chorus.
sang hymns last night In the city
jail as Henry Clay Beattie. Jr.. was
going to bed.
Their voices rang out through the
early night far beyond the prison
and across the valley.
Nearer. My God, 20 Thee" they
chorused, and then they sang that
q old revival hymn. oh. Come
and Won't You Go Where Joy Never
Dies"
Henry enjoyed the singing. for it
was real music, and he is fond Of
music
That's better than being out In
the woods" ne remarked. with only
the crickets and the frogs 20 hull q
man to sleep"
The dusky-hued soigsters closed
their last hymn promptly at F.
NJ, Just as Henry rolled over on
his cot for long nights repose.
Henry Sleeps Well
The convicted young wife-slayer
sleeps well, his keepers say At
least. he slept unusually we'll sun
day night following his ride from
Chesterfield, and 1t took him bat a
short while last night to reach the
Land Of Nod.
As customary. Beattie spent the
day reading magazines and neWspa-
pers. He also found some amuse-
ment In glancing through some half
q dozen or moro letters from cranks.
all Of whom confessed TO doing the
deed charged against him
IF lat ria n
he told his guard. after perasing the
choice ones in his possession.
Yesterday morning Douglass Beat
tie visited his brother in jail, AND N
the afternoon the elder Reatue came
that sturdy white-naired old father
who has remained steadtast 10 ms
son and namssake through all the
irving ordeal since the night OF july
u. when Henry wife was foaiiy
murdered.
Always Kisses son.
Never does the father fall To I'M
plant kiss on the lips OF his faF@rl''
son when he greets him. Nor does liz
fail 70 give him announcement. eFe'
though the chances Gf escape from
the electric chair seem but sim
Mr. Beattia remained with his sot
for nearly en- hour. Then he haa+
HIM good night, fer it was getflhA
late and the EhAdcS OF evening WV
beglnning to fan about the gloom.
prison.
I'm be back tomorrow, son, a.
mid. as he LEFT Henry In his cell
From now on. the Rev J. FlA
pastor OF Porter-Street Presbyteriaf
church. Will he one of Henrys con
slant visitors. He has been ask"d 4
serve as spiritual adviser by Henry
father. who has been an elder III fof
ter-Street church fer many years
Henry "a Hackslidcr.
Henry was once g mefnb or TN
church himself. In fact. his name I
still on the roll. according To the pas
tors wife. who was asked about ia
matter yesterday, But Henry ma
been Il backsiider the last few years
He Joined the church when quite
youth. II is said
II Henry clay Hvatte. il, 81 Il
feAses 10 the crime Of whiCh he st@l.f
convicted, he viii Doubtless Hnoosan
his secret To the Porter-S,ree minis
ter, Mctcue. in has last moments
confessed to his minister. who VA
also of the Presbyterian faith. III
conscience would not let him go {
the gailows without admitting that n
slew his wife. though he did IL in tn
heat of passion. as those familia
with his case. believe.
VIII Beattie confess There ar
fev who believe that he will.