Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-05
Prisoners Main Witnesses
Are Discredited in
RebuttaI.
PAUL CORROBORATED
Accused Declares Bullet Fired
by HighWayman Killed
Wife in Automobile.

Chesterfield Court House, Va, Sept.
6.-Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., indicted
for wife murder, resumed the witness
stand at the opening OF court today.
Prosecutor Wendenburg resumed the
cross-examination. 1t lasted but a few
moments, the state asking less than
half dozen questions. He was asked
to explain how the same gun which
it is alleged his cousin bought Satur-
day night was in the woods on the Mid
lothian turnpike that night. Beattie
declared he knew nothing about the
gun until the highwayman raised it.
An inquiry concerning Beattie's uncer-
tainty as to whether he would take
his wife out in the auto that night
ended his examination and he was ex-
cused.
PRISONERS STORY ATTACKED.
Immediately following the conclu-
sion of Henry Beattie's examination,
the commonwealth began an attack
upon the prisoners story. The re
buttal was practically an attempt TO
corroborate Paul Beattie as to his
alleged meeting with Henry Thurs
day night to arrange for the delivery
of the shot gun to his cousin On the
Saturday following Several wit
nesses testified they saw the two cou-
sins together Thursday, and Mrs. J.
Houchens, mother-in-law OF Paul,
stated Henry brought Paul home in
a machine that same evening.
WITNESSES SUSTAIN PAUL.
A second point taken up by the
commonwealth was an assault on e
Fl. Neblitt's testimony that Paul had
a shot gun on the bridge where hs
worked the Sunday following the
night of the alleged transfer of the
gun to Henry. The witnesses sus-
tanned Paul that he had no gun az
the bridge that day and one man said
he was there during the time Of
Neblitt's visit and saw no gun.
NOT TO CALL GIRL.
The prosecutor during recess said
that the prosecution would not call
Beulah Binford as a witness unless
their case assumed "a more desperate
aspect than is now presented He gave
as a reason that the state is well
aware ~Beulah and Henry had been I'm
communication with each other while
she had been in jail, and we hesitate
to put her on the stand because we
know she will try TO help out the pris-
oner."
TELLS OF AN ATTACK.
The prisoner sat for hours yesterday
his manner cool and collected, unfold
ing the details of his relations with
Beulah Binford, a 17-year-old girl for
whom, the prosecution alleges Beattie
killed his bride OF a year. lie also
told his story of an attack by a high
wayman, the shooting Of his wife, the
wild ride 10 a neighbor's home at a
speed Of 80 miles an hour with the
lifeless body of his wife i'm the ma
chine beside him.
He categorically denied he knew
anything Of the purchase by his cous-
in, Paul Beattie, Of the shotgun with
which his wife was killed. He like
wise contradicted the testimony of his
cousin with regard to the alleged con
fession in which he Is supposed to
have said to Paul: Il wish hadn't
done It,"
DONs BLOOD STAINED COAT.
The prisoner by request OF the pros
ecution, donned the blood stained coat
he wore the night of the murder and
attempted to explain why blood had
not aecked certain portions Of the gar.
ment If his wife was reclined against
him an the way he described.
That is was his wife who suggested
the ride on the Midlothian turnpike
after they were nearing the Owen
home on their return from the drug
store where they went 20 get a pre-
scrlption filled was the statement Of
the prisoner as to the occasion Of the
Inflated ride, but when on cross exam.
ination Prosecutor Wendenburg asked
CContinped ON pa1. FIv.1