The Washington herald., 1911-08-29

Chesterfield Court House. Aug. 2S.-
Just before court convened, Attorney
Louis Wendenberg announced that the
Commonwealth had decided to have
Mrs. Binford. mother of the girl in the
case. follow Scherer upon the stand.
Court was late in getting down to busi-
ness to-day because of difficulty ex-
perienced by Judge Watson in getting
transportation from Centralia to Ches-
;erfeld Court House.
The purpose of the Commonwealth
was to establish the motive for the
crime through the evidence of the girl 5
mother Attorney Wendenberg stateu
that Paul Beattie would follow Mrs
RinfOrd and that the State expected 10
7linch its case with the evidence OF
these two witnesses.
The cross examination of DetectNe
Scherer was begun as soon as court
vas called TO order.
Scherer admitted that he had had
charge, of getting together the case
saving: i've been busy night and DAY
on 1t ever since the murder.
The defense made a special point OF
this in order to impress upon the jury
hat SCherer's testimony was backed by
the pride of authorship"
The defense asked if Beulah Binford
and Paul Beattie had not been in jail
ever since the COrOner's inquest. Wit
ness said yes and added that he had
lad interviews with them.
Conferred with BeuInh.
He had talked the case over with
Paul Beattie but twice, he said, but had
frequently discussed it with Beulah
Rinford. Scherer said he had seen the
girl in her cell in the Henrico County
jail between twenty and twenty-five
times
Scherer was asked if Beattie after
ward told him that the reason he failed
TO stop at any Of the houses along the
road after his wife was shot was that
NJ knew that DR.. Mercer was then at his
wIfe's uncIe'S. Witness said "Beattie told
ne he didn't know his wife was dead. that
"a, ;ricd to feel her pulse and heart, but
cOUl4 not tell much about it. He said
that the only stop he made was to fix
mis- LIGHTS
The only witness I found for the de-
tense is a man named George Jones. and
[ asked him to he here to-day, said
Scherrr. who was then excused. Scherer
was halted rs he was leaving the stand
and on redirect examination stated that
Reuttic told him that the only time he
halted lis car after the murder was once
20 fix his LIGHTS.
The witness was called upon by the
state to describe the condition of the
fusrpan under the Reattie Automobile
He had pictured it as such that no blood
that could have flowed into it possibly
could have run out. as the outlet was
sealed with grease.
Mrs. owen stand.
Mrs Pobert Y. owen. mother Of the
murdered Wife. was next called to the
stand Her appearance was a complete
surprise to every one in the court room,
as it had been previously stated that
neither she nor her husband would come
here from their home in Dover, Del, TO
testify. She WAS escorted into the court
room CARRIED in deep mourning by her
broth. r-in-IaW. Peniamin owen.
When she first took the witness chair
she lifted her veil and took a long look
at Henry Reattie in the prisoners dock.
Her ewes were hard and cold as she
stared ~ HIM. and not a gleam of.
RECOGNITION passed between them
Mrs owen apparently is woman
Of about nfty-fve years. She was calm
and S"If-pOSS'~-'d on th'. stand. Asked
II her daughter had lived happily with
Fcatrie She replied.
"She did not seem happy and had
frequent CRYING spells"
Asked rhe cause Of her sorrow the
mother said she did not know. She
never told me. she replied.
In answer TO counsel, the witness said
h"r daughter had once shown her Beat
lies underwear. The prosecution said
Il was proposed to show by this line that
III" young wife had ample cause to look
sad.
Course Halted by Judge.
This course was halted by the judge.
who said he would go with counsel into
the jury room later and listen to argu-
ment in the matter.
Mrs owen was then questioned as to
m" frequency Of Beattie's visits TO the
j'Wou nome. where she. the mother. was
visiting when her daughter was killed.
Ibid Mrs Reattie have a reason TO go
along with her husband on the fatal
night" witness was asked. An OhjeC-
tirn was entered and Judge Watson then
adjourned with counsel to the jury room
To argue this and the preceding point.
Robert Y. owen. father of the muir
i"r"d girl. st"wI under a tree in the
court ward while his wife was on the
stand. While court and counsel were
arguing points in the jury room, the
clerk Of the court stated that it had mot
been determined whether Mr.. Owen
would lie called 70 the witness chair.
After one and one-half hours delibe-
Erau"n. the court ruled that the evil
i"n'r was competent and the eXamina-
u"n Of Mrs. owen was continued
Mrs. owens testimony WAS to the eff
feet that her daughter showed her
physical evidence that Henry Beattie
had a Ioathsome disease within two
weeks of the murder
Not Invited Motor.
Mrs. Owen testified that she was not
invited 10 he one Of the automobile
party on the night of the murder.
Asked II Reattie said anything when
he returned with her daughters body.
she replied:
Il asked, Who could have been so
cruel as to kill my angel girl?'
He replied: Take me out into the
road and left the room
Beattie showed more perturbation
throughout Mrs. Owens testimony than
at any time during the trial He was
in anxious conversation with Harry
Smith throughout it and prompted ques-
tions designed to throw doubt on the
fact that the underwear exhibited was