The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-09-05
.BEATTIE's STORY IS
PUNCTURED BY
WITNESSES
Prisoners Story That He Did Not See
His Cousin, Paul, On Thursday
Night Is Flstly Con-
tradicted.
Accused Nan Il III at Ease A. Wit.
nesses Swear He Had Not
Told the Truth.

CHESTERFIELD COURTHOUSE.
Va. Sept. b.--Half dozen witnesses
today tore q great hole In the careful.
glib. emotionless story told BY Henry
Clay Beattie. Jr.. In his ordeal to save
himself from the electric cnair for the
murder OF his wife.
As soon as the accused man Ieft
the stand. the prosecution began its
attack on Beattie's story.
For the next several hours his YER
sion Of events were under fire. Before
recess was taken he had been fiafly
contradicted In the statement that
he didn't see his cousin Paul. on tho
Thursday night before the crime. The
cumulative effect OF this testimony
practically upset that portion Of Beat
ties story. The prosecution believed
that this flaw in his story would prQln
to the jury that none Of his story was
to be relied upon.
During the noon recess Special Pros
ecutor Wendenburg predicted that the
case would 60 to the jury some time
Friday or Saturday.
we expect to close our rebuttal
this afternoon" he said. And It IL
possible the defense will be able TO
finish their case In rebuttal tomorrow.
We will consume at least one day In
argument and the judges charge and
after that the closing arguments IN
the case will take day or two.
"will you call Beulah Binford?' he
was asked
Not unless ind that our case Il
In desperate straits"
Seven minutes suficed to conclude
Beattie's ordeal when court convened
today.
The main lines OF this case have
been fully developed" said Judge Wat
SON. "and the court believes that Il
II not necessary to make the examina-
ton Of the prisoner q test OF endu-
rance. The time has arrived when
l the court feels justified IN placing
some limitation on counsel.
1.-TWO hours and half on direct and
three hours and a half on GROSS exam.
iinntion has covered the case fully and
the court will allow one hour more
OF examination and half an hour on
redirect"
Wendenburg declared he only wish
ed to ask few questions and after
endeavoring In vain to secure some
sort Of an admission as to the owner
ship Of the gun he finished.
A sigh of relief burst from the lips
OF the accused man and he smiled
confidently as Smith waived his re-
direct examination. The ordeal past,
Beattie, with firm step, went back to
his seat beside his father who lean
ed over and kissed him.
The defense closes. announced
wendenburg and he then began his
rebuttal.
Harry Latham was the first witness.
tHe was the opening Of the attack on
Harry's denial of the story of Paul.
as to the events on the Thursday
night before the crime. Latham de-
clared that he heard Henry Beattie
call up number on the telephone
and say: Meet me at Short and
Main streets In half an hour. I'll be
there"
Short and Main streets IL where
Paul said he met his cousin. Yester.
day Beattie categorically denied all
of Latham's testimony.
wendenburg's evident intention
was to discredit this point of Hen
ry's story and then to force the In
ference that the whole tale was false.
lSmith fought bitterly against admit.
ttIng Latham's testimony and at ono
point the jury was excused while the
lawyers argued.
| Judge Watson admitted Latham's
Testimony and Wendenburg continued
his cross-examination. The witness
declared he had heard Beattie tell
another young man standing nearby
that he was going ''as far az Main
and Short streets"
! Smith, on cross examination. en-
deavored to show that the witness
had been coached" by the prosecu-
ton.
Latham's story was not damaged
under cross-examination w. r.. Hart.
called to corroborate him, said he saw
Beattie at the same time that Latham
did.
"He told me after he telephoned."
said Hart, that he expected to take
Paul and his wife out riding and that
he was going to Short and Main sts.
After Smith had failed 70 shake
Hart,s story, Mrs. A. b. Houchcns,
mother-in-law of Paul Beattie. was
called. She declared that at o'clock
on Thursday before the murder she
answered the telephone at Paufs
home.
II asked who II was and the man
Mt the other end said he was Henry
eBattie. He asked for Paul. I heard
Paul say You went 20 see me az Short
and Main-stsY ALI right I'll be there.
Mrs Houchens said that Paul then
went out.
when he returned" she continued.
''he called up Mrs. Fischer"
Mrs. Fischer" was the name as
sumad by Benlah Binford. Mrs.
Houchens declared that she saw Paul
come home that night In an automo-
bile and heard him say as he left the
car:
Good night. Henry
what time did Paul come home
that Saturday night" asked Wcnaen-
burg.
~Just at II O'Clock heard clock
strike"
Under ross-examination- smith en-.
deavored to show that the family Or
paul has been acting througnout tne
case 10 protect Paul He and Wenoeor
ecs.si--es % F.ee s<tv~l