Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-07-19
MURDERER Of RICHMOND
GIRL IS NOT LOCATED.
Mrs. Beattie of Richmond Killed by
Unknown Man Last Night While
AutOmObiling.
Especial Correspondence

Richmond, Va, July 19.-Up to onc
O'Clock today no arrests had been mad
in connection with the murder OF Mrs
Beattie who was shot last night while
automobiling with her husband in
Chesterfield county. The scene OF the
crime is alive with detectives and off
GERS are using two packs OF blood
hounds. The dogs however have struck
close to tie road although Mr.. Bea!tie
says that the murderer, after lis fiendsh
act, .darted off through the woods. The
gun used by the murderer was fou..d
this morning. According to Beattie he
got possession OF this last night when he
grappled with the assassin. Evidently
it had been jolted out Of bis machine
as he bore his wife's body home. The
finding Of the weapon corroboratcs thd
husbands story. A white man living
in the vicinity OF the crime is suspected
by the police but officers yet lack evid-
ence TO justify his arrest
While returning to Richmond il 4
motor car from Chesterfield county
last night, Mrs. II. C. Beattie, jr., was
SHOT and instantly killed by an un-
identified white man, who escaped.
The shooting occurred an the Mid
lothian turnpike, five miles from Rich.
mond. Police and county officers with
bloodhounds are searching for til"
slayer, who is described to be man
with long beard. Mr.. Beattie Was
driving the car and slowed down as@hc
saw q man walk into the middle OF the
road, directly in front Of him. As
Beattie put on brakes, the stranger
cried, You had better run over me.
You have got all the road" said Beat.
tie, and then he put on the power and
started to pass. The man raised a shot
gun he was carrying and fired at =
close range at the couple in the car.
The entire load entered Mrs. BeattieS'
face, blowing off the top OF her head.
Mr. Beattie jumped from the car AMI
grappled with the slayer, who gave
him q smashing blow across the face
with the butt OF bis gun, leaving an
ugly mark. They fought for me
ment, and al Beattie got possession Of
the weapon the stranger disappeared.
Springing back into his car, Mr.. Beat
tie was Mortified to find the bleeding
body OF his wife lying across the seat.
He tossed the shotgun into the tonncau
and started the car for Richmond,
steering the car with one hand, while
he held the body with the other lie
drove five miles to the home of 4 friend
and gave the alarm. Mrs Bealtic wa
only % years old. She was married =
year ago. She was the vile OF de
partment store owner and banker in
South Richmond. Every nigh: for the
last two weeks the Beattes had been
motoring with their baby, but last
night it was left at home.
Washington, July 19.-"My God.
My daughter" cried a gray-haircd
man this morning when his eye
fell upon newpaper article tell
ing OF the shooting OF Mrs. II. c.
Beattie, jr., in Richmond, Va, last
night. Excitedly clutchng the paper,
he staggered from the cafe in the
Union Station and boarded train for
the home Of his daughter, there to find
her mutilatcd body and to mourn with
her husband, WHO vas with her when
she was shot and killed by an unidcnti
fled man last night.