The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-09-07
.BEATTIE VERDICT SOON
Prisoner Hopeful, as Shown by
His Acts.
TESTIMONY IS ALL IN, ETC, ETC

Only the oratory of lawyers and
the deliberation OF jurors now re-
main between II. c. Beattie, jr,
and the few words which will
either send him to the electric chair
or 10 freedom.
The taking of evidence ended
Tuesday evening.
Wednesday afternoon his counsel,
Harry Smith, and Prosecutor Wen
denberg will argue in private as
to how Judge Watson should charge
the Jury. Then on Thursday the
addresses to the jury will be made,
and by Friday the twelve Chester
/ field farmers will retire for their
momentous balloting. A verdict
should be had Friday or Saturday.
The most natural inquiry perhaps
is: How does young Beattie feel
about the situation. Reply may be
had from this incident:
Beattie was looking out of an
anteroom Tuesday at 2 o'clock, just
| finishing his dinner. He saw
group OF five young girls from his
home town. South Richmond, who
were chatting with some specta-
tors and correspondents. He waved
to them and they drew near his
window.
Il hope pretty soon, girls, Wen
all be out on a Joy ride togeth-
! err" he said grinningly.
I'VE certainly hope so, Henry;
we wish you all the luck in the
world" returned the girls. who were
all old friends OF his. But their
countenances we're by no means so
hopeful as his. He apparently no.
ticed this. and said voluntarily:
Don't worry; it's a sure thing.
II young Beattie really thought
so he was alone In his opinion. Even
/ his relatives and most intimate
friends would predict no such thing,
though most OF them believe dis
agreement OF the jury will be
the result of the tfial. They based
this merely upon supposition that
his story OF a highwayman having
slain his wife may have created
enough reasonable doubt in the
minds of several jurors to hang the
rest and prevent a verdict
The young defendant, pale but
nervy. took the stand to resume
the ordeal Of cross-examination al
the beginning of Tuesdays session.
He was very self-confident in the
knowledge that he had not broken
down-though he had suffered some
severe blows under the attack by
Prosecutor Wendenberg.
How was it," demanded the
prosecutor, that at the very time
you reached the spot where you
say the highwayman killed your wife
the gun which your cousin, Paul
Beattie. bought for you was there
in the highwayman's hands|
Il didn't know anything about
any gun Paul bought" retort-
ed Henry.
its big play in the argument;
How could unknown highwaman
have In his possession a weapon
which Paul Beattie bought and
SAYS he delivered to Henry?'
That Paul bought the gun is GER
tain. The pawnbrokers who sold II
have sworn so. The fact is taken
even by the defense as uncontroyer-
tible. although Henry denies that
Paul ever gave It to him, or that
he had knowledge of it.
How did that gum repeated
Prosecutor Wendenberg, happen to
be at that spot waiting to kill your
wife?"
81 cannot give any explanation, y
said Beattie, placidly.
That's ALL" snapped the States
lawyer, and the youths ordeal was
over.
The defense Of Beattie, IT,, was
a complete denial of the story OF
his cousin Paul. Paul swore that
in the first place, Henry met him
at Short and Main streets, Rich
mond. On the Thursday night be-
; fore the murder-that was on Tues
dav. Lnly 1S-and commissioned hin
/ to buy a shotgun. Then, Paul ties
! titled. he delivered the gun tc
! Henry on the Saturday night after
I the purchase. Finally, that after
} the homicide, Henry begged hin
to keep quiet about the gun pur,
! chase. and confessed that he had
{ slain his bride.
Henry in his cross-examinatioi
B swore that he had not met Nil
cousin on the Thursday night, an6
= Prosecutor Wendenberg declared h
s would produce witnesses to Prov
3 that the meeting had taken place
b Before he did so, he said to the
Jurors:
e Have you gentlemen any ques
lions to ask Henry Clay Beat
tie. jr.?" To a man they SHOOT
their heads negatively. This wa
I regarded as a bad sign for the DO,
b on trial, indicating, perhaps, tina
0 they had made up their mind
y about his story of the highwayTan
e The defense having closed witt
1 Beattie's last answer, the Stat
put on in rebuttal Harry Latham
e one Of Beattie's own friends. HI
swore that he heard the defendan