New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-09

November "a fixed for the execution.
Chesterfield Court House. Va. SEPT. 8
Twelve Virginia farmers knelt at dusk
tonight In the obscurity Of the small
Jury room Ct Chesterfield Court House.
praying fervently that they might pass
Judgment Alright on Henry Clay Beat
tie tr. indicted for the murder OF his
wife. Grimly determined. they arose n
moment later and quietly. one by one'
recorded unanimous verdict OK
Guilty"
Pausing in solemn contemplation foe
ffty-eight minutes. weighing carefully
the meaning OF their decision, and once
more on bended knees boseeching Di-
vine assistance that they might not err,
they filed into the hushed stiffness OF a
crowded courtroom, and with startling
suddenness twelve voices. instead OF the
usual one of the foreman. spoke the
single word Guilty" II was almost
shout.
The spectre of death which stalked
Midlothian turnpike on July IS last.
when the lie Of Mrs. Louise owen Beat
tie was taken away with the single re-
port Of shotgun. stared hard at the
young husband. ready to claim it's victim
| in the electric chair on Friday, Novem-
Der II next But the prisoner returned
the gaze. answering and unafraid.
The Court Of Appeals. TO be sure. VIII
be asked 70 grant a writ Of error and a
new trial. Young Beattie, cognizant OF
the legal weapons yet at his disposal,
did not surrender. Instead. he consoled
his broken down father white haired and
vrinkled. and comforted him as he whis-
pered:
Il haven't lost yet. father
Dramatic Climax Of Virginia Justice.
Unusual as had been the tragedy. the
twelve jurymen did not hesitate to admit
to their friends that they stood In )uds-
ment not only on the coldblooded muir
der but upon Beattie's marital inhdehty
as we'll. II perhaps was the dramatic
! cIimax Of Virginia justice, which in the
last half century has swiftly sent 10
death such famous murderers as Gu
verius. Phillips and McCue.
AT the close Of powerful ADDRESS py
IT, q Wendenburg, the voluntary as
siotant Of the commonwealth in the case
,bo susnense was felt not alone IN the
courtroom, but in Richmond "her'
thousands of people awaited the ou'-
come.
The Jury had for eleven days heard
Guidance for two days speeches, but tne
yords of Mr.. Wendenburg rang in their
ears as they left the courtroom 10 '"u
their verdict. -,
ia, that man go free?" he cried
! What. let that man go freeE
"Iyhv. the motherhood OF virginia tie
or,arbood OF this nation Will shudder
T.. .orror as the security OF its life Is
.I ., ,b,s man go free. The man VINO
.o.,od IN the degraded sunshine ot an
~.hor ,yoman while at his home young
u,,o nnrsed his child? Gentlemen
.,,. ask Won in the name of justice
70 do your duty" -,
In vivid detail the prosecutor po'''"Se
the wife as she started on her ihiio'e'
tourney into the cool air OF su'''li'e'
n,oht The jury saw again III ''e'
minds the automobile in when she ro'e
no.ida ber husband, how Beattie stepped
,ho darkness OF the thicket. found
the shotgun which he had carrier coh-
ceaIed and deliberately slew his VIE.
The desperate ride home with a bleed
ing and lifeless body crushed into the
small space IN the front part OF Inc ma
chino the husband coldly sitting against
,be blood covered head Of his wife. were
eranhically detailed TO the jury. only
passing attention was given by Mr. wen
denburg 70 the purchase OF the gun oy
paul Beattie. cousin or the accused
The defence had claimed. he said. that
on Pauls story alone was built the case
81 rho prosecution, but he held aloft the
blood stained clothing of the prisoner
las the mute evidence OF the crime. and
asked do you want any other evil
dence?"
Motive for tho Crime.
BLOOD fecked the lower fringe OF the
shirt in deep black blots; not a mark
vas on either sleeve OF shirt or :.
The prisoner had said that he cid his
wife with one hand and steered his car
with the other. but the absence OF blood
ON the arms. the prosecutor declared.
gave the lie TO his story. Not alone with
| the clothing did the prosecutor disen-
tangle what he termed the cheapest
fabrication OF the cheapest murder" but
he shouted shame at the prisoner for his
relations with a mere slip OF GIRL from
the age Of thirteen until within his own
married life. and held her forth AS the
motive for the crime.
| "And the prisoner admits that II was