Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-11-29
H. c. Beattie Pays Death Penalty
for Murder of Wife

his death at dawn last Friday. the
self-cOufessedm murderer of his young
wife, Louise Owen Beattie, although
the confession was not made public
until four hours after he had paid
the toll exacted by the law. He
main tained to the end the remarka-
BILE nerve he had exhibited since
first he was accused of killing his
wife on the lonely Midlothian turn
pike last July. His last expression
was q smiling sneer when he obser-
we'd the chair that was to launch him
into eternity.
The confession was made public
in the rotuuda OF a downtown hotel
by the Rev. Benjamin Dennis, one
of the minister's who had labored
with Beattie to repent. AS matter
of fact, it was acknowledged by the
minister, Beattie first admitted his
guilt November 9, the day after he
entered the death cell and before
the fruitless appeal for commuta-
tion of sentence was made to Gov
ernor Mann. 1t was not until Thurs
day that he would agree to it being
put in writing for his signature.
Then all hope that the Governor
would interfere was gone. The eX-
traordinary document follows:
y, Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., oe-
sirous of standing right before God
and man, do on this 23rd day OF
November, 1911, confess my guilt of
the crime charged against me- Niue
that was published concerning the
details was not true, but the aw-
fol fact, without the narrowing cir
cumstance, remains. For this action
am truly sorry, and believing that
/ am at peace with God, and
am soon to pass into his presence,
this statement is made.
The shock that killed Beattie was
given at exactly 7:l9 o'clock. Three
distinct and separate times the cur
rent was turned on, and at 7:23 it
was shut off. Doctors w. 7. and
S. L. Julien Oppenheimer, minute
later announced that death had been
instantaneous. The twenty-five per
sons in the death chamber fled out
and the end Of d lengthy and cost
ly battle for justice had ended.
In addition to the two physicians
there were gathered in the dea' h
house @hen Beattie appeared. the
twelve witnesses to the electrOcu-
ton. as required by law, the Revs.
John J. Fix and Benjamin Dennis,
Major James b. Woods. superinten-
dent of the penitentiary, the cleo
trician and four deputy wardens.
The room was flooded with light
from a group of incandesent lamps
set in a low ceiling and a light that
, swung on its cord Immediately above
the chair.
Beattie seemed from the first 10
firmly believe he would in some way
escape the penalty that finally over
took him and early in the game de
clared that he would not be electro
cuted. After the Supreme Court
denied a writ OF error and the Gov
ernor declined to interfere hIs hope
against hope left him and with il his
Indifference and he left OFF reading
novels and turned his attention tc
more serious matters, praying and
reading his Bible and listening tc
the comfort put forth by his two
spiritual advisers.
On Thursday afternoon Beattie
babe his father and brother and sis
tiers farewell, the scene Of parting
being witnessed only by a death
watch and the minister's, the latter
remaining with him walking to the
death chamber Immed lately after
the execution messenger in wait
ing carried the news to the family
FACTS IN THE CASE
July 18-Mrs. Henry Clay BeattiC
e Jr., murdered while automobile rid
j, ing with her husband, near Rich
e mond
J. Jelly 2l- Henry Clay Beattie, Jr
), placed under arrest
e July 22-Coroners jury charge,
q Beattie with murder.