The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-28
Clear to All Eyes, With
Only Half of States
Case Finished,
PRISONER MAY
GO UPON STAND
Little to Lose and All to Gain by
Giving His Own Statement to
Jury-Second Week of Trial
Begins To-Day and May
Produce Startling Evidence
Against Accused.
By JOSEPH r. GErsINGER.

By JOSEPH r. GEISINGER.
With the Commemorative case half
hnished and the defense not yet be-
gun. where now stands Henry Beattie
in the matter of life and death?
That the tide flows steadily against
the prisoner is fact for even the
casual observer and Is a thing of ex-
pectation and not surprise, for now or
never before the opposing guns have
opened. is the prosecutors day Al
the outset 1t met bitter disappointS
ment. and ravens croaked and sore
heads groaned. Not before noon of
the second day did it strike it's stride.
but since then has gone evenly and
surely on with scarcely a slip. It's
net is spreading out, farther already
rhan many had dared eXpected-and
the story is still not done. The eli
max. like thunderbolt. may come to-
day or not, but certainly by tomor
row.
Not Discouraged.
In the meantime the defense works
on at It's task. saying nothing and
overlooking nothing. With steady
and relentless fire 1t has raked the
witness chair for three days. and
though 1t has gained little, has GER
tainiy prevented some loss 1t does
not nope to win its cause on the pro-
secuuons evidence, but on it's own
and until its hour comes feeds on such
bits as 1t can snatch. These have not
oeeH numerous, and. according to
many minds. there will be fewer vet
from this time on. However. thnt ma ~
be, counsel are anything but dis
pirited.
We do not look discouraged, do
we?' asked Mr.. Smith yesterday. in
response to query. well, we are
not-not a particle. You are hearing
one side now. but there will be an
other. OF course, we cannot discuss
our case in advance, but when the
| time comes we will be ready"
WIZ Henry Beattie take the stand?
He probably WILL Counsel include
this among the matters that cannot
De discussed at this time. but an in
dependent opinion would answer the
question in the affirmative. Much has
been said about McCue's failure To
appear In his own behalf. and II haa
oeen assumed that like the Char
lottesville man. Beattie would let his
ease go to the jury without himself
coming forth. But McCue and Beat
Tie are different as the poles in one
respect at least y man OF uncoyerr
upie temper and uncontrola BILE rape
McCue. in the witness char void
speedily have hung himself wi,nouu
rrurther erort by the Commonwealth.
experiment proved this beyond uues-
tloh TO his worried lawyers tvith
6eattie 1t is different Impassiye. I'M
concerned-unless he breaks before
ne VIII race his Judges and tell his
story and stick TO it, II he is inno-
/ cent he VIII naturally do this. and
wish to do 1T; and II he is guilt. ha
VIII do 1t anyhow. There is little 10
lose here and all to gain Even .b,,
states lawyers would not hope 70
h ranue this strange young man Per-
maps little more evidence otherwise
that is all.
Nhat Prosecution IJoa narn
IN the mass OF testimony OF the frst
week certain features stand our he.
yond all others:
Inc commonwealth has presented
case ana rehearsed for the beneht
OF the Jury complete history Of tba
crime IN all its known bearings
~ mas demonstrated. it claims ,
lack of plausibilty in the explana-
uons given by the accused
IL mas pointed to certain discrenan
cies and to certain connictin. ST.
nients in these explanations.
IL mas revealed the Improper re,.
lions OF the prisoner with another
woman and shown by inference his
lack of grief at the death OF mis-
wife. no
1t has shown that man closely rs-
seWolinS Beattie and an automobiia
closely resembling Bea tiles auton,n
otl9 were at the scene OF the murder
early in the evening about the time
ne was due at the owen house
IL mas shown that Beattie explained
MS delay in arriving at the owsn
house by declaring he was stopoed
by n broken tire.
II has shown that some reason cx
lsted why other members OF the owen
iamiiy did not accompany the couple
on the night of the fatal ride. bur II
mas iaiied To get the nature of this
reason before tho Jury.
IL mas shown by his own account
ms wife between 1880 and IL P. 81.
on July is.
1t has shown that Richmonders re-
turning along he pike that night aur.
;%o 'ss nts @ ese OF ns,sa With
tanning several persons. was travel
ing rapidly toward Bon Air having al
ready passed the point at which Beat
ue SAYS he turned. and the other Of
winch was standing still in the road. 3
near the scene Of the murder.
1t has shown that this standing car
was Ruic< hve-passenger rnachire.
with yellow top and absent rear
doors. all OF which description applteq
TO the Beattie machine
1t has shown that with the car yyern }.
man and woman. the latter IN a s
!cng tan coat such as Mrs. Beattia
wore. i7ss,
1t has shown that Beattfc has nott
stated that be mado any stop in III
road except when held up by ina
bearded highwayman.
1t has shown that the shot was pre-
Continued on Seventh PagsJ