The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-26
MURDER DETAILS
 SLOWLY APPEAR
 AT BEATTIE TRIAL
CONTINUED FROM PAGE D

C~S~~~~-~~~~~~~~~~~~>~~>>- hearing two automobiles, one after tine other, then the shot. He heard no cries or footing of horns. The Shepardson boy who said he lived two squares" from the scene, told of having heard the shot and the noise of a car starting toward town.
 The defense met with two setbacks al the opening of court. Judge Walter A. Watson quickly overruled a motion to exclude the Dear Kid letter" written by Beattie to Beaulah Binford and in- troduced yesterday and followed this by denying a motion which questioned the wording of the indictment as to the wound being "in the face" instead of In the skull of the brain of the victim, as shown by the autopsy.
 l.. l.. Scherrer claim agent of the , Chesapeake and Ohio railway. who has a considerable reputation as a special in- vestigator, came next in the list of wit nesses. He has had almost entire charge of the Beattie case and through him the state hopes to review all that a months | investigation has disclosed. While Beattie slept in the jail here last right his blood soaked automobile stood under the sycamores in the courthouse yard to be examined by the jurors today with a view to ascertaining whether the blood could have dripped through to the roadway. The commonwealth charged | that the boodstain in the Midlothien turnpike could not have been made un- l less Mrs. Beattie was taken from the | car. The defense pleas otherwise and the question is to be determined by the jurors themselves.
 Large Crowd | The crowd was even larger than yes terday and hundreds gathered about l the yard to catch a glimpse of Paul Beattie, the commonwealth's chief wit ness.
 | The prisoner was dressed in neat blue suit having discarded the grey one he has worn heretofore. Maj. James D. Patton of Richmond, who went to the scene on the day fol- l lowing the murder with bloodhounds, testified that the dogs failed to take any scent of the alleged bearded high wayman. He told Beauties version of the encounter which differed but slightly from the accounts previously l testified to. There was no blood on the | gun, he said. Beattie had told him | that he was not sure whether the man
 fled along the road or through the woods.
 N w. Sydnor of Richmond, who took | a second set of bloodhounds to the scene, followed Major Patton on the 1 stand
 Did you find any footprints in the ditch along the road?' Yes sir There were three, pretty close and to the west side of stump. 1 Cross examined by the defense, Syd- nor said he had examined the stump and tracks, but that the tracks might | have been made by some of those who inspected the surroundings, Did you examine Beattie's shoulder | to see if there were any bruises that might be made by the kick of gum | "Yes. sir, did, and found no marks, said Sydnor
 | Mandy Alexander, an old negress. was then called to testify as to the finding of the gun
 | She was dressed in blue calico and wore a big straw hat. Beattie eyed her closely and smiled.
 '.Did you find a gun on the railroad tracks near where Mrs. Beattie was Inur- dered?" .Yes, sir" said Mandy with a draw1. About or o'clock in the morning after the murder. I thought 1t was a track walkers gun, picked it up, then let it lay"
 The gun was handed to her and she Identified it. l She related how she met T. P. Pettigrew. a white farmer, and had told him of her
 find. s-examination failed to shake her story.
 Jerry Reynolds, gray-haired negro was next called He had picked up the
 gun after Mandy had gone, but soon met
 Pettigrew and turned it over to aim.
 The negro held up the gun in his hand as he sat in the witness box and ;denti- | fled it.
 | Cross examined by the defense, Reynolds said he had seen no automobile tracks near the spot where he picked up the gun | Beattie's story is that he tore the weapon from the highwayman's grasp and threw it into the back part of the auto mobile. from where it jared out while crossing the railroad track The proseca- ton will attempt to show that he hurled the weapon from the car with the hope that it might be destroyed by passing ltrain.