Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-09-08
EVIDENCE ALL N
IN BEATT|E CASE
PROSECUTION IN FINAL EFFORT
TO DlsPRovE TESTIMONY
OF THE DEFENSE.
BeUlAH BINFoRD NOT ON STAND
Prisoner Calmly Replies to Last cues.
lions In the cross.Examfna.
tIon.-verdiet Expected
/ Friday.

Only the Oratory Of lawyers ana the
elaboration of Jurors now remain be
tween Henry Clay Beattie, Jr., and the
few words which will either send him
to the electric chair or to freedom.
The taking of evidence ended and
his counsel, Harry Smith, and Prose
cutor Louis Wendenburg will argue
in private as to how Judge Watson
should charge the Jury. Then the
addresses to the jury will be made, and
the twelve Chesterfield farmers Will
retire for their momentous balloting.
A verdict is expected to be had some
time Friday Beattie, in the mean
time, is sanguine as to the outcome.
With unexpected brevity, both the
commonwealth and the defense closed
the evidence in the case. When court
adjourned Beulah Binford, the girl In
the case, alleged by the prosecution to
have been the motive for the murder
by Beattie of his young wife, still was
in Jail without having uttered single
word Of testimony.
Admittedly fearing that she would
scrupulousiy avoid injuring the case OF
her former companion and since state
ments and interviews galore had forti-
ned the prosecution with what 1t re-
garded as all necessary information.
the commonwealth did not put her on
the stand.
The closing of the case was sudden.
Attorney Harry M. Smith and Hill
Carter for the defense first announced
that they had a few witnesses for the
sub.rebuttal, but IL the commonwealth
would agree to rest its case they would
do likewise.
The young defendant, pale but
nervy, as usual, took the stand to re-
sumo the ordeal of examination.
''Mr. Beattie," he began, will you
explain how the same gun which your
cousin bought on Saturday night was
In the woods on the Midlothian turn
pike that night?"
II didn't know anything about the
gun. didn't see 1t till the highway
man raised 1t.
How did that gum" persisted
Prosecutor Wendenberg, happen tc
be at the spot waiting to kill your
wife,"
II cannot give any explanation
said Beattie, quite placidly.
"And will you admit that II your
wife hadn't suggested the ride you
would not have been there?"
mo, my mind wasn't made up az
to the ride when my wife suggested
It."
Rebuttal 10 Begun.
The prosecution rested the cross.
examination and thereupon began the
Introduction of witnesses in an effort
to discredit testimony of the accused
Paul Beattie, cousin Of the accused,
was brought to the vicinity of the
courthouse by the prosecution, and
Mr.. Wendenburg said he intended to
put him on the stand in rebuttal.
Witnesses were brought forward to
controvert the story Of the accused
that while Paul was on the veranda
that night, they we're not alone, and
that too many people were present for
any private conversations.
The principal witness In refuting
this was Henry B. Owen, brother
Of the dead woman, who testified that
Paul and Henry not only were alone
IN one portion Of the veranda. but
that he later observed them alone
within the house.
Brother Of Slain Wife on Stand.
A dozen or more character witnesses
and automobile experts took up the
rest of the day, as did unimportant
witnesses brought to prove one or an.
other triGing propositions. Half a
dozen Witnesses confirmed the meet.
ings and phone conversations of Paul
and Henry the week Of the murder.
Paul's wife was one Of these.