Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1911-08-25
SENSATION in
BEATTIE CASE
Deputy Sheriff Says Footprints
We're Found Near Slain
WOman'S Body
PRISONER CONCERNED
AS TESTIMONY IS GIVEN
By The United Press.


CHESTERFIELD COURT HOUSE,
Va, August 25.-with smiling face.
Henry Clay Beattie. Jr.. today saw
two blocks placed in the legal struc-
ture on which he may be sent to the
electric chair for the murder Of his
wife.
Drawing his pleasant southern
tones with precise legal diction,
Judge Watson today overruled
Beattie's lawyers on the first two i'm
portant legal preparations they have
advanced.
First he upheld the evidence upon
which the state introduced the letter
written to his sweetheart, Beulah
Binford. arranging for furniture for
her home This letter and Beatties
admission that he wrote il, the de-
Tense endeavored in vain to have ex-
cluded.
The second point Of evidence that
was Of vital Importance was the at
tempt Of the defense to tear down the
indictment because it alleges only
wound in the face. whereas Mrs.
Beattie died from a gunshot wound
in the head. This point Watson de-
clares an objection merely technical
and upheld the indictment.
During the cross examination Of
farrell, who had been on the stand an
hour this morning Beattie grew ex-
cited and talked volubly, and at times
audibly, to his attorneys. He sug-
gested questions and discussed aud
answered with flushed face and dane
ing eyes.
Jarrell's testimony was corroborat-
ed by Major James Patton, . another
Chesterfield county officer, the next
witness. Then came a new sensation.
w. W. Sydnor, deputy sheriff, who
took the blood hounds to the scene Of
the crime, declared that he had found
two foot prints on the south side of the
road opposite the blood stains.
Where We're they2" demanded Wen
denburg.
They were in sandy soil at the side
of the road near the bushes. One was
toward the bushes and one toward the
road. 1t looked as if someone had
stepped into the bushes and out again -
WAS there a stump near there?"
Eyes, near the foot prints"
Sydnor declared that in the version
of the killing given him by Beattie the
accused told him that the bearded
man" stood on the right side of The
automobile and fred the fatal shot
over Beatties back as he leaned for
ward over the levers of the car This
conflicts absolutely with the story told
by Bsattie at the inquest, where he
said the man fired from a point five
feet to the left Of the machine.
l. u ehmN Is
wife could be wounded in the left side
of the face if she was shot from the
right side, said Sydnor. He walked
away without answering"
Beattie looked grave as Sydnor gava
this testimony, and he held a lengthy
whispered conference with his lawyers
before the DISCRIMINATION began
When Hill Carter finally started he at
tackled the story Of the foot prints be-
side the road with vigor. Through a
maze of cross questions and tangline
suggestions Sydnor kept close to his
story. Beattie leaned forward over his
desk. fixed an anxious look at the wit
ness and listened eagerly as Carter
pounded at Sydnor. The lawyer also
attacked in vain the witnesses con-
ficing version of Beattie's story OF the
killing.
1t last the defense gave up the
attempt to break Snyder's story and
Mary Alexander, the negro NANNY
who first saw the gun lying along
the railroad tracks, was called.
Mandy was replendent in a brand
new calico wrapper, a new gingham
apron and a big straw hat. When
Wmdenburg produced the gun and
asked If it was the one she had found
she shouted:
yes sab, yes sab, OATS de gum"
she declared that the gun was ~
Ing along the Belt Line tracks some
distance from the road.
you left the gun where you found
IL" asked Smith on cross examina-
ion.
sab shuah did," said Mandy, "Ah
lidn't want to have no trouble VIII It.
Jerry Reynolds, the negro who
found the gun and picked it up after
Mandy had seen it, then testified. In
ian agreement as to the distance the
gun was from the road, Mandy was
recalled. Her testimony closed the
morning session.