The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-08-12
.DEATT|E CASE TO
Be PR0BEO MONDAY
! Intense Interest Is Being
Taken All Over Coun-
I. try in This Case.
(National News Association

RICHMOND. Va. Aug. 12.-Intense
and general interest is manifested
throughout the state in the opening
next Monday. OF the session Of the
grand jury for Chesterfield county,
across the river from here. The grand
jury will be called upon to investigate
the Beattie murder case. one OF the
most sensational and puzzling crimes
ever committed in the county. 1t is
the general impression that there will
be enough evidence submitted by the
state to Justify the grand jury to find
an indictment for murder against
Henry Clay Beattie. tr.. now prison
er In the Henrico County Jail, but at
the same time it Is well known that
! the state has added little to the cir
cumstantial evidence obtained shortly
after the crime was committed that a
reasonable motive for the alleged
crime has not yet been found and that
counsel for the defence has been work
ing quietly but diligently, assisted by
q number Of private detectives, and is
evidently determined to make des-
tperate fight at the subsequent trial
to save the accused from electrocu-
ktion.
The history of the crime with which
Henry Clay Beattie, jr., has been
charged by the coroner's jury, con-
tains many features of unusual inter-
rest. The accused, who Is now about
ftwenty-six years of age. is the son
Of Henry Clay Beattie. ST.. well-to-
lido business man of this city. Young
bBeattie received fair education and.
lat an early age began. to indulge in a
fast and reckless life. He had num-
erous affairs with girls, but only one
had serious consequences. About four
years ago he became intimate with
Beulah Binford, handsome but NOR
ally corrupt girl who. at that time,
was not quite fourteen. The intimacy
continued and two years ago child
was born to the girl. The young moth
Ter named the child Henry Clay Bin
ford, but soon abandoned 1t to the
care Of some relatives. Later the
child was adopted by Mrs. Mary Trout
OF Richmond, but 1t proved sickly and
died In July of last year. To hush up
matters young Beattie induced Beulah
Binford to go to Raleigh. N. c., where
she promised to remain, so as not to
Einterfer with Beattie's marriage plans.
To Please His Father.
More to please his father, upon
whom he depended for a living, young
Beattie, about two years ago, married
Miss Louise Owen, the pretty daugh-
ter Of resident of Dover, Del The
marriage was not happy. Young Beat
tie did not abandon his fast life after
marriage and even the birth of child
about six months ago, did not improve
the relations between the young mar
lrted people. A few months ago Beat
tile met the Binford girl by accident at
= baseball game at Norfolk and she
was easily induced to Richmond.
where Beattie promised to provide q
house for her.
Beattie and the girl met frequently
ut different hotels in this city and,
although they kept their relations Sc
fcret, Beattie's father learned of the af-
1air and 10 said to have threatened his
son with the withdrawal of his sup
lport. should the young man not stop
his dealings with the Binford girl. In
1.-THE second week Of July last, young
Mrs. Beattie. with her baby, went to
Visit her uncle, Thomas e. Owen with
I'm mile Of South Richmond. She was
Ito return home on July 10. On the ev-
iening Of July IS, young Beattie came
Ito Mr.. Owens house in his automobile,
Ito take his wife out for ride. They
lleft. driving along the Midlothian pike.
About eleven o'clock that night Beat.
tile returned to Mr.. Owens house in
mis- auto. steering with one hand, while
he was holding his wife's lifeless body
with the other.
Beattie said that his wife had been
Ishot and killed with a shotgun by a
tall man with a long beard, who held
them up; while they driving along
Midlothian pike. The case called for
I'm Investigation by the coroner and
after . long and quite sesational hear
Ang the coroner's jury gave the yer
idiot that Mrs. Beattie had been shot
and killed with q shotgun in the hands
Iof her husband, Henry Clay Beattie
Ijr. The latter was arrested and lodg
cd in the Henrico jail. where he spen,
his time unconcernedly. smoking Gig
larettes and strumming ON his guitar
The Binford girl was arrested as q
possible accomplice. Since his impris
onment Beattie stuck to his original
STORY. but his position became serious
when Paul Beattie. poor relative Of
khe accused, confessed that he had
tbeught for sthe prisoner the shotgun
with which the murder had been com
mitted. The state has succeeded in
Merging q strong chain of circumstan
Ftial evidence against Beattie. but the
apparent lack Of motive is consider
ed . weak spot, which may vitality af
feet the chance of conviction.
WHAT IS SOAP!
This is a matter which few except
chemists understand. Let us give yor
q little information. Soap is a compos